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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.
Heidi Tracy named new advancement vice president
by
Sanjna Jassi
Heidi L. Tracy has been appointed Central Michigan University’s new vice president for advancement, effective Oct. 1.
Central Michigan University President Bob Davies today announced that Heidi L. Tracy has been appointed the university’s new vice president for advancement, effective Oct. 1.
Tracy, an independent advancement consultant providing support and guidance to organizations, has held roles in academic advancement and development for more than 20 years. She served as a consultant for advancement strategy, and vice president for university advancement and executive director of the TWU Foundation, at Texas Woman's University, from 2015-18. She also served as vice president for institutional advancement at Otterbein University from 2009-15 and assistant vice president for individual giving at Carnegie Mellon University from 2006-09.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ohio University and also completed Harvard University’s Institute for Educational Management.
“Ms. Tracy brings to CMU an impressive and consistent record of creating and leading highly successful university development campaigns in addition to philanthropic fundraising,” Davies said. “I look forward to partnering with her as we pursue bold ideas that will help fund our vision for relevance and excellence.”
As vice president for advancement, Tracy will lead the university’s development and alumni relations functions.
“It is an honor and privilege to join an institution that is innovative and responsive to the needs of our society,” Tracy said. “From the moment I stepped onto campus, I felt the collective commitment to providing access to a quality education and excellence in research in pursuit of the common good. I look forward to working closely with Dr. Davies and the entire CMU community to shape an advancement program that will allow Central Michigan to flourish for generations to come.”
Tracy replaces Bob Martin, who retired June 30 at the conclusion of the Fire Up for Excellence campaign. Michael Alford, CMU Zyzelewski Family associate vice president and director of athletics, has served in the interim.
Signature Programs
Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship
Explore special opportunities to learn new skills and travel the world.
Compete & Win
New Venture Challenge 2025
Present your venture and win BIG at the New Venture Challenge.
Build your skills
Workshops and events
Boost your entrepreneurial skills through our workshops, mentor meetups and pitch competitions.
Develop your ideas
IDEA Den
Learn about the entrepreneurship makerspace on campus in Grawn Hall.
Ready, Set, Pitch!
Make-A-Pitch 2024
Present a 2-minute pitch at the Make-A-Pitch Competition and you could win prizes and bragging rights!
Meet Mentors
Mentorship and support
Connect with mentors and faculty who are here to support the next generation of CMU entrepreneurs.
Support students
Make an impact
Are you a CMU alum looking to support CMU student entrepreneurs? Learn how you can support or donate to the Entrepreneurship Institute.
View our programming newsletter
Alumni give back to students through mentorship, real-world experiences
The Wakeling Gendron Entrepreneurial Scholars program wrapped its first cohort this academic year.
Students compete to win cash prizes at the New Venture Challenge
Pitched 40 ventures at NMV Challenge, Friday, April 19, CMU. Judges awarded $100,000 in cash prizes.
Wakeling Gendron Scholars make a life-changing trip to Texas
Wakeling and Gendron Scholars attended SXSW in Texas, meeting industry leaders and gaining entrepreneurial insights.
Business barriers lead CMU students to a new venture
Justin Ashman and Philip Mundt won Central Michigan University's New Venture Competition with their 3-D printing operation, Form Further.
