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.

Learn more

Innovation

Explore your ideas and build your skills.

Learn more

Joe Staley to serve as homecoming grand marshal

by Sanjna Jassi

Former Central Michigan Football and National Football League great Joe Staley will serve as grand marshal for CMU's homecoming celebration this October.

Staley, an offensive tackle, played for CMU from 2003-06. He was captain of the 2006 Mid-American Conference championship team and also led that team to the program's first bowl victory. The San Francisco 49ers took Staley in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft as the No. 28 pick, the highest a CMU football player had ever been selected at the time.

Along with his grand marshal honor, Staley will be inducted into the Marcy Weston CMU Athletics Hall of Fame during homecoming weekend.

Plan to come home

Homecoming weekend is Oct. 15-16, with CMU hosting Toledo at 3:30 p.m. on that Saturday in Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Tickets are on sale at Ticket Central in the John G. Kulhavi Events Center or by calling 888-347-3872.

"Central Michigan holds a very special place in my heart," Staley said. "It is where I got my start toward my professional career and I have many great memories from my time there. I am excited to come back and have a great week with the friends and family who had such an important influence on who I am and my accomplishments."

Staley allowed just one sack in his final two seasons at CMU and earned First Team All-MAC honors during his senior year. A native of Rockford, Michigan, Staley played in 47 games including 11 as a true freshman at tight end.

"We are excited to welcome Joe and his family back this fall," said Amy Folan, the Zyzelewski Family Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics. "He has been an amazing representative for CMU since joining our program in 2003 and has brought an immense amount of pride and recognition to our university during his fantastic career."

Staley starred for 13 seasons for the 49ers, starting all 181 games he played in for the team. He earned NFL All-Pro honors three times, was named to the Pro Bowl six times and was selected to the NFL 2010 All-Decade team. Staley played two Super Bowls, XLVII and LIV.

"We are excited to welcome Joe home to CMU as grand marshal," said Marcie Otteman, CMU's executive director of Alumni Relations and constituent engagement. "His NFL career is legendary. We are so proud of him and look forward to honoring him."