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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Growing safe futures: Elevating food safety in Michigan schools

by Kathleen Hodgkins

On Tuesday, October 15, students enrolled in NDS 364 Food Safety, Sanitation, and Health had the unique opportunity to engage with Lori Yelton, MS, RDN, a food management consultant from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). Yelton's visit enriched the classroom experience, offering invaluable insights into the vital role MDARD plays in ensuring food safety and promoting Michigan’s robust food and agriculture industry.

Yelton's presentation highlighted the significance of the farm-to-school initiative and the critical importance of food safety practices within this framework. Students learned about key topics including the FDA Food Code, which provides guidelines to ensure food safety, and the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), aimed at providing nutritious meals to students.

A special focus was given to Michigan’s innovative 10 Cents a Meal Program, which supports local farmers while enhancing the nutritional quality of school meals. This initiative not only promotes healthy eating but also fosters a connection between students and local agriculture.

Michigan is a leader in the agricultural sector, ranking as the number one producer in the U.S. for several commodities, including tart cherries, cucumbers, dry beans, squash, and asparagus. The state also holds a top ten position for apples, carrots, grapes, blueberries, and celery, highlighting the diverse and rich agricultural landscape that students are encouraged to explore and understand.

“Engaging with professionals like Lori Yelton equips our students with the knowledge and skills needed to ensure food safety and promote sustainable practices in the food industry,” said Dr. Jeff Fisher, instructor of NDS 364. “We are proud to incorporate real-world experiences that prepare our students for future challenges in food safety and nutrition.”

This session not only underscored the importance of food safety in school meal programs but also inspired students to consider their roles in supporting local agriculture and advocating for healthier food systems.

For more information about NDS 364 and upcoming guest lectures, please get in touch with Dr. Jeff Fisher, at fishe2jj@cmich.edu. To learn more about the Nutrition and Dietetics program and course offerings, please get in touch with program director Dr. Najat Yehia at yahia1n@cmich.edu.