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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.
President to recap First 100 Days
by
Ari Harris
Central Michigan University President Neil MacKinnon says he’s seen, heard and experienced a lot since his arrival on campus – and now he’s excited to share what he’s learned with the university community.
MacKinnon joined CMU on November 1, 2024, as the university’s 16th president. In the months since his arrival, he has been touring the university’s academic colleges, numerous student support service areas, including the Student Food Pantry, and offices in operational areas including student recruitment, budget and finance, Athletics and more.
Now, roughly 100 days from his arrival, MacKinnon is ready to share what he’s learned about the university’s strengths, challenges and opportunities.
“I’ve had the opportunity to visit, at length, with many students, faculty, staff and administrators,” MacKinnon said. “They have shared their questions and concerns, and also their immense pride in their work and their aspirations for what is possible at CMU. There are challenging realities we need to face, but there are also so many opportunities for us to strengthen what we do.”
The president will share his thoughts during “The First 100 Days Reflection” event at 2 p.m., Tuesday, February 11, in Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium. His presentation will be followed by a fireside chat-style conversation with Carolina Hernandez Ruiz, president of the CMU Student Government Association.
In addition to sharing reflections, MacKinnon said he will unveil a new initiative he hopes will inspire members of the university to engage with the 2023-2028 Strategic Plan.
“There is a great deal of work already underway on the university’s strategic plan, and there are opportunities for all our students, faculty and staff to be more involved in the ways we achieve our strategic priorities,” he said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do together.”
The First 100 Days Reflection and Fireside Chat are open to all members of the university community, and they also will be available to view on February 11 via livestream.
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.
