The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has lately pledged to support startups incubated at Gujarat’s iHub. The move was formalized through a letter of intent during centenary celebrations of it and highlights the growing recognition of startups as drivers of innovation as well as economic growth.
iHub is an initiative of the Gujarat government to bring together all stakeholders in the startup ecosystem. It has partnered with ICC to help the startups to connect with a global network of industries as ICC has presence in 25 countries and its 15 chapters can open doors to international opportunities.
One big hurdle for startups today is prototyping and ICC aims to address the issue by strengthening collaborations with the industries. Pathik Patwari, Chair of ICC Gujarat Council, said that the partnership can help in turning ideas into practical solutions and give startups the required launchpad to succeed.
The backing of industry leaders like Abhyuday Jindal, President of ICC and Managing Director of Jindal Stainless Steel Limited strengthens the initiative further. His assurance to mentor and integrate innovative startup technologies into his business is encouraging.
Another aspect to take a note is their plan to create an AI-driven database and bridge the gap between industries, academia as well as the government.
ICC hopes to ensure students are industry-ready and making them more employable from day one.
The centenary celebrations wrapped up with a session on sustainable business practices by Devdutt Pattanaik. It became clear that ICC is aiming for a long-term as well as sustainable approach to business and innovation.
The commitment of ICC to support Gujarat’s startups is a positive move and could inspire similar initiatives across India.
