GMA Launches GEM to Build a Startup-Driven Youth Ecosystem in Ghaziabad
- ByStartupStory | January 3, 2026
In a strong move towards building a startup-driven generation, the Ghaziabad Management Association (GMA) will launch the Ghaziabad Entrepreneurship Mission (GEM) on 10 January 2026 at Ram Chameli Chadha Vishwas Girls College.
The mission will be inaugurated by Sunil Kumar Sharma, Hon’ble Minister for IT & Electronics, Government of Uttar Pradesh, highlighting the state’s focus on encouraging youth-led entrepreneurship beyond major metros.
Senior district officials including Ravindra Kumar Mandar, DM Ghaziabad, Abhinav Gopal, CDO Ghaziabad, and Shreenath Paswan, General Manager, District Industries Centre, along with GMA’s top leadership and leading industrialists of the region, will be present at the launch.
GEM: Industry-Led Mission to Shape India’s Startup Youth
GEM is a flagship initiative of GMA, conceived with the objective of preparing young people to become entrepreneurs, job creators and innovation leaders, in line with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Founded in 1982, GMA represents over 650 members from industries, institutions and professionals. Through GEM, the association is extending its role beyond industry advocacy and actively contributing to society by building a structured pathway for youth entrepreneurship.
‘Youth Must Become Builders of the Economy’: GMA
Speaking ahead of the launch, Rahul Agrawal, Executive Director, GMA, said the initiative reflects a deeper responsibility of industry bodies towards nation-building.
“India’s future growth depends on how many job creators we produce, not just job seekers. Through GEM, we want to bring Ghaziabad’s youth into the startup ecosystem in a practical and credible way. This is GMA’s contribution towards building a startup-driven, self-reliant India.”
He added that GMA’s industrial network will actively mentor and support young founders emerging from the district.
100 Young Founders Selected; Women Lead the Cohort
The first cohort of GEM has been selected from over 4,000 applications received from 12 colleges across Ghaziabad.
A notable highlight of the cohort is that more than 60% of the selected founders are girls, reflecting a strong shift towards women-led entrepreneurship and changing aspirations among young women in the region.
Industry leaders view this as a positive indicator for the future of inclusive economic growth in Uttar Pradesh.
Administration Backs Youth Entrepreneurship Push
CDO Ghaziabad Abhinav Gopal, IAS, said initiatives like GEM are critical for preparing districts for future economic realities.
“For sustainable district-level development, young people must be encouraged to think beyond employment and towards enterprise. GEM creates a structured platform where students can begin that journey with institutional support.”
The District Industries Centre, under GM Shreenath Paswan, will support the initiative by guiding eligible ideas through government schemes, MSME frameworks and procedural pathways.
Impact: Why GEM Matters
Officials and industry representatives believe GEM will mark a turning point in how Ghaziabad engages with its youth.
By creating a repeatable pipeline of trained founders, the initiative is expected to make entrepreneurship a mainstream aspiration among students. The strong participation of women is likely to significantly boost women-led enterprises emerging from the district.
GMA leaders believe GEM will help Ghaziabad gradually build a local startup culture, encourage micro-enterprises, and create employment opportunities within the district, reducing overdependence on traditional job markets.
With industry, administration and institutions working together, GEM, an initiative from Ghaziabad Management Association, is being seen as one of the most structured district-level entrepreneurship initiatives in Uttar Pradesh.
SkillingYou to Drive On-Ground Execution
The mission is being implemented with SkillingYou as the Knowledge & Execution Partner, responsible for structuring the founder journey and ensuring that the initiative remains execution-focused and outcome-driven.
Ghaziabad’s Step Towards Viksit Bharat
The confirmed participation of Hon’ble IT & Electronics Minister Sunil Kumar Sharma reinforces the growing importance of district-led entrepreneurship initiatives in Uttar Pradesh’s development roadmap.
With GEM, Ghaziabad sends out a clear message:
India’s startup future will be built not only in metros, but also in districts where industry, administration and youth come together with purpose.
The launch on 10 January 2026 marks Ghaziabad’s formal entry into contributing to a startup-driven, youth-powered Viksit Bharat.
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