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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 campus safety update: Fall 2024

      by User Not Found

      With the start of the fall semester, the Central Michigan University Police Department has several campus safety updates and reminders to share about building access, emergency alerts and training opportunities.

      Access controls

      CMU has expanded electronic access controls to doors in 18 academic/administrative buildings. Access controls will be installed in additional buildings throughout the coming year.

      Most buildings will continue to be open during designated hours, however electronic access controls create an added layer of security to buildings while also allowing CMUPD to activate “secure mode” remotely with the push of a button from CMU Police dispatch.

      Visit the building access web page for the most up-to-date list of building hours and access information.

      CentralCard/CMU Mobile ID

      With the increased number of buildings utilizing access controls, all faculty, staff and students are encouraged to have their CentralCard or Central Mobile ID easily accessible. Even if controls haven’t been added to your building yet, you may need your ID to access other areas of campus.

      Starting this fall, all residence hall exterior doors are card access only, with main entrances accessible to all students, faculty and staff during designated hours to attend classes, dining, support services, etc.

      All CentralCards issued after 2011 are compatible with access controls – as is the Central Mobile ID. Instructions for how to provision your CMU ID for use on mobile devices can be found on the CentralCard Office website.

      CentralAlert

      All CMU faculty, staff and students are automatically enrolled in CentralAlert, CMU’s emergency notification system. CentralAlert notifications are sent when there is confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees on CMU’s campus.

      You can modify which mobile phone, voice line and email address receive Central Alerts by updating your contact information within the CentralAlert system.

      Isabella County Smart911

      For emergency notifications of incidents that occur off campus and within Isabella County, the county utilizes the free Smart911 app. Additional details are available on the Isabella County website.

      CMUPD training/programming

      To learn more about active violence preparedness at CMU we recommend all students, faculty, and staff view our Run, Hide, Fight video.

      CMUPD also offers free training and programming upon request, including:

      • Active violence training for departments or groups
      • Citizens Police Academy: CMUPD is hosting a five-week academy for individuals interested in learning more about public safety.
        • The program starts Wednesday, Sept. 11, and runs for five weeks from 6-8 p.m.
        • The online application Form is open through Sept. 5, or untill the class is full.

      Events

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      View our programming newsletter

      Entrepreneurship News

      Questions?

      Contact the team