So, in discussions about the Industrial Revolution, it's often between Europe (competition, Americas, ideas...) and China (cohesive, rich...)
But there is another zone which could work.
India was a divided continent for most of its history, with a split between large nations and mercantile city states.
There was a solid industry and a middle class. It has a solid scientific tradition and is a melting pot of ideas.
So, why didn't it industrialise first? What if it did? Would the Indian industry bleed the world's cash reserves dry?
I'd imagine it'd need a bit more control over its outer shipping lanes to counteract Europeans if we're talking post-1498 but that wouldn't be impossible for a pissed Dehli Sultanate trying to kick the Portuguese out or a Mughal Emperor trying to score points against the Ottoman in Indonesia and Eastern Africa