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 College of Medicine faculty member earns prestigious FAIMER Fellowship

by Kelly Belcher

Faculty member Neli Ragina, Ph.D., associate professor and director of research for the Central Michigan University College of Medicine has been chosen for the 2025 fellowship program with the International FAIMER Institute, a globally recognized program dedicated to advancing health professions education. The fellowship program is offered by the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER) and is awarded to exceptional educators committed to enhancing health care education worldwide.

The 2025 program received over 170 applicants from 34 countries, Ragina was one of only 22 health professionals chosen for this prestigious fellowship. She has demonstrated outstanding leadership and a genuine passion for scientific and medical education. Through this fellowship, Ragina will engage in an intensive two-year program designed to teach innovative education methods and advanced leadership and management practices.

“This achievement is the acknowledgment of Neli’s dedication to shaping the future of medical education and research. Her devotion to excellence elevates our institution and advances health care in our community and beyond”, said George E. Kikano, M.D., dean of the College and executive vice president of health affairs at CMU. “We are immensely proud of this well-deserved recognition and look forward to the impact she will continue to make.”

Ragina’s selection for the FAIMER Fellowship reflects the College’s ongoing commitment to fostering leadership and innovation in medical education. She shared her thoughts on this tremendous accomplishment.

“I am deeply honored to be selected as one of only 22 recipients worldwide for the FAIMER Fellowship. This prestigious opportunity represents more than just an achievement—it is a gateway to transformative learning, leadership, and global collaboration in medical education and research.

Over the next two years, I will engage in advanced training in health professions education, leadership, and research, equipping me with the skills to drive meaningful changes in medical education. The FAIMER Fellowship is an investment in my growth as a medical educator and researcher, offering unparalleled opportunities to collaborate with leading universities and medical schools worldwide.

Beyond personal development, this fellowship also strengthens the institutional impact of CMU and the CMU College of Medicine. As a FAIMER Fellow, I am proud to serve as an ambassador, enhancing our university’s visibility and outreach within the international medical community.

This journey is not just about expanding knowledge- it is about shaping the future of medical education and improving health care for all. I am eager to embark on this transformative experience and contribute to a global network dedicated to excellence in health professions education.”