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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College of Health Professions honors outstanding community partners

by Kathleen Hodgkins

Isabella County Commission on Aging and Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center were recently announced as the recipients of the Outstanding Community Partner Award for 2024 by The Herbert H. & Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions. This award is presented to individuals and organizations external to CMU in appreciation of their sustained and reciprocal partnership with the college. This award recognizes and honors the vital role and commitment of our community partners in supporting the college's pursuit of excellence in scholarship, education and community service.

Executive Director Jennifer Crawford and Activity Program Manager Marcy Huntoon accepted the award from the Isabella County Commission on Aging. The Isabella County Commission on Aging is a department within the Isabella County Governmental Unit that serves the needs of local older adults and their families. Its mission is to promote the health, independence and fulfillment of older adults through the coordination and provision of diverse services and opportunities.

Two people pose holding a College of Health Professions Community Partnership Award plaque.

The Isabella COA has collaborated with CHP faculty, staff and students through the Health Professions Residential College’s Bottles to Branches landscaping project, the Physical Therapy Program’s Fit Feet Walking Club, and the Audiology Program’s No Cost Hearing Aid Cleanings clinics. These partnerships have created meaningful opportunities for CHP students to develop professional skills while engaging in community service.

Graduate Medical Education Coordinators Tara Martin and Danny Champagne accepted the award for The Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center. It is part of the Veterans Health Administration, America’s largest integrated healthcare system serving 9 million enrolled veterans each year. The Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center, located in Saginaw, Michigan, was established in September 1950 and is dedicated in honor of Lt. Aleda E. Lutz, a distinguished veteran of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps.

Two people pose holding a College of Health Professions Community Partnership Award plaque.

The Aleda E. Lutz VAMC has partnered with CHP for over 25 years, providing internship and clinical placements for students in various healthcare and allied fields, including audiology, clinical exercise science, health administration and physical therapy. These experiences add depth and create value for students as they progress through their professional training programs and prepare for careers in healthcare.

The college has a committee that continues to recognize, support and grow external partnerships that align with the college's pursuit of excellence in scholarship, education and service. CHP partners with over 800 clinical, educational, social service, government, business and other agencies in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, the United States and around the world.