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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.

      From books to paycheck: What does that look like?

      by Alisha Toyzan

      Central Michigan University students gathered in Grawn Atrium on April 15 for “From Books to Paycheck: What Does That Look Like?” a financial planning workshop led by Rudy Bustamante and hosted by Prospanica CMU. 

      The student-focused event aimed to equip attendees with budgeting skills and financial strategies for life after graduation. Students followed a PowerPoint presentation and completed an interactive worksheet designed to help them apply the material to their own lives. 

      “Begin with the end in mind,” Bustamante urged, setting the tone for a forward-thinking conversation about financial independence. 

      The workshop covered three key areas: 

      1. Understanding fixed expenses: Students were encouraged to identify their anticipated annual salary and city of residence, assess their spending plans, and estimate their tax obligations. Bustamante introduced the concept of progressive taxation and pointed students to IRS.gov for estimating their hypothetical tax liabilities. 

      2. Discretionary spending and savings: Participants reflected on their current monthly expenses and how they would like to allocate their discretionary income. They considered financial priorities such as savings, retirement, donations and personal spending. 
        “Live one more year like you live now, and your savings will thank you,” Bustamante advised, challenging students to maintain their college budgeting mindset just a little longer. 

      3. Planning for the future: Using the “Rule of 72,” Bustamante demonstrated how investments grow over time. Students calculated how much a $10,000 investment from their first year’s salary could grow by retirement, prompting deeper discussions about long-term financial planning. 
        “Work 40 years to not work for 40 years,” he said. “Start planning now.” 

      The workshop concluded with a Q&A session, where students submitted questions via a QR code for personalized financial advice and follow-up discussion. 

      Blending practical exercises with motivational insights, the event encouraged students to take early, informed steps toward lifelong financial wellness. 

      For more information or follow-up resources, students can email cmustudentboard@prospanica.org. 

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