Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has proposed an India-Japan startup pitching series modelled on the show “Shark Tank.” The platform would connect young companies with investors, partners and customers in both countries.
Goyal presented the plan during a startup roundtable in Tokyo on Wednesday. He is visiting Japan from August 24 to 27 with more than 200 representatives. The delegation covers manufacturing, semiconductors, clean energy, steel, automobiles, finance, healthcare and startups.
“India and Japan can develop a pitching series, something like the Shark Tank initiative, that can help young startups pitch,” Goyal said. The sessions could take place online, allowing founders and investors to participate without travel.
Under the format, Indian startups could seek Japanese capital, technology and commercial partnerships. Japanese startups could present their products to Indian businesses and identify partners. The two-way structure would give companies access to contacts in another market.
“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,” Goyal said.
He called for links between universities, incubators and venture funds. “Together we build more business connects, and move from pitches to pilots, to investment, and to scale,” he said. The India-Japan startup series has not received a launch date or framework.
The startup plan forms part of an economic programme during Goyal’s four-day visit. His schedule includes meetings in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka with officials, investors and company leaders.
Discussions have covered artificial intelligence, semiconductors and emerging technologies. Goyal chaired a roundtable with Indian and Japanese industry representatives on Tuesday. He met leaders from financial and investment institutions to discuss long-term capital flows into India.
Japan ranks among India’s largest sources of foreign direct investment. Japanese companies invested $48.14 billion in India between April 2000 and March 2026, according to figures cited during the visit. Japan has set a target of investing 10 trillion yen in India over the next decade.
Meanwhile, an ASSOCHAM report released in Tokyo projects that bilateral trade could reach $50 billion by 2030. Trade between the two countries stood at $27.47 billion in the 2025-26 financial year. The report identified semiconductors, artificial intelligence and digital technology as areas with room for further business activity.
Goyal proposed a Japan-India deeptech capital corridor. The plan seeks larger pools of long-term Japanese funding for Indian technology companies, including businesses at an early stage.
“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,” he said.
The corridor would seek to connect Japanese funding and engineering experience with India’s startup network and domestic market. Goyal said India can offer companies a place to design, test, sell and deploy products at scale.
Additionally, the minister invited Japanese companies to expand their role in Indian manufacturing and supply chains. He described India as a trusted business partner with protections for intellectual property and company data. The proposed pitching series and deeptech corridor now require further talks between institutions, investors and startup groups in both countries.
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