Back to Main Menu

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.

      Sweet fun, allergy-free for everyone

      by User Not Found

      Do you have a food allergy or know someone who does? Food allergens are found in a variety of foods, including candy. A food allergen is an ingredient that some people can be sensitive to. There are many food allergens, but the "Big 9" list consists of the allergens that cause severe allergic reactions in the United States. The "Big 9" includes milk, soy, eggs, wheat, fish, crustacean shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, and sesame. There are different reactions to allergens, like nausea, hives, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, and anaphylaxis, which is a severe reaction and may lead to death.  

      Many people must be careful with what they eat. When talking about ways to prevent consuming an allergen, cross-contact is a major concern. Cross-contact is when allergens are moved from one food to another food or surface. Reading labels for ingredients is very important, because it may contain an allergen. Also, you must be careful of what touches your food or what surfaces it is placed on. Proper cleaning and sanitation after handling food allergens can prevent cross-contact. 

      A pile of Halloween candy including bagged candies and candy bars.
      Try to prevent cross-contact by keeping the "Big 9" food allergens in mind this Halloween.

      As Halloween nears, many people buy candy and get ready to celebrate or trick-or-treaters. Some candies can contain as many as 6 of the "Big 9" food allergens, which include milk, soy, eggs, wheat, peanuts, and tree nuts. The labels on the candies have both the ingredients and the allergens that present. Another thing to be aware of: if a candy is allergen-free, but made in the same place as a candy with food allergens, cross-contact can occur. 

      Popular candies that have one or more of the "Big 9": 

      • Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar
      • Almond Joy
      • Laffy Taffy 
      • Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
      • Snickers

      Popular candies that have none of the "Big 9": 

      • Skittles 
      • Nerds
      • Swedish Fish
      • Air Heads
      • Starbursts

      When purchasing Halloween candy, be mindful of the ingredients and read labels. Be aware of cross-contact because when you open a candy with a food allergen, cross-contact can occur unless handled properly. 

      Caitlin Kerry is a junior in the dietetics program at Central Michigan University. To learn more about the nutrition and Dietetics program and course offerings, please get in touch with the program director Dr. Najat Yahia at yahia1n@cmich.edu.  

      Events

      VIEW ALL EVENTS
      VIEW ALL EVENTS

       

      View our programming newsletter

      Entrepreneurship News

      Questions?

      Contact the team