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.

2025 NVC Competition Live Stream

2025 NVC Awards Live Stream

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.

A student standing with a faculty member holding big winning checks from the New Venture Challenge 2024.

Start up

Build up your venture idea.

Learn more

A student smiling and standing in front of his venture display at the 2024 New Venture Challenge.

Family business

Explore the Alternative Entrepreneurial Pathways category at NVC.

Learn more

A close-up of the Prusa i3 MK3 printer in the entrepreneurship makerspace, the IDEA Den in Grawn Hall 166.

Product and prototype design

Create and patent your ideas.

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Innovation

Explore your ideas and build your skills.

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CMU Advancement hosts 2024 Scholarship and Endowment Celebration

by Jason Fielder

Education has long been recognized as a powerful catalyst for transforming lives, families, and entire communities. At Central Michigan University, this transformative power is a slogan and a reality.

On Saturday, March 23, CMU Advancement celebrated our students' achievements and our donors' tireless support during the annual Scholarship and Endowment Celebration.

“This event truly is the most exciting, heartfelt event that we get to put on from the office of advancement,” said Jennifer Cotter, Vice President of CMU Advancement.

A young woman with light brown hair wearing a black dress is on a stage standing behind a podium and speaking in front of a crowded room. — CMU Scholarship recipient Grace Bremmer speaks during the 2024 Scholarship and Endowment Celebration.

The event brought together students, donors, faculty, staff, and supporters with the goal of honoring our student leaders and extending sincere gratitude to our donors and friends for their unwavering support of student success.

Last fiscal year, their generosity enabled CMU to award over $4.25 million through 760 scholarships and other university financial support funds, benefiting 1,546 students. With an endowment exceeding $240 million, their contributions serve as a testament to their belief in the transformative power of education.

During the celebration, we heard from 3 student scholarship recipients (Pushkal Kafley, Grace Bremmer, and Lizzie Ling), the Vice President of Advancement, Jennifer Cotter, and the University President, Dr. Robert Davies.