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.

Learn more

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 launches master plan update focused on campus identity

by Sanjna Jassi

The master plan update builds upon a previously set foundation, including the 2013 Campus Master Plan and 2017 Capital Plan, and will document projects already completed or underway.

In 2013, Central Michigan University developed a comprehensive campus master plan to support the university's mission, goals and values. Now, with much of the original plan complete, the university is launching an update.

"CMU's master plan update process will provide a roadmap for the university that guides future physical changes needed to facilitate meeting objectives, adapt to anticipated upcoming changes and align with the Strategic Envisioning Process," said Nick Long, vice president for Finance and Administrative Services.

The master plan update builds upon a previously set foundation, including the 2013 Campus Master Plan and 2017 Capital Plan, and will document projects already completed or underway. It also will forecast future needs based on both qualitative and quantitative inputs including existing conditions analysis, space utilization and benchmarking, enrollment statistics and facility condition assessment.

"The master plan update process will seek to engage students, faculty, staff and alumni to obtain input and feedback on future campus needs and improvements," Jonathan Webb, associate vice president for Facilities Management said.

CMU will host virtual town halls in April and distribute an online survey tailored to students, faculty and staff. Alumni, current and prospective students and community partners will have the opportunity to share feedback over the summer; this input will inform recommendations.

Campus involvement

As part of the initial stage of the campus master plan update, students, faculty and staff are invited to provide input regarding the physical identity of CMU's campus. Townhall sessions for various stakeholder groups are scheduled for the week of April 12 — please see the complete information, including dates and times, below.

Those unable to attend a town hall session, or who are interested in providing written feedback, may complete an online survey, which will be sent in the coming weeks.

In the end, a holistic set of future improvement recommendations will include land use, building renovation/demolition/new construction, landscape design, infrastructure and transportation and parking solutions. Four supplemental area development plans will provide further detail on space needs and land use planning in the following functional areas: academics, administrative services, athletics, and student affairs.

Long said a new 10-year capital plan also will be established to inform campus improvements.

Engineering and architecture firm GMB and design firm Perkins&Will are assisting CMU with the master plan update. The process is underway and will continue through September.

Student town hall meetings

Session 1:

Wednesday, April 14

10 to 11 a.m. EST

Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7597337024?pwd=L2JlaExDcCsyV2VsT1lnNDRtcmthUT09

Phone dial-in number: 669-900-6833, Zoom Meeting ID: 759-733-7024

Session 2:

Wednesday, April 14

5 to 6 p.m. EST

Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9548724664?pwd=QS9hNW8wZi9iWjhMSmF1RklmTUordz09