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.

Learn more

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.

Learn more

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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Homecoming grand marshals announced

by Sanjna Jassi

CMU chooses alumni JoAnn Hinds and Gay Ebers-Franckowiak to lead the 2019 homecoming celebrations Oct. 11-13.

This year's homecoming won't be the first time JoAnn Hinds and Gay Ebers-Franckowiak make an impact on Central Michigan University.

The two alumni, selected as homecoming grand marshals, have each supported significant CMU projects and facilities for years.

Plan to celebrate

Homecoming weekend is Oct. 11-13. The football team will host New Mexico State at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12. Tickets are on sale at Ticket Central online, in the John G. Kulhavi Events Center or by calling 888-347-3872

"We're proud to celebrate two dedicated CMU alumni at this year's homecoming celebration," said Marcie Otteman, executive director of alumni relations and development strategies. "JoAnn Hinds' support for CMU's scientific mission empowers future generations of researchers, and Gay Ebers-Franckowiak is helping to pave the way for the future of CMU athletics.

"Both are highly deserving of the grand marshal honor."

CMU selects grand marshals to recognize service and support to the university and community. The grand marshals are honorary leaders of homecoming, presiding over the parade, participating in halftime ceremonies and serving as ambassadors throughout the weekend.

Gay Ebers-Franckowiak

Ebers-Franckowiak retired in 2008 as a managing director at Morgan Stanley, one of America's largest multinational banks. She was one of the highest-ranking women in the brokerage and served as its first female managing director.

She and her husband, Michael Franckowiak, have generously supported several university projects including the Grawn Hall Renovation Fund, Chippewa Champions Alumni Center, Football Championship Fund, John G. Kulhavi Event Center, Athletic Facility Program and CMU Biological Station on Beaver Island.

Ebers-Franckowiak earned a bachelor's degree in social science and an elementary teaching certificate from CMU in 1975. CMU awarded her an honorary degree in commercial science in 2017.

JoAnn Hinds

Hinds is president, CEO and owner of Diamond Die and Mold in Clinton Township, Michigan. She purchased the business from her father. Before that, she taught middle school science.

She is a leading supporter of CMU's Biological Station on Beaver Island. In 2007, CMU recognized her involvement by offering to place her name on the biological station's academic center. She deflected the honor, instead asking that it be named after CMU professor emeritus Jim Gillingham, former director of the station.

Hinds earned a bachelor's degree in biology from CMU in 1972, plus a master's degree in biology in 1977. CMU awarded her an honorary degree in commercial science in 2009.