A student standing and speaking in front of a large crowd in French Auditorium.

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 celebrates staff excellence

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Central Michigan University will celebrate 10 employees this month for their outstanding service to the university and its students.

Central Michigan University will celebrate 10 employees this month for their outstanding service to the university and its students. Recipients of the 2020-21 Staff Excellence Award are:

Angella Coldwell, executive secretary in Student Affairs.
Tim Gramza, director for Information Technology for the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and College of Business Administration.
Sarah Kunik (posthumous recipient), executive office specialist for the Center for Clinical Experiences within the College of Education and Human Services.
Misheaila Neil, director for University Events.
Marnie Roestel, manager for Learning Systems Support in Curriculum and Instructional Support.
Ryan Smith, data architect team lead for data and customer relationship management in the Office of Information Technology.
Suzanne Sova, executive secretary for the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.
Dawn Weller, executive office specialist for Instructional Development in Curriculum and Instructional Support.
Bryan Whitledge, archivist manager for University Digital Records at Clarke Historical Library.
Tracee Wilson, coordinator for the institutional animal care and use committee, and institutional biosafety committee.

Honorees are nominated by peers and colleagues for exemplary service to others. A committee of past winners 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. Tuesday, Sept. 21, in the Bovee University Center Rotunda. Award recipients receive a plaque and a free senior officer parking pass for a year or an equivalent gift certificate to the CMU Bookstore.

RSVP to Sarah Venman at stran2sc@cmich.edu or by calling 989-774-7194.