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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: Sept. 30-Oct. 6

      by User Not Found

      Some of the top photos from Central Michigan University events and activities during the week of Sept. 30-Oct. 6 as captured by University Communications.

      In a dark auditorium, Pete Souza stands on stage holding a microphone with an illuminated photo of President Obama on a large screen behind him.
      Pete Souza, former Chief Official White House Photographer for President Obama, visited campus to speak about presidential leadership and legacy.
      An angry looking young woman with a blow-up pink unicorn around her waist gets held at bay by her forehead by another young woman in a pink sweater.
      University Theatre students take part in the final dress rehearsal for POTUS, directed by Emily Anderson. POTUS runs through October 13 at the Theatre-On-The-Side.
      Three students sit at desks sniffing wine glasses filled with red wine.
      Students in the Introduction to Wine course check the “nose” or “aroma” of red wines during class.
      Professor Robert Fanning sits in a chair outdoors while reading a book.
      Professor Robert Fanning reads from the Deathbed Edition of Leaves of Grass in the CMU Fabiano Botanical Garden as part of the 17th annual marathon reading of Walt Whitman’s classic.
      A closeup of a spatula scooping tortillas off a stovetop.
      Students gather at Central Michigan University’s newly renovated Allen Foundation Culinary Nutrition Center for an interactive homemade tortilla-making event.

      Events

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      View our programming newsletter

      Entrepreneurship News

      Questions?

      Contact the team