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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 Health welcomes pediatric neurology team to Women and Children’s Center
by
Alexandria Rene
SAGINAW, Mich. – CMU Medical Education Partners is proud to announce the addition of board-certified Pediatric Neurologist Dr. Brian Woodruff and certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Steven Ross to the CMU Health Women and Children’s Center. This expert neurology team brings a combined 30 years of experience in treating and managing neurological conditions in pediatric patients.
“We are fortunate to have these physicians and this new service at our center, as it will allow us to offer care closer to home for our patients,” said Dr. Samuel Shaheen, President and CEO of CMU Medical Education Partners. “Over the years, we have listened to our patients express the need for additional local specialists. With Dr. Woodruff’s and Steven’s extensive background and skill set, our organization is better equipped to meet those needs.”
About Dr. Brian Woodruff
Dr. Woodruff completed his fellowship training at the University of Michigan Medical Center, specializing in Pediatrics and Neurology. He has 20 years of extensive experience, including providing expert opinions regarding children born with conditions such as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, cerebral palsy, and developmental and cognitive delays due to injury
About Steven Ross, CPNP
Steven Ross earned his Master of Science in Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from The Ohio State University. He specializes in managing common neurological conditions, including traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, headaches, and more.
About CMU Health Women and Children’s Center
Our center provides a comprehensive care facility for adults and children. The newly renovated building offers CenteringPregnancy ® and CenteringParenting ®, a complex care clinic, and medical specialists in endocrinology, genetics, and rheumatology.
Individuals interested in scheduling an appointment may contact CMU Health at 989-746-7500 or visit www.cmuhealth.org.
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.
