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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Health Professions First Generation Student Feature: Makenna Lazorishchak

by Kathleen Hodgkins

Get to know Makenna Lazorishchak, a first-generation student in The Herbert H. & Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions, and her advice for future students.

What inspired you to go to college?

When I was younger, I dislocated my elbow and had to go to therapy. I really liked the environment and decided I wanted to be a physical therapist. My parents wanted to make sure that I had a job that I loved every day, so they were supportive.

Why did you choose CMU?

I chose CMU because of the DPT Program, the proximity to home, and the CMU scholarship opportunities. I also like the class sizes. I have friends who never get to speak with their professors at other colleges, and I can’t imagine that. My instructors know who I am.

What does being a first-generation student mean to you?

I found a passion that I was willing to follow through with, and there has been a lot of support for it.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to a future first-generation student to help them on their journey?

There are so many resources on campus, and you are not alone. Find your people and work together.

Dr. Paul O’Conner has been a wonderful mentor for me. He has provided guidance to me as I pursue graduate school. He has been open and supportive and remembers my name and previous conversations. Thank you, Dr. O’Connor!

What do you love most about CMU?

I have so many relationships here even outside of my program. I’m currently the President of the Infusion Dance Team, which is an RSO on campus. We have 43 members and a recital at the end of each semester. Our upcoming recital is May 3^rd.

What do you hope your degree will help you achieve?

I’m majoring in exercise science, and I plan to apply to graduate school to pursue my Doctor of Physical Therapy. I plan to work with the older adult population in the future.