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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 to host in-person, outdoor commencement ceremonies in May
by
Sanjna Jassi
Central Michigan University will host a series of outdoor commencement ceremonies in Kelly/Shorts Stadium in May 2021.
The global pandemic put a stop to all of Central Michigan University’s in-person commencement plans in 2020. Those graduates — along with more than 2,750 who will graduate this spring — will have the opportunity to walk across the stage and receive their diplomas at a series of outdoor commencement ceremonies this May.
“I am thrilled to be able to personally congratulate our May 2021 graduates and to welcome 2020 graduates back to campus to celebrate their achievements,” CMU President Bob Davies said. “Receiving a college diploma is an outstanding accomplishment and our graduates deserve to be recognized in person.”
In a video to 2020 and May 2021 graduates, President Davies announces plans for May 2021 commencement in Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
The ceremonies will be held in Kelly/Shorts Stadium over the course of two weekends in May. May 2021 graduates will be celebrated in ceremonies held May 7, 8 and 9; which ceremony students attend is based on their degree program. Alumni who graduated in 2020 can return to Mount Pleasant to attend one of several ceremonies scheduled on May 15.
Each graduate is guaranteed two tickets, allowing for proper physical distancing within the stadium at all times. All attendees also will be required to wear face coverings.
“The health and safety of our students, their family and friends, our campus community, and our surrounding area remains a top priority,” Davies said. “That has driven all of our decision-making, including our plans to celebrate CMU’s 2020 and May 2021 graduates.”
Further details about the May commencement ceremonies will be available on CMU’s commencement website as they become available.
Signature Programs
Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship
Explore special opportunities to learn new skills and travel the world.
Compete & Win
New Venture Challenge 2025
Present your venture and win BIG at the New Venture Challenge.
Build your skills
Workshops and events
Boost your entrepreneurial skills through our workshops, mentor meetups and pitch competitions.
Develop your ideas
IDEA Den
Learn about the entrepreneurship makerspace on campus in Grawn Hall.
Ready, Set, Pitch!
Make-A-Pitch 2024
Present a 2-minute pitch at the Make-A-Pitch Competition and you could win prizes and bragging rights!
Meet Mentors
Mentorship and support
Connect with mentors and faculty who are here to support the next generation of CMU entrepreneurs.
Support students
Make an impact
Are you a CMU alum looking to support CMU student entrepreneurs? Learn how you can support or donate to the Entrepreneurship Institute.
View our programming newsletter
Alumni give back to students through mentorship, real-world experiences
The Wakeling Gendron Entrepreneurial Scholars program wrapped its first cohort this academic year.
Students compete to win cash prizes at the New Venture Challenge
Pitched 40 ventures at NMV Challenge, Friday, April 19, CMU. Judges awarded $100,000 in cash prizes.
Wakeling Gendron Scholars make a life-changing trip to Texas
Wakeling and Gendron Scholars attended SXSW in Texas, meeting industry leaders and gaining entrepreneurial insights.
Business barriers lead CMU students to a new venture
Justin Ashman and Philip Mundt won Central Michigan University's New Venture Competition with their 3-D printing operation, Form Further.
