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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.

      Zonta Applefest: A bushel of fun for everyone

      by Kathleen Hodgkins

      On Friday, community volunteers from the Zonta Club of Mt. Pleasant gathered at the Allen Foundation Culinary Nutrition Center in Wightman Hall to bake apple pies. Dr. Fisher, director of the center, collaborated with the group to provide a space for making these wonderful creations. These delicious pies will be featured at the 35th Annual Zonta Applefest, taking place on Saturday, September 28th, from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM at Papa’s Pumpkin Patch, located at 3909 S. Summerton Road.

      Applefest is a family-friendly event offering a variety of activities, including games for children, crafts, wagon rides, donuts & cider, and, of course, apple pies. “Zonta is an international women’s organization dedicated to helping women and girls have a better life,” said Ruth Helwig, president of the local chapter.

      The newly renovated Allen Foundation Culinary Nutrition Center in Wightman Hall boasts 12 workstations equipped with commercial-style ovens and modern food service equipment. It's a state-of-the-art facility that enhances the learning experience for students in the Nutrition and Dietetics program.

      For information about the Allen Foundation Culinary Nutrition Center, please get in touch with the director, Dr. Jeff Fisher, at fishe2jj@cmich.edu. To learn more about the Nutrition and Dietetics program and course offerings, please get in touch with program director Dr. Najat Yahia at yahia1n@cmich.edu. 

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