Piyush Goyal Proposes India-Japan Startup Pitching Series to Boost Bilateral Investments

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday proposed the creation of an India-Japan startup pitching series, drawing inspiration from the popular 'Shark Tank' format. The proposed initiative is designed to connect young startups from both nations with prospective investors and business partners.

Speaking at a roundtable on startups, Goyal noted that these pitching sessions could be conducted virtually by leveraging digital connectivity. The format would allow Indian startups to pitch their business ideas directly to Japanese investors, while enabling Japanese startups to identify partners and opportunities within the Indian market.

Goyal emphasized that the initiative aims to transition commercial ties beyond initial pitches into concrete business collaborations. He outlined a progression moving from pitches to pilots, subsequent investment, and eventual scaling.

During the roundtable, the minister also proposed the establishment of a Japan-India deeptech capital corridor. He suggested that larger pools of Japanese 'patient' capital could be directed toward early-stage funding and mature unicorns, helping transform innovative ideas into commercial successes by combining Japanese capital and precision engineering with Indian market capabilities.

Highlighting India's domestic market potential, Goyal stated that the country offers a complete ecosystem ranging from design to large-scale deployment. He pointed out that India provides an environment not only for testing products but also for commercial sales and deployment.

Furthermore, the minister invited Japanese businesses and startups to collaborate with India, noting that stronger economic cooperation could serve as a force multiplier for prosperity. He also recommended fostering closer institutional cooperation among universities, incubators, and venture funds from both countries.

"Proposals like the India-Japan startup pitching series can create structured pathways for cross-border collaboration and capital flow. By connecting early-stage Indian ventures with Japanese patient capital and deeptech expertise, founders gain access to vital funding and global markets. Initiatives that move from virtual pitches to actual pilots and commercial deployment are practical steps toward strengthening bilateral business ties." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes