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.

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 finance students win top prize at ACG Cup

by Alisha Toyzan

A team of Central Michigan University College of Business Administration students won the 2025 ACG Cup West Michigan, earning the top prize of $6,000 in a finance case competition held on February 22, 2025.

Team BHS Capital – Owen Brinker, Carolina Hernandez Ruiz, and Justin Soukhome – competed against 37 teams from 17 colleges and universities, applying financial analysis and valuation skills to present strategic recommendations that would impress a board of directors to a panel of industry professionals.

A record year for ACG Cup

This year’s competition included 136 students and 34 judges representing investment banking, corporate law, private equity, and accounting firms. Participants stepped into the role of financial consultants, analyzing complex business scenarios and presenting recommendations to industry experts.

“Seeing students push themselves beyond their comfort zones as they took on experiential learning and were challenged by the industry’s best professionals is the most rewarding aspect of the competition,” said Nathan Olberding of Adamy Valuation, who helped develop the case financials. He added that the competition helps students “prepare to become the next generation of leaders in our complex and demanding professional landscape.”

“The ACG Cup is always an incredible experience, bringing together top talent and outstanding professionals. I’m grateful to be part of the team that makes this event possible,” said Ashley Gray, managing partner at Aquila Equity Partners.

Industry connections and career opportunities

Students also attended a networking event before the competition, connecting with business professionals. Many past participants have secured internships and full-time roles with ACG member companies.

“Each year I’m pleased to see a number of competitors take internships or full-time jobs with ACG member companies. It’s a testament to the impression competing students make on our local business leaders,” said Gunther Brinkman, CEO of Baking Company and ACG Cup Co-Chair.

“It’s a great opportunity for finance students to get real-world exposure to industry professionals and learn how to ‘roll with the punches,’” added Jeff Edwards, principal of Reveille Development.

About ACG Cup

The ACG Cup Western Michigan is part of the global Association for Corporate Growth and is recognized as a leading ACG Cup competition across North America’s 54 chapters. The event provides students with hands-on experience in mergers and acquisitions, valuation, and corporate finance.