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

Michigan Hospitality Student Summit connects students and industry professionals

by Alisha Toyzan

On Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, Central Michigan University’s College of Business Administration hosted the second annual Michigan Hospitality Student Summit, hosted by the Hospitality and Tourism Association. This collaborative effort aims to bring together students to gain a deeper understanding of the hospitality industry and the type of career paths they can pursue.

The summit brought together students from Central Michigan University, Michigan State University, Grand Valley State University, and Ferris State University, creating a dynamic space for collaboration and networking among future hospitality professionals.

“It’s a great opportunity to meet with other students from different universities, and see what they're learning in their hospitality programs," shared an attendee from Michigan State University. Beyond intercollegiate networking, the summit highlighted a strong presence of industry professionals. These experts participated in small group networking sessions and were able to provide students with personal advice and insight.

Industry professionals see the summit as an opportunity to mentor emerging young professionals in the hospitality industry. “I'm looking forward to showcasing the many sides of the hospitality industry beyond food and beverage, including opportunities to work with corporations on franchise growth and management,” said Lexi Hunter who attended with Erin Scott—both business franchise consultants for Little Caesars.

"This event is invaluable for schools to network and learn from each other. For the CBA, it's a chance to showcase our programs, highlight the value of a business degree in an often-overlooked industry, and demonstrate our commitment to providing exceptional networking opportunities for our students and faculty alongside other institutions and professionals. We appreciate MSU's leadership in creating this event,” said Blake Stambaugh, former president of the Central Michigan University Hospitality and Tourism Association.

The Michigan Hospitality Student Summit aims to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world experience. By connecting students with peers and industry professionals, students gain valuable knowledge that can shape their academic and career aspirations.

To learn more about the hospitality program and how to get involved, reach out to current HTA president Faith Schanck or faculty member Nick Hussein.