Start up
Build up your venture idea.
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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.
Nominations open for 2025 Alumni Awards
by
Aaron Mills
Central Michigan University is once again gearing up to celebrate alumni and friends who have made significant contributions of their time, talents or financial resources to benefit the institution.
Nominations for the 2025 Alumni Awards are now open. The deadline to nominate an outstanding alumna or alumnus is 11:59 p.m. Friday, March 28.
Included among the honorees, the Division of Student Affairs will present the Student Life Dedication and Service Award. The prize recognizes an alumnus or alumna who served as a student leader or employee during their time on the Mount Pleasant campus.
The recipient will be distinguished based on both their academic time on campus and their post-graduation commitment to the university and its standards. Criteria for consideration include:
- The candidate’s contributions through leadership, service and dedication while a student of Central Michigan University.
- The candidate’s work promoting collaboration and partnerships, while enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the communities they serve.
- The candidate’s records of professional achievements and community service. The honoree will have achieved prominence in their career and brought distinction to the university or their community through their accomplishments.
Last year’s award was presented to Dr. Spencer Long (’08, ’10), the chief education, engagement and events officer for the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
During his time at Central Michigan University, Dr. Long was deeply involved in campus activities, starting in his earliest days on campus as a freshman attendee of Leadership Safari. He would become a guide, core team member and staff assistant for Leadership Safari; serve as treasurer of and senator for the Student Government Association; and play a key role in establishing the Victory Cannon – the trophy that still marks the winner of the CMU-Western Michigan rivalry football game -- among other campus-centric accomplishments.
Today, Long continues his service to Central Michigan University as Alumni Board member emeritus.
“Take advantage of everything while you can,” he said of his alma matter. “It’s a special place.”
Additional awards accepting nominations through the end of the month include the:
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.
