Addressing a startup roundtable in Tokyo on Wednesday, Goyal suggested that Indian and Japanese startups could pitch their businesses to investors and potential partners from the other country through a series that could also be conducted virtually.
Under the proposed format, Indian startups could pitch for Japanese investment, while Japanese startups could seek Indian partners and market opportunities. Goyal said the idea was to move beyond introductory pitches towards actual commercial outcomes from pilots and investment to scale.
The proposal is part of a broader push by India to deepen its startup and technology partnership with Japan.
Goyal also proposed creating a Japan-India Deeptech Capital Corridor, aimed at connecting Indian startups with larger pools of long-term, or “patient”, capital. The focus, he indicated, would not only be on established unicorns but also on early-stage companies that often struggle to secure funding for deep-tech innovation.
He further called for greater participation from Japanese investors in Indian funds and suggested stronger links between universities, incubators and venture capital funds in the two countries.
The pitch comes at a time when India is actively seeking to position itself as a design-to-deployment market for Japanese technology companies and startups. Goyal highlighted India’s ability to support businesses across the product lifecycle from design and testing to manufacturing and large-scale deployment.
Goyal’s proposal therefore goes beyond simply attracting Japanese money into India. By allowing startups from both countries to pitch, find partners and explore markets, the proposed platform could create a two-way innovation corridor between the two ecosystems.
FAQs
- What did Piyush Goyal propose for Indian and Japanese startups?
Piyush Goyal proposed an India-Japan startup pitching series modelled on ‘Shark Tank’, where Indian startups could pitch to Japanese investors and Japanese startups could seek partners in India. - What is the Japan-India Deeptech Capital Corridor?
It is Goyal’s proposed framework for improving access to long-term, patient capital for deep-tech startups, particularly those at the early stage. - How important is Japan as an investor in India?
Japan is currently India’s fifth-largest source of FDI, with cumulative Japanese FDI into India exceeding $47.59 billion through December 2025, according to the Indian Embassy in Tokyo. - What are the major areas for India-Japan technology cooperation?
Key areas include AI, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, digital infrastructure and next-generation technologies.
