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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.

      Welcome Dr. Min Shu: Expert in data science and statistics joins department, spearheading innovation

      by Robert Wang

      Help us in welcoming Dr. Min Shu to our Department of Statistics, Actuarial and Data Sciences. Dr. Shu brings a wealth of expertise and experience to CMU, with a diverse academic background and a passion for data science and statistics.

      Dr. Shu's academic journey began in China, where she earned her bachelor's degree in information and computer science. She then pursued higher education in the United States, obtaining a master's degree in mathematical sciences from Michigan Technological University, followed by a PhD in applied mathematics and statistics from Stony Brook University. Prior to joining CMU, Dr. Shu served as an Assistant Professor in the Mathematics, Statistics & Computer Science Department at the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

      When asked about her choice of statistics and analytics, Dr. Shu expressed her fascination with data and her enjoyment in uncovering hidden relationships and patterns. She cited John Tukey's quote, stating that "the best thing about being a statistician is that you get to play in everyone’s backyard," emphasizing her passion for solving data modeling challenges across various domains.

      Dr. Shu's research interests primarily focus on detecting financial bubbles and crashes, recognizing the profound impact these events have on modern society. Her goal is to develop a real-time bubble monitoring and forecasting system for financial markets, aiming to timely identify and mitigate the effects of such crises. Additionally, she is keen on applying statistical techniques to address data modeling challenges in other fields.

      At CMU, Dr. Shu is very involved in the new undergraduate data science major launched in Fall 2022. She teaches a range of statistics and data science courses, including Data Visualization and Programming, Exploratory Data Analytics, Applied Analytics, Statistics for Risk Modeling, and Advanced Data Mining Techniques. Dr. Shu is also enthusiastic about proposing new courses that incorporate the latest developments in statistics and data science.

      Expressing her excitement about joining CMU, Dr. Shu extended her gratitude to her colleagues in the Department of Statistics, Actuarial and Data Sciences for their support and assistance in transitioning smoothly into her new role. She highlighted the warm and supportive environment within the department, which has contributed to her sense of belonging and confidence in achieving success at CMU.

      Dr. Min Shu's appointment strengthens CMU's commitment to excellence in data science education and research, further enhancing its reputation as a leader in the field. Her arrival heralds a new era of innovation and collaboration at CMU.

      Questions?