Key Highlights
- GJEPC launches JewelStart, India’s first dedicated innovation and incubation platform for the gem & jewellery industry
- Initiative unveiled at IIJS Bharat Signature 2026 in Mumbai
- JewelStart aims to strengthen India’s global leadership as the “Jeweller to the World”
- Strategic MoUs signed with IIT Bombay (SINE), NID Ahmedabad, ICICI Bank, IndusInd Bank and IPV
- Focus on startups, MSMEs, innovation, market access, mentorship and capital
- Platform designed to integrate technology, design, sustainability and entrepreneurship into the jewellery ecosystem
The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) marked a defining milestone for India’s gem and jewellery sector with the launch of JewelStart, the industry’s first dedicated incubation and acceleration platform, unveiled during IIJS Bharat Signature 2026 in Mumbai.
The launch underscores a strategic shift by GJEPC to embed structured innovation, entrepreneurship and technology-driven problem-solving into the industry’s growth trajectory, reinforcing India’s position as the “Jeweller to the World.”
An Industry-Led Platform for Innovation and Scale
Conceived as a sector-specific incubation initiative, JewelStart has been designed to address the unique challenges and opportunities across the gem and jewellery value chain. The platform aims to empower startups and MSMEs to convert ideas into scalable, market-ready enterprises, while fostering collaboration between industry, academia, investors and government bodies.
By creating a formal ecosystem for innovation, JewelStart seeks to ensure that technological advancement, sustainability and design thinking become integral to the future of Indian jewellery manufacturing and exports.
Strategic MoUs to Strengthen the Ecosystem
On this occasion, GJEPC signed a series of strategic Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to strengthen the JewelStart ecosystem and enable multi-stakeholder collaboration. The MoUs were signed with:
- Mr. Shaji Varghese, CEO, Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE), IIT Bombay
- Mr. Amresh Panigrahi, Senior Professor and PhD Scholar, National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad
- Mr. Hitesh Sachdev, Head – Startup Engagements and Investments, ICICI Bank Ltd.
- Mr. Narayanan Naduvath, State Operation Head, IndusInd Bank Ltd.
- Mr. Mitesh Shah, Co-founder, IPV
These partnerships are expected to provide startups with access to mentorship, capital, design expertise, financial support and institutional networks.
Government Endorsement for Innovation-Led Growth
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Tariq Thomas, Director, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, highlighted the urgency of innovation in an increasingly volatile global environment.
He noted that trade disruptions, evolving consumer preferences and market uncertainties demand new approaches beyond traditional models. Initiatives like JewelStart, he said, align with the government’s broader push towards innovation-led ecosystems and create a platform where young innovators can develop solutions that enhance resilience, scalability and long-term competitiveness for the sector.
A Strategic Vision for a USD 100 Billion Export Industry
Mr. Kirit Bhansali, Chairman, GJEPC, emphasised that as India advances towards its ambition of becoming a USD 100-billion jewellery export powerhouse, the industry must evolve beyond legacy systems.
“JewelStart is a movement designed to infuse agility and digital-first innovation into the jewellery ecosystem. Backed by India’s rapidly expanding startup economy and strong institutional support, the initiative bridges heritage craftsmanship with indigenous technology, democratising innovation across the industry and reinforcing India’s position as the jeweller to the world,” he said.
He added that the platform has been shaped by extensive study of startup ecosystems across technology, manufacturing and design institutions, while remaining grounded in the practical realities of the gem and jewellery sector.
Building the Future of Brand India
Speaking on the launch, Mr. Sabyasachi Ray, Executive Director, GJEPC, said that while India is already a global leader in diamonds and coloured gemstones, and a rapidly growing force in gold and studded jewellery exports, the next phase of growth will require deeper innovation.
“To serve a new generation of discerning consumers with evolving tastes, values and expectations, the industry must move faster, think smarter and innovate deeper. Building a strong startup and R&D ecosystem is no longer optional—it is a strategic necessity,” he said.
Through JewelStart, GJEPC aims to bridge the gap between ideas and global enterprises by providing entrepreneurs access to mentorship, markets, capital, policy support and data-driven insights. He stressed that innovation must be accessible to MSMEs and young entrepreneurs, not limited to large organisations with in-house capabilities.
Three Pillars and a Structured Journey
The architecture of JewelStart is built on three core pillars: market access, mentorship and capital. Startups selected under the initiative will gain exposure to GJEPC’s global trade platforms, including IIJS Bharat Premiere, IIJS Bharat Signature and IIJS Bharat Tritiya.
The programme will follow a structured, multi-stage journey beginning with industry-sourced problem statements. Entrepreneurs, designers and technologists will be invited to develop practical, scalable and commercially viable solutions. Selected startups will progress through incubation, prototype development, market testing and scale-up, supported by GJEPC’s infrastructure and global network.
With the launch of JewelStart, GJEPC has firmly positioned innovation and startups at the heart of the industry’s mainstream discourse. As the first cohort and industry-led challenges roll out in the coming months, the initiative is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of Indian jewellery enterprises—blending legacy with new-age thinking at scale.
