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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’s 2025 Assessment Retreat showcases innovation and inspires faculty

      by Robert Wang

      Central Michigan University recently held its 2025 Assessment Retreat, bringing together faculty and staff to focus on improving how students learn and succeed. With the theme Engaging in Meaningful Continuous Improvement, the event was packed with fresh ideas, success stories, and inspiration for taking student education to the next level.

      The retreat’s must-see session was led by InSciTE Director Dr. Wiline Pangle and CSE Director of Assessment and Accreditation Dr. Jenny Laubenthal, who shared the story of CMU’s cutting-edge InSciTE Program (Integration of Science, Technology, and Engineering).

      If you haven’t heard about InSciTE yet, it’s a 15-credit certificate program that’s been turning heads since it launched in 2023. Designed to help students tackle big STEM challenges, the program focuses on real-world skills like teamwork, communication, and time management. The best part? Students get to shape the course content based on what they’re passionate about, creating a unique learning experience tailored to their goals.

      Drs. Pangle and Laubenthal gave an inside look at how InSciTE works and shared two years of data showing how the program’s hands-on, inclusive approach is making a difference. Their session was a great example of how CMU is leading the way in creating innovative programs that help students thrive.

      The retreat wasn’t just about sharing ideas—it was about showing how CMU is committed to helping students and faculty succeed. Events like this highlight the university’s focus on continuous improvement and its dedication to creating programs like InSciTE that prepare students for bright futures.

      Learn more about the InSciTE program and other exciting initiatives by visiting the InSciTE website.

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      Questions?

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