De Beers To Invest In Diamond Start-Ups

Staff Writer | Monday June 26, 2017 15:12

The new initiative will consider small investments in areas that may include downstream distribution, consumer brands, marketing platforms, security, cutting and polishing, and imaging technologies. The objectives of the investments will be to generate returns that are both strategic and financial.

Tom Montgomery, Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, De Beers Group, said: “Not all good ideas can be generated or executed by a large corporation.

We believe that harnessing the energy of entrepreneurs to pursue strategic opportunities that benefit De Beers and the diamond industry can be a cost-effective, risk-reduced way to pursue innovation.”

De Beers says leadership means recognising emerging trends, asking the right questions and finding new ways of doing things. “This has driven us forward for more than a century as we have helped to shape the diamond industry across the value chain and around the world,” said the company.

De Beers says they are committed to working with entrepreneurs to create value for our partners, customers and consumers. The ventures team provides expertise and capital to support entrepreneurs with investments in innovative brands, platforms and technologies.

The company says they are interested in receiving proposals for initiatives or enterprises that are related to De Beers’ core business with potential sectors including Consumer brands and services in the diamond jewellery and luxury sector, platforms that enhance ability to reach and connect with consumers.

Entrepreneurs can submit their business plans and proposals to the De Beers ventures website.