- Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has proposed an India-Japan startup pitching series modelled on the show “Shark Tank” to connect young companies with investors, partners and customers in both countries. He presented the plan during a startup roundtable in Tokyo on Wednesday.
- Goyal proposed a Japan-India deeptech capital corridor to seek larger pools of long-term Japanese funding for Indian technology companies, including early-stage businesses. He said, “I suggest the Japan-India deeptech capital corridor, where larger pools of patient capital, not only for mature unicorns but particularly early-stage funding, can help catalyse these startups' ideas and innovations into success stories.”
- Goyal invited Japanese companies to expand their role in supply chains, describing India as a trusted business partner with protections for intellectual property and company data. The proposed pitching series and deeptech corridor require further talks between institutions, investors and startup groups in both countries.
- The startup plan is part of an economic programme during Goyal’s four-day visit to Japan, with meetings in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka with officials, investors and company leaders. Discussions have covered semiconductors and emerging technologies, and he chaired a roundtable with Indian and Japanese industry representatives on Tuesday.
- Japan ranks among India’s largest sources of foreign direct investment, with Japanese companies investing $48.14 billion in India between April 2000 and March 2026. Japan has set a target of investing 10 trillion yen in India over the next decade.
During his four-day visit to Japan, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal proposed an innovative India-Japan startup pitching series modeled after 'Shark Tank' to facilitate connections between startups and investors.14
Goyal emphasized the potential for online pitching sessions that would allow Indian startups to seek Japanese investments and vice versa. He stated, “In this world of global connectivity through Zoom calls and the internet, I think we can have more and more pitching sessions where Indian startups pitch for Japanese investments and Japanese startups pitch for partners in India.”
The initiative aims to foster collaboration between universities, incubators, and venture funds, moving from pitches to actual investments.
Goyal also introduced the Japan-India deeptech capital corridor, which seeks to attract larger pools of long-term Japanese funding for Indian tech companies, particularly early-stage startups. He noted, “I suggest the Japan-India deeptech capital corridor, where larger pools of patient capital... can help catalyse these startups' ideas and innovations into success stories.”2
Japan is a significant source of foreign direct investment in India, with investments totaling $48.14 billion from April 2000 to March 2026. Goyal's proposals are part of a broader economic strategy to enhance bilateral trade, which is projected to reach $50 billion by 2030.5
“The proposed corridor targets early-stage funding, not just mature unicorns, to catalyze startup ideas into success stories. Japan has invested $48.14 billion in India since 2000 and targets 10 trillion yen over the next decade, with bilateral trade at $27.47 billion in FY2025-26.”
