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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.

      Fund your business education goals with a scholarship

      by Alisha Toyzan

      Central Michigan University’s College of Business Administration offers students exclusive scholarship opportunities, awarding more than $500,000 annually to support their academic and professional success.

      Last year, 340 students received scholarships, reflecting the college’s commitment to empowering future business leaders. Students can explore available scholarships online and access a step-by-step video tutorial for application guidance.

      More than just financial aid 

      You don’t need to have a perfect GPA to apply. Many academic scholarships are awarded based on diverse evaluation factors like leadership qualities, career interests, community involvement, and economic need. A wide range of scholarship opportunities exists to support students at every stage of their education – from freshmen to those approaching graduation.   

      Scholarships that transform lives

      Beyond funding education, the scholarships available through the CBA create a lasting impact on its students. “We have several alumni who received awards as students and went on to become successful in their careers,” said CBA executive secretary Cindy Howard, who administers and oversees the application collection process. “They then created their own award to pay it forward to current students.” This creates a continuous cycle of generosity, where current scholarship recipients become future fund creators, supporting the next generation of scholars. 

      How to apply 

      Students interested in applying for CBA scholarships can visit the scholarship webpage for more information and to download the application. 

      With over 130 scholarships available, CMU’s College of Business Administration is committed to helping students achieve their dreams and build a brighter future. 

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      Entrepreneurship News

      Questions?

      Contact the team