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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President names interim associate vice president for Student Affairs

by Sanjna Jassi

Central Michigan University President Bob Davies named Shaun Holtgreive interim associate vice president for Student Affairs, effective July 7.

Mug-Holtgreive Holtgreive, currently interim assistant vice president for Student Affairs, will step into the role following the retirement of Tony Voisin. In this interim role, Holtgreive will report to Jennifer DeHaemers, vice president of student recruitment and retention, and will oversee many units within Student Affairs, including the offices of Residence Life, Student Activities, University Recreation and more.

Holtgreive brings nearly 40 years of experience to the position. After earning his undergraduate degree from CMU in 1982, he began his career at the university as a residence hall director. He then earned a master's degree in educational administration in 1984 and went on to hold leadership roles in areas such as housing, Residence Life and Student Affairs. Holtgreive also previously served as interim associate vice president for Student Affairs from July 2019 to May 2020.

"Shaun has a long history with CMU and possesses a deep knowledge of the many departments within the Student Affairs division," Davies said. "He is known as a compassionate and caring leader, and I know he will keep our programs successful and moving forward while we search for our next Student Affairs leader."

Davies said a plan for the future of the lead Student Affairs position will be made as the university continues to align budget resources with priorities established by the strategic envisioning process.