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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Faculty honored for innovative use of technology

by Claire Doty

Central Michigan University is proud to announce that Instructional Designer Tracy Donohue was recognized by their peers with the Exemplary Course Program (ECP) Award. The ECP Award, presented by Anthology, recognizes faculty and course designers from schools, colleges, and universities around the world who develop engaging and innovative courses that represent the very best in technology and learning.

“I am honored and delighted to receive this award,” said Donohue. “Working alongside my colleague, Mingsheng Dai, Ph.D., I had the opportunity to learn and grow from her expertise about online course shells and infuse course content knowledge.”

Donohue’s course stood out among numerous submissions to win this distinguished award. The course has been celebrated for its excellence across four critical components, including Course Design, Interaction and Collaboration, Assessment, and Learner Support.

The Exemplary Course Program, which has flourished for nearly two decades, highlights the groundbreaking achievements of educators and course designers around the world.

"Students have high expectations, and the winners of the Exemplary Course Program have truly exemplified the pinnacle of course development," said Bruce Dahlgren, Chief Executive Officer at Anthology. “Anthology is delighted to honor such outstanding talent in the 2024 Exemplary Course Program. Congratulations to all this year's winners for their unwavering commitment to providing a personalized, modern learning experience and empowering student success.”

Donohue is being honored alongside other exceptional awardees, with their achievements highlighted on the Anthology website and within the Anthology Community. This platform serves as a hub for the largest organized network of users to connect, share insights, and learn from one another.