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 celebrates staff excellence

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Central Michigan University will celebrate 17 employees next month for their outstanding service to the university and its students. Recipients of the 2023-2024 Staff Excellence Award are:

Ben Andera, executive director of academic and research computing in the Office of Information Technology.
Julie Croy, senior office specialist for the Office of Educator Preparator Programs within the College of Education and Human Services.
Abby Dean, deputy chief marketing officer in University Communications.
Jim duPuis, associate director of telecom and unified communication in the Office of Information Technology.
Caprice Hazen, executive office specialist in University Recreation.
Kendra Huckins, director of faculty employment and compensation in Faculty Personnel Services.
Melissa Hutchinson, executive director of counseling services in the Counseling Center.
Julie Lyon, senior budget analyst in Financial Planning and Budgets.
Brittany Milan, director of alumni & donor engagement in Alumni Relations.
Nikita Murry, director of diversity education in the Office for Institutional Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.
Jacqui Pridgeon, executive office specialist for the Social Work Program within the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.
Kay Purtill, executive secretary for the School of Politics, Society, Justice and Public Service within the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.
Melissa Schalk, executive secretary for the Counseling Center.
Evelyn Seitz, executive secretary for the dean’s office within the College of Education and Human Services.
Amy Thering, manager of student employment in Human Resources.
Mary Valkos, executive secretary for Earth and Atmospheric Sciences in the College of Science and Engineering.
Brittnie Vithanage, assistant director of residence life in Student Affairs.

Honorees are nominated by peers and colleagues for exemplary service to others. A subgroup of faculty and staff members from the Shared Governance Council ranks the nominations submitted through a blind review process and selects the honorees for excellence on the job, serving people well, communication skills, courage and effectiveness, passion for CMU, and modeling inclusiveness and respect.

President Bob Davies will present the Staff Excellence Awards at 3 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23, in the Bovee University Center Rotunda. Award recipients receive a plaque and a free senior officer parking pass for a year.

RSVP to Krista Holtgreive by Tuesday, Sept. 10 at holtg1ks@cmich.edu or by calling 989-774-7392.