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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.

      Hands-on flavor: Crafting homemade tortillas at the Allen Foundation Culinary Nutrition Center

      by Kathleen Hodgkins

      On Tuesday, October 2, students gathered at Central Michigan University’s newly renovated Allen Foundation Culinary Nutrition Center for an interactive homemade tortilla-making event. This hands-on experience was a collaborative effort between Prospanica: Association of Hispanic MBA & Business Professionals, Multicultural Academic Student Services, and the Nutrition and Dietetics program at CMU.

      “We’ve been hosting this event for three years because nothing brings people together like food,” said Yazmin Torres, President of Prospanica. Ingredients for the event were generously provided by Hacienda Mexican Foods, a family-owned business based in Detroit’s vibrant Mexicantown. Lydia Gutierrez, CEO of Hacienda Mexican Foods, shared, “Tortillas are like Mana, a bread from heaven. For us, it’s all about supporting our employees, the communities they live in, and staying true to our authentic products.”

      The Culinary Nutrition Center, housed in Wightman Hall, features 12 commercial-grade workstations outfitted with modern ovens and professional food service equipment. Dr. Fisher emphasized the facility's impact, stating, “This state-of-the-art space significantly enhances the hands-on learning experience for our Nutrition and Dietetics students.” Courses offered in the center include NDS 160 Introduction to Cooking, NDS 361 Food Science, and the recently introduced NDS 291 Introduction to Wine, offered each fall.

      For more information about the Nutrition and Dietetics program and its course offerings, please contact Program Director Dr. Najat Yahia at yahia1n@cmich.edu.

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