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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.

      The week in photos: Jan. 20-26

      by Aaron Mills

      Some of the top photos from Central Michigan University events and activities during the week of Jan. 20-26 as captured by University Communications.

      Students walk down a hallway holding an MLK banner.
      Students honor and remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s legacy at CMU’s annual CommUNITY peace march and vigil.
      Michigan Senator and Alumni Sarah Anthony speaks at the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. CommUNITY Peace Brunch
      Michigan Senator and Alumni Sarah Anthony speaks at the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. CommUNITY Peace Brunch.
      Former Civil Rights attorney Diana Patton points to a crowd of students while giving a keynote.
      Former Civil Rights attorney Diana Patton speaks to students on how honoring MLK’s legacy, releasing anger and healing oneself drives the quest for freedom forward.
      A group of approximately 20 students and staff pose for a photo on a basketball court inside the SAC.
      Students, staff and faculty competed against each other to collect donations for CMU’s student food pantry at the annual MLK Jr. charity basketball game.
      A CMU basketball player dunks a basketball in the hoop just prior to toilet paper rolls being tossed on the court.
      The annual Toilet Paper Toss game drew a sellout crowd of 5,361, which ranks as the fourth largest crowd in McGuirk Arena history.
      Toilet paper flies all around and onto the court inside McGuirk Arena.
      After the toilet paper was cleaned up, the CMU men's basketball team cleaned up on the court as well, blowing out Western Michigan 73-52.

      Events

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      Entrepreneurship News

      Questions?

      Contact the team