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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.
Literacy efforts earn recognition
by
Sanjay Gupta
CMU faculty member Troy Hicks received The Divergent Award for Excellence in 21st Century Literacies Research.
Troy Hicks, faculty member in teacher education and professional development and director of the Master of Arts in Learning, Design and Technology program, recently was awarded the Divergent Award for Excellence in Literacy Advocacy recognizing individuals using digital spaces to advocate for literacy, students and equity in all facets of academia.
"Thanks to Dr. Shelbie Witte of Oklahoma State University and her entire Initiative for 21st Century Literacies Research Leadership Team, I am grateful for this Divergent award," Hicks said.
The Initiative for 21st Century Literacies Research recognizes the importance of literacy in a digital age, those who diverge from traditional pedagogies and research approaches, and the indelible contributions of educators and scholars who have dedicated their careers to the theoretical and practical study of 21st century literacies.
Hicks' research focuses on writing literacy and technology. He frequently conducts professional development workshops through the Chippewa River Writing Project, an organization that works to improve the teaching and learning of writing in Michigan's schools and local communities.
He also coordinates the annual Beaver island Institute, a unique, one-week professional learning opportunity at CMU's Biological Station on Beaver Island in Lake Michigan, where 16 K-12 teachers participate in collaborative, inquiry-based workshops and field experiences to identify and integrate key standards from STEAM-related fields: science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
"As we work to make remote learning a reality, we know that students need more than just technical skills," Hicks said. "Digital literacies — which enable them to both critically consume content and creatively represent their learning — will become even more important for educators to teach students in the years to come."
Since beginning work at CMU in 2007, Hicks has earned numerous distinctions, most recently the Michigan Reading Association's Teacher Educator Award in 2018 and CMU's Excellence in Teaching Award in 2020.
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.
