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.
CMU alum Nancy Brown recognized as a global leader in healthcare
by
Jason Fielder
American Heart Association CEO and CMU College of the Arts and Media alumna Nancy Brown, '85, is being recognized for her exceptional leadership in the healthcare industry. Brown recently earned a place on two prestigious lists: the Forbes 50 Over 50 and The NonProfit Times Power and Influence Top 50, solidifying her reputation as one of the most influential figures in healthcare both nationally and globally.
The Forbes 50 Over 50 list celebrates accomplished women who continue to make significant contributions after the age of 50. Brown’s inclusion is in the Impact category, recognizing "changemakers leaving the world a little better than they found it." Other notable winners include Melinda French Gates and Dawn Staley.
In addition to this recognition, Brown has also been named to The NonProfit Times Power and Influence Top 50 list, which honors leaders who are recognized as pioneers and innovators in the nonprofit sector. This marks the ninth time that Brown has been acknowledged by the publication for her leadership.
“Being recognized alongside other remarkable leaders is truly an honor," said Brown. "The lifesaving work of the American Heart Association has always relied on collaboration. Our dedicated volunteers, supporters, partners, patients, survivors and staff propel our mission forward. Their collective efforts empower people to live healthier lives, drive positive changes in their communities, and ensure a brighter future for all.”
Brown’s journey with the American Heart Association began in Michigan in 1986. She became the CEO in 2008 and has since earned a reputation for her relentless drive to forge impactful partnerships and engage a wide network of volunteers, supporters, and staff in advancing the Association’s mission. Under her guidance, the organization has launched numerous multi-million-dollar research initiatives that are transforming the future of heart and brain health for patients and communities. Today, the American Heart Association is the largest non-governmental funder of cardiovascular research in the United States.
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.
