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

Real estate conference connects students with industry experts

by Alisha Toyzan

On Jan. 31, students from a variety of majors, including real estate, hospitality, and interior design, gathered in Grawn Hall for the Central Michigan University Real Estate Conference. Designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry experience, the event featured expert-led discussions, networking opportunities, and firsthand insights from professionals. Students gained a deeper understanding of the real estate industry, emerging trends, and career paths in the field.

Industry leaders share insights on real estate trends

Experienced professionals shared on-the-ground perspectives and advice about real estate investments and market patterns, as well as professional advancement. Speakers included:

Sarah Atkins, vice president of human resources, Amerilodge Group
Aaron Eichenberg, principal, Pantheon Development
Rob Edwards, partner and real estate and construction industry group leader, Plante Moran
Maria Stackpoole, national director of real estate partnerships, Rocket Homes

The panel members addressed current real estate issues, such as environmental dangers, residential affordability, commercial market adaptations, and changes within the hotel industry. During the discussion, Edwards explained how middle-income workers now encounter greater challenges when trying to buy homes. Eichenberg presented evidence that retail businesses continue to adapt their physical locations, despite growing e-commerce.

Career opportunities in real estate and beyond

In addition to speaking on industry trends and news, the speakers shared their own career journeys and provided advice to students interested in real estate, finance and hospitality fields.

“We often take jobs as placeholders, not realizing they can turn into long-term careers. It’s important to be open to opportunities because you never know where they may lead,” said Stackpoole.

Atkins spoke about career paths within Amerilodge Group and highlighted the requirement for strong hotel management experts, developers, and sales representatives. The interaction focused on how the hospitality sector has evolved to address the crucial need for life-work balance.

Preparing students for success

The event concluded with a Q&A session, allowing students to engage directly with industry professionals. Dr. Spenser Robinson, director of CMU’s real estate program, emphasized how such events help students develop their future career direction.

“The real estate industry is constantly evolving, and this conference helps students understand the latest trends while making connections that can shape their futures,” said Robinson.

For more information about CMU’s real estate program, contact Dr. Spenser Robinson at s.robinson@cmich.edu or 989-774-1243.