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.

      Week’s events honor MLK

      by Sanjna Jassi
      CMU will honor the national King holiday — Monday, Jan. 20 — with a week of activities organized by Multicultural Academic Student Services.

      The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will unite the Central Michigan University community once again in the days ahead.

      CMU will honor the national King holiday — Monday, Jan. 20, this year — with a week of celebration and reflection organized by Multicultural Academic Student Services.

      A highlight of the week is Wednesday's keynote address by Shakti Butler, president and founder of World Trust Educational Services, a nonprofit transformative educational organization. She will speak at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Warriner Hall's Plachta Auditorium.

      The week begins with hundreds expected to gather in Finch Fieldhouse for the annual CommUNITY Peace Brunch at 9:30 a.m. Monday. The event features finalists in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Oratorical Contest and performances by Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and the Christ Central Choir. The keynote speaker will be Mimi Gonzalez-Barillas, diversity communications specialist in CMU's Office for Institutional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Doors open at 8:45 a.m.

      Faculty, staff and students also are invited to the following events:

      • Day of Service: Noon-2 p.m. Monday, hosted by the Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center. RSVP on Engage Central.
      • CommUNITY Peace March and Vigil: 3-4:30 p.m. Monday, starting at the Bovee University Center and ending in downtown Mount Pleasant. Transportation back to campus is provided, along with hot chocolate and doughnuts for returning marchers.
      • Night of Reflection: 7 p.m. Tuesday in Anspach Hall 161, hosted by The Motions poetry organization.
      • Keynote speaker Shakti Butler: 7 p.m. Wednesday in Warriner Hall's Plachta Auditorium, co-sponsored by Program Board.
      • Tunnel of Oppression: 4-8 p.m. Thursday in the Bovee University Center, sponsored by A Mile in Our Shoes and supported by Enrollment and Student Services.
      • Charity basketball game: 6 p.m. Friday at the Student Activity Center. Donations will be accepted.

      Events

      VIEW ALL EVENTS
      VIEW ALL EVENTS

       

      View our programming newsletter

      Entrepreneurship News

      Questions?

      Contact the team