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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.

      Meet Izabel Colliton

      by Robert Wang

      The College of Science and Engineering at Central Michigan University (CMU) is proud to spotlight Izabel Colliton, an environmental science major and biology minor, who chose CMU for its walkable campus and intimate class sizes that allow for close connections with classmates and professors alike. Izabel’s choice of CMU reflects her desire for a community-focused learning environment that would foster both academic and personal growth.

      Now well into her studies, Izabel shares her excitement for this semester's environmental field and data analysis course, which involves hands-on learning and engaging field trips. “This class is one I’m really looking forward to,” she said, noting the value of practical experiences outside the classroom. Her passion for environmental education was further strengthened through a summer internship in Suttons Bay, MI, where she served as an educator aboard a sailboat. Through this role, Izabel taught school groups about the health and threats facing the Great Lakes, an experience she describes as eye-opening and one that underscored the critical importance of environmental awareness.

      Looking ahead, Izabel plans to dive into the emerging field of microplastics research. Her goal is to investigate how these pollutants affect wildlife, human health, and ecosystems, addressing an issue that poses significant environmental challenges.

      For prospective CMU students, Izabel’s advice is to “take advantage of every opportunity you get; you are deserving of good things.” Her journey reflects the CMU experience—where close community ties, hands-on learning, and meaningful work come together to support students in achieving their aspirations.

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      Questions?

      Contact the team