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.

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Innovation

Explore your ideas and build your skills.

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Police chief candidates to visit

by Sanjna Jassi

Four candidates for CMU police chief job to visit campus for open forums.

Four candidates for the job of Central Michigan University police chief will visit campus beginning this week.

They will meet with faculty, staff and students at open forums this Wednesday and Thursday; Friday, May 10; and Thursday, May 16.

The police chief search committee has identified Larry Klaus, Bruce Borkovich, Kyra Hope and Scott McCanham as candidates to replace current Chief Bill Yeagley, who announced his retirement in February after 41 years in law enforcement. Yeagley will step down in August.

Dates and details for the candidates' visits:

Wednesday, May, 1: Larry Klaus

Klaus is a CMU police lieutenant and law enforcement division commander, serving at CMU since 2011. From 1986-2011, he worked for the Lansing Police Department in various supervisory positions. He received a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Ferris State University in 1985. His open forum takes place from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in Park Library's Baber Room.

Thursday, May 2: Bruce Borkovich

Borkovich is the director of public safety at Ferris State University. From 2006-13 he served as assistant team leader on the Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team. He received a master's degree in criminal justice administration from Ferris State University in 2017. His open forum takes place from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in Park Library's Baber Room.

Friday, May 10: Kyra Hope

Hope is a Detroit police captain with the Chief's Neighborhood Liaison. From March 2014 to February 2019, she served as captain of Detroit's seventh precinct. She received her master's degree in liberal studies, business technology and management from Eastern Michigan University in 1998. Her open forum takes place from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in Park Library's Baber Room.

Thursday, May 16: Scott McCanham

McCanham is the Bloomfield Township, Michigan, police chief and has served in the department since 1988. He also is a part-time instructor at the Oakland Police Academy, a position he has held since 2002. He received a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Ferris State University in 1988. His open forum takes place from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in Park Library's Baber Room.

Faculty, staff and students are welcome to attend all open forums.