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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Martinez named to lead CMU civil rights office

by Sanjay Gupta

Mary Martinez has been selected to lead Central Michigan University’s Office of Civil Rights and Institutional Equity, effective Aug. 30. Martinez became interim executive director in June 2019, following the departure of Katherine Lasher.

Mary Martinez has been selected to lead Central Michigan University's Office of Civil Rights and Institutional Equity, effective Aug. 30. Martinez became interim executive director in June 2019, following the departure of Katherine Lasher.

As permanent executive director, she also will serve as CMU's affirmative action and equal opportunity officer and Title IX coordinator. Title IX is the federal civil rights law that protects against sex discrimination in education programs.

Previously, Martinez served OCRIE as deputy director and deputy Title IX coordinator. She said CMU's commitment to inclusivity and diversity led her to seek the permanent position.

"The university has always been a leader in addressing harassment, discrimination and sexual misconduct," she said. "I am humbled and thrilled to continue providing leadership in CMU's affirmative action efforts and its civil rights and Title IX areas."

OCRIE coordinates and monitors the university's affirmative action and equal opportunity efforts to assure compliance with state and federal law. The office supervises reporting and record-keeping; provides educational programs and materials; offers guidance and advice to community members on nondiscrimination and affirmative action policies and procedures; helps departments recruit and retain staff; and receives and resolves complaints of discrimination from students, employees and others.

Martinez expects to continue work she began as interim executive director to strengthen relationships with offices throughout CMU.

"I look forward to enhancing OCRIE's partnerships with students and campus partners," she said.

Martinez graduated from Michigan State University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in social work and certificates in diversity and gerontology. She earned her Master of Social Work degree from MSU in 2009.

CMU President Bob Davies recognized Martinez's leadership.

"I appreciate Mary's leadership of OCRIE over the past two years and the skills that she brings to this important position for the university," Davies said.

She joined CMU in 2016 as a Title IX investigator, having previously served in the offices of student conduct and student life at the University of Toledo in Ohio; as a residence director for Collegiate Management Group in Flint, Michigan; and in MSU's residence life department.