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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 College of Medicine appoints new Chair of Surgical Disciplines
by
Kelly Belcher
The CMU College of Medicine is pleased to announce that our own Kathleen Cowling, D.O. has accepted the Chair of Surgical Disciplines role within the College. Dr. Cowling has been serving as the Program Director for the Emergency Medicine residency at CMU Education Partners since 2015.
Previously, Dr. Cowling served two terms as the Chief of Staff at Covenant HealthCare where she maintains attending privileges. She also serves as a trustee for the Michigan Emergency Medicine Foundation. “I am so honored to be selected for Chair,” said Cowling. “The impact that the College of Medicine is having on the Mid-Michigan community is spectacular and to be part of it is awesome.”
Dr. Cowling’s passion for excellent medical care makes her an exceptional provider, professor and mentor. She uses her knowledge and skills to prepare the next generation of outstanding physicians. Her advocacy work includes extensive committee work with the American College of Emergency Physicians which led to serving on the Board of Directors as the secretary-treasurer, vice-president and as a candidate for president-elect. Dr. Cowling sat on the Michigan Certificate of Need Commission under Governor Rick Snyder and has held board positions, including president, with the Michigan College of Emergency Physicians.
In 2016, Dr. Cowling’s exemplary career was recognized by the American College of Emergency Physicians when she was presented with the John A. Rupke Legacy Award. In 2023, she was again honored for her outstanding contributions with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Michigan College of Emergency Medicine.
“Dr. Cowling’s dedication to medicine and medical education makes her ideally suited for the Chair of Surgical Disciplines position,” stated George E. Kikano, M.D., VP of Health Affairs at CMU and Dean of the College of Medicine. “As a physician and an educator, she has made a long-standing commitment to improving health and wellness throughout the state. Her leadership, administrative experience and overall desire to mentor new and upcoming physicians will prove invaluable to the surgical program.”
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.
