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.

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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.

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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 alumni and director to lead national webinar on transgender inclusion in the workplace

by Jaime Griffis

Central Michigan University (CMU) continues its commitment to inclusion and diversity as Dr. Jon Humiston (they/them), Director of Noncredit and Alternative Enrollment in CMU’s Innovation and Online division, and CMU alum Aaric Guerriero (he/him) join forces to host a national webinar for the American Association for Access, Equity, and Diversity (AAAED).

The webinar, titled What’s the T?: Steps to Creating Transgender Inclusion in the Workplace, is part of AAAED’s 50th-anniversary speaker series and will take place on Wednesday, November 13, from 1-2 p.m. ET, coinciding with the start of Transgender Awareness Week. The week-long observance aims to increase understanding of transgender people and highlight the issues they face in society and the workplace.

Guerriero, who has developed inclusion programs and facilitated workshops across various industries, shared the transformative potential of such discussions. “Creating an inclusive workplace isn't just a goal—it's a necessity,” he said. “Hiring transgender and nonbinary employees isn’t just about diversity; it’s about equity, respect, accountability, and recognizing the inherent value each individual brings. This partnership with AAAED is a fantastic opportunity to inspire real change.”

Humiston and Guerriero have a long history of championing LGBTQIA+ inclusion, dating back to their work as former directors of CMU’s Office of LGBTQ Services. They have presented workshops on inclusion nationwide, helping organizations and individuals alike create more welcoming environments.

In addition to their advocacy, Dr. Humiston established the James W. Jones Memorial Scholarship in 2020, supporting CMU students who actively promote LGBTQ+ advocacy. In 2021, Humiston received CMU’s prestigious National Alumni Service Recognition Award, acknowledging their 23 years of work promoting inclusion and diversity at the university.

Those interested in attending the webinar can register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WDTnfS13QD2yv0LIKrBXPQ.

About Central Michigan University

Central Michigan University (CMU) is dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where all students, faculty, and staff can thrive. Through its ongoing commitment to social justice and equity, CMU is a leader in promoting LGBTQ+ inclusion and advocacy.

About AAAED

Celebrating 50 years of service, the American Association for Access, Equity, and Diversity (AAAED) is a national organization focused on advancing equal opportunity, diversity, and social justice across higher education, government, and the private sector. Through its speaker series, AAAED continues to bring together thought leaders to address critical issues in equity and inclusion.