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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 Debate goes undefeated in Miami

      by Bree Ring
      Enzo Cimaroli standing at a debate podium in front of an audience.

      This past weekend, freshmen Enzo Cimaroli and Mason Pickard competed at the University of Miami’s prestigious Oceans Debate Tournament, where they went undefeated through all preliminary and elimination rounds.

      The tournament focused on the timely resolution: “A 10-year moratorium on mining in the international seabed should be enacted.” The resolution touched on issues of economics, science, environmentalism, and geopolitics. Enzo and Mason demonstrated exceptional poise, research depth, and strategic argumentation in every round—ultimately advancing to and winning the championship.

      Adding to the prestige of the event, the semifinal and final rounds were judged by a panel of experts in environmental policy and marine science, including:

      Mason Pickard standing at a debate podium in front of an audience.

      • Gabriella Berman, MS, JD – PhD Fellow, Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy, University of Miami Rosenstiel School
      • Dr. Alanna Lecher – University Research Coordinator & Associate Professor, Environmental Science & Policy, Lynn University
      • Toni Lohroff, M.S. – Director of Education & Outreach, Seakeepers
      • Rosie Moore – Citizen Science Manager, Seakeepers

      This extraordinary performance by two first-year students not only reflects their individual talent and work ethic, but also reflects the strength of the entire team, who worked together to research and practice arguments.

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