Start up
Build up your venture idea.
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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 Online and Covenant HealthCare partner to expand educational opportunities
by
Jaime Griffis
Central Michigan University Online has announced a new partnership with Covenant HealthCare, offering a 15% tuition discount to Covenant employees, their spouses, and dependents under the age of 24. This collaboration will provide nearly 5,000 employees access to CMU’s wide range of flexible online degree programs, supporting professional growth and personal development within the healthcare sector and beyond.
“We are excited for this new educational partnership with Covenant HealthCare,” expressed Rob VanDorin, Executive Director of Business & Community Outreach for CMU Innovation and Online. “We look forward to supporting the career and personal growth of Covenant HealthCare employees and their families through this collaboration.”
The partnership highlights CMU Online’s commitment to offering accessible education tailored to working professionals, including healthcare workers balancing demanding schedules. Covenant HealthCare employees and their families will be able to pursue undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs from anywhere, at any time.
“We are pleased to partner with CMU Online to offer more accessible and affordable educational opportunities for Covenant employees and their families,” said Beth Charlton, President and CEO of Covenant HealthCare. “This collaboration reflects our dedication to supporting our team’s growth and helping them achieve their personal and professional aspirations. By investing in our teams, we strengthen our ability to continue meeting our mission of delivering extraordinary care for the community.”
The tuition discount, beginning the winter 2025 semester, applies to CMU Online programs with limited exclusions, ensuring a wide array of degree options to meet career aspirations in healthcare and beyond. Additional details about application procedures and tuition benefits will be made available to Covenant HealthCare employees through internal communication channels.
This new initiative underscores the shared vision of CMU and Covenant HealthCare to support employees in pursuing higher education while continuing to serve their communities.
Signature Programs
Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship
Explore special opportunities to learn new skills and travel the world.
Compete & Win
New Venture Challenge 2025
Present your venture and win BIG at the New Venture Challenge.
Build your skills
Workshops and events
Boost your entrepreneurial skills through our workshops, mentor meetups and pitch competitions.
Develop your ideas
IDEA Den
Learn about the entrepreneurship makerspace on campus in Grawn Hall.
Ready, Set, Pitch!
Make-A-Pitch 2024
Present a 2-minute pitch at the Make-A-Pitch Competition and you could win prizes and bragging rights!
Meet Mentors
Mentorship and support
Connect with mentors and faculty who are here to support the next generation of CMU entrepreneurs.
Support students
Make an impact
Are you a CMU alum looking to support CMU student entrepreneurs? Learn how you can support or donate to the Entrepreneurship Institute.
View our programming newsletter
Alumni give back to students through mentorship, real-world experiences
The Wakeling Gendron Entrepreneurial Scholars program wrapped its first cohort this academic year.
Students compete to win cash prizes at the New Venture Challenge
Pitched 40 ventures at NMV Challenge, Friday, April 19, CMU. Judges awarded $100,000 in cash prizes.
Wakeling Gendron Scholars make a life-changing trip to Texas
Wakeling and Gendron Scholars attended SXSW in Texas, meeting industry leaders and gaining entrepreneurial insights.
Business barriers lead CMU students to a new venture
Justin Ashman and Philip Mundt won Central Michigan University's New Venture Competition with their 3-D printing operation, Form Further.
