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 prepares to host FIRST Robotics Competition

by Robert Wang

Excitement is brewing at Central Michigan University as we gear up to host the exhilarating FIRST Robotics Week 5 District Competition Friday, March 29 through Saturday, March 30. CMU stands tall as a leading public research institution, boasting over 14,000 students and offering many programs spanning various academic domains, from business and education to health professions, humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and STEM.

Dedicated to fostering an inclusive and equitable learning environment, CMU is committed to championing diversity, equity, and inclusion. With a mission to prepare students for successful careers and lifelong learning, CMU stands out as a top choice for higher education in the Midwest.

But the excitement doesn't end there! As the campus buzzes with anticipation, the spotlight shines on McGuirk Arena, home to the upcoming robotics showdown. This state-of-the-art facility, nestled within the $22.5 million John G. Kulhavi Events Center, is more than just a venue—it's a hub of energy and innovation.

From the gleaming displays showcasing CMU's rich tradition to the inspiring murals paying homage to campus heroes, McGuirk Arena buzzes with energy. And as the robotics competition comes to life in the lower level of the John G. Kulhavi Events Center, the stage is set for a thrilling showcase of talent and creativity.

But it's not just about the competition; it's about community and collaboration. CMU stands proudly as a beacon of support for FIRST's mission, rallying behind high school students as they embark on a journey of research, design and friendly competition.

With a team of dedicated coordinators, partners and volunteers, including CMU event coordinator Ernur Karadogan, volunteer coordinator Brian DeJong, and many more, the stage is set for an unforgettable event.

So to all the aspiring engineers, innovators and dreamers out there, mark your calendars for March 29 and 30 as CMU welcomes you to this incredible event that is free and open to the public. Join us at McGuirk Arena, where the spirit of gracious professionalism meets the thrill of competition, and together, let's celebrate the boundless possibilities of STEM education.