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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 earns National Science Foundation grant

      by Sanjna Jassi
      CMU one of six universities recognized by the National Science Foundation for commitment to fostering breakthroughs for women in STEM fields.

      Central Michigan University is one of six recipients of the National Science Foundation’s ADVANCE Catalyst Award.

      The award recognizes institutions helping to increase representation and advancement opportunities for women in STEM.

      CMU educators will use the award of $295,170 to examine the climate and issues that may serve as barriers to women who are interested in pursuing faculty positions in STEM fields.

      The team members who will manage the project are A.T. Miller, vice president and chief diversity officer; Katrina Piatek-Jimenez, professor of mathematics; Frim Ampaw, professor of educational leadership; Tracy Galarowicz, department chair and professor of biology; and Lisa Gandy, associate professor of computer science. A faculty advisory board also has formed to support the research.

      The National Science Foundation reports that the lack of participation and career advancement in STEM is often a function of external, systemic factors unrelated to women’s abilities, skills or interests. These institutional barriers range from implicit biases, underrepresentation of women in academic leadership, the overall culture of academic organizations and more.

      “CMU defines institutional success as successful recruitment, retention, promotion and equitable salaries for women at our institution,” Miller said.

      Learn more about the award at the Center for Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’s website.

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      Questions?

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