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 names Staff Excellence honorees

by Sanjay Gupta

CMU is celebrating 14 employees as 2019-20 Staff Excellence Award honorees for their outstanding service to the university and its students.

slide Image — Jennifer Stilwell receives her award from President Bob Davies.

Central Michigan University is celebrating 14 employees as 2019-20 Staff Excellence Award honorees for their outstanding service to the university and its students. President Bob Davies presented the awards Tuesday in a series of small-group meetings to adhere to social distancing practices.

"Our passionate and dedicated staff make it possible for Central Michigan University to carry out its student-centered mission," Davies said. "I am proud of each of today's award recipients and the countless others who lead and lift up our community."

Winners are nominated by peers and colleagues for exemplary service to others. A committee of past winners selects the honorees for excellence on the job, serving people well, communication skills, courage and effectiveness, passion for CMU, and modeling inclusiveness and respect.

This year's award recipients are:

Mark Blackmer, maintenance and repair technician in the School of Engineering and Technology.
Nel Boose, director, enrollment and financial operations for Education and Human Services.
Bernadette Cesena, executive secretary in Communication.
Nicole Ferguson, director, clinical instruction and audiology services in Communication Sciences and Disorders.
Angela Fulk, executive secretary in Physics.
Kayla Harber-Bates, assistant director, admissions in Undergraduate Admissions.
Gary Lane, technology manager II, academic computing in the Office of Information Technology.
Heidi Mahon, director, student services, advising student services in the College of Science and Engineering.
Jared Peless, software architect, development and maintenance in the Office of Information Technology.
Sarah Scoby, coordinator, events and communications, Curriculum and Instructional Support.
Andrew Starner, multimedia web developer, learning media production, Curriculum and Instructional Support.
Barbara Steffke, coordinator/online course production, learning management systems, Curriculum and Instructional Support.
Jennifer Stilwell, technology project manager III, project management in the Office of Information Technology.
Michelle Veith, director, Student Disability Services.