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Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship

We are a dedicated institute for student entrepreneurs across campus and beyond. We aim to maximize your success by fostering your entrepreneurial mindset, promote inter-disciplinary collaboration and provide support for the creation and development of your new ventures. Jumpstart your ideas and get involved today!

Tune in for excitement!

Passion. Potential. Pitches. Don't miss any of the 2025 New Venture Challenge excitement.

Tune in Friday, April 11 at 1 p.m. for great ideas and fierce competition. Then, join the judges, mentors, spectators and teams as they see who is going home with thousands of dollars in venture financing. The awards broadcast begins at 6:30 p.m. and one team will walk away as the overall best venture. 

Start your entrepreneurial journey

Central Michigan University’s College of Business Administration is the home of the Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship and the first Department of Entrepreneurship in the state of Michigan. We are a student-centric hub where experiential, curricular, and external entrepreneurial opportunities intersect.

Our mission is to maximize student success by fostering a campus-wide entrepreneurial mindset that promotes inter-disciplinary collaboration and the creation of new ventures.

We aim to create innovative programming, boost cross-campus and ecosystem collaboration and provide a comprehensive mentoring program.

Our institute provides extracurricular opportunities and is open to all undergraduate and graduate CMU students.

Student opportunities

  • Meet experienced alumni, faculty, entrepreneurs, investors, and other business and political leaders.
  • Learn practical skills, innovative thinking, and connect with mentors and entrepreneurial resources.
  • Attend skill-building workshops and compete in pitch competitions and Hackathons.
  • Take part in special scholarship programs and travel experiences.
  • Pitch your venture at our signature New Venture Challenge event and compete for up to $20,000 in cash awards.

      Find your path

      Are you interested in becoming an entrepreneur?

      Every journey is unique. Explore the opportunities that interest you.

      Central Michigan University Institute for Great Lakes Research expands to Traverse City

      by Jaime Griffis

      On Thursday, July 11th, 2024, the Central Michigan University Institute for Great Lakes Research celebrated a significant milestone as Dr. Don Uzarski, the institute's director, officially moved into their satellite office on the second floor of the Traverse Connect Building, located on East Grandview Parkway in Traverse City, MI.

      The IGLR journey began in 2010 when Great Lakes research was recognized as a key area of strength by CMU's administration following the receipt of the first of three $10 million grants dedicated to this purpose. Today, the IGLR involves faculty from five departments within the College of Science and Engineering—Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Engineering and Geography and Environmental Studies. The institute is supported by 33 faculty members, 2 postdoctoral fellows, 7 technicians, 37 graduate students, 63 undergraduate students, 1 coordinator and 3 temporary staff and administrative personnel. Together, the College of Science and Engineering secures an average of $3 million to $5 million annually in external funding for Great Lakes research.

      The IGLR and Dr. David Ford, dean of the CMU College of Science and Engineering, are currently in discussions with the leaders of the Fresh Water Research Center, a collaborative of various entities in the Grand Traverse region, about joining their effort. The IGLR would join partners and be situated on the Discovery Center and Pier property on West Grand Traverse Bay and aims to utilize this location as a year-round hub for Great Lakes research, bringing in research vessels and scientific equipment. This site would also serve as a vital water connection to the CMU Biological Station on Beaver Island, MI. Additionally, the IGLR hopes to expand its collaboration with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and the FishPass project. Uzarski was recently added to the GLFC FishPass Advisory Board – Science Team. The Science Team is made up of 20 researchers from all of the FishPass partners, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, U.S. Geological Survey, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.

      For more information on FishPass, visit glfc.org/fishpass.php.

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