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.

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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 reopen campus

by Sanjna Jassi

Central Michigan University plans to welcome students back to campus this fall.

Central Michigan University President Bob Davies today confirmed plans to welcome students back to the Mount Pleasant campus for the fall semester.

"The health and safety of our students, faculty and staff remains our top priority, and we will continue to closely follow guidance from local, state and national health leaders as we move forward with plans to resume in-person instruction."

Davies said the university also will offer remote and online options for students and faculty who are unable to return to campus.

"COVID-19 has changed the way higher education will be delivered in the future and requires us to think creatively and innovatively about our operations at CMU," Davies said. He said the changes will impact everything from teaching and student support services to events.

CMU's Emergency Management group is developing plans to ensure social distancing in shared spaces, such as classrooms, offices and event venues; CMU also has established new protocols for cleaning and disinfecting these common and shared areas. CMU's College of Medicine and local health officials are guiding the Emergency Management group's decision-making process, Davies said.

Last week, CMU notified students of changes in its on-campus housing: The university will reduce the number of students living in each residential suite, and an on-campus isolation and quarantine space has been established in the event of new cases of COVID-19 in the community. Faculty and staff also received information about CMU's strategic, phased return-to-campus plan, which takes effect later this month.

Davies acknowledged the uncertainties surrounding the future impact of COVID-19, but said he believes the university faculty and staff will be prepared for a safe and healthy fall semester. CMU is sharing information and updates through its Coronavirus Information Center website.

"Our university is committed to the ideals of innovation and excellence. We have the right people and the right resources for a successful academic year."