Start up
Build up your venture idea.
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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.
Coordinator of the General Education Program selected
by
Erica Peters
David Patton, interim senior vice provost for academic affairs, has announced Joshua Smith as the coordinator of Central Michigan University’s General Education Program. Smith has served as the interim coordinator since 2022 and will now complete a three-year appointment.
“I am thrilled that Dr. Smith has accepted the position of Coordinator of the General Education Program,” Patton said. “As the Interim coordinator, Joshua has provided outstanding leadership and demonstrated a deep understanding of the importance of a high-quality General Education experience for our students. I particularly appreciate his efforts to lead the General Education Revision process. I look forward to continuing working with him to support our General Education efforts at CMU.”
As the coordinator, Smith oversees the university-level operations and initiatives of CMU’s General Education program, in consultation with the General Education Committee, other relevant faculty committees, and the Office of the Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs. Smith acts as the primary resource for faculty, departments, colleges, and the broader university community in all areas relating to the General Education Program.
“I'm honored to serve in this vital role and will maintain the high standards of those who have served before me. I'm especially excited to see out our reconsideration of the General Education Program, which will give CMU's dedicated faculty the ability to provide CMU students the broad knowledge base and skills they'll need to excel beyond CMU professionally, personally, and as members of their communities,” Smith said.
Smith will continue to work with the General Education Ad Hoc Committee to steward the revision of the university’s General Education Program, a university-wide Quality Initiative for the 2025-2026 Reaffirmation of Accreditation approved by the Higher Learning Commission. The aim of the Quality Initiative is to undertake a comprehensive re-envisioning process to discuss, explore, and enhance the General Education Program.
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.
