Goyal suggests India-Japan startup pitch series to deepen investment ties

India’s startup ecosystem may soon get a fresh platform to engage more closely with Japan’s innovation and investment networks. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has proposed an India-Japan ‘Shark Tank’ style startup series aimed at boosting investments and strengthening business ties between the two countries.

According to the proposal, the pitching sessions could be organised virtually, leveraging digital connectivity. The idea is to create more frequent and structured opportunities for interaction between Indian and Japanese startups, investors, and business leaders—without the friction of geography or travel schedules.

A digital-first bridge between two innovation ecosystems The central proposition is simple: curated pitch sessions where startups present their products, business models, and growth plans to potential backers and strategic partners. By running the series online, the initiative could broaden access for founders across Indian cities and towns, while also making it easier for Japanese participants to engage consistently.

A virtual format also offers practical advantages. Sessions can be scheduled more often, sectors can be rotated based on demand, and follow-up meetings can be arranged quickly. For early-stage startups, especially those seeking their first international partners, such a forum can provide visibility and warm introductions—often the hardest part of cross-border expansion.

The proposal reflects a growing confidence that India’s digital infrastructure can support meaningful global deal-making. It also aligns with the reality of modern startup growth, where product demos, customer validation, and investor conversations increasingly happen online before in-person visits are planned.

What it could mean for founders, investors and industry While the concept borrows from the popular ‘Shark Tank’ pitching format, the intent here is more collaborative than theatrical: to enable smoother discovery between startups and capital, and to open doors for joint business development.

For Indian startups, Japan can be a valuable market and partner base—known for deep industry expertise, high standards of quality, and long-term strategic investing. A dedicated pitch series could help founders tailor their go-to-market plans for Japan, identify distribution or manufacturing partners, and understand compliance expectations early.

For Japanese startups and investors, India offers scale, talent, and a rapidly maturing ecosystem of customers and enterprise buyers. Regular pitching sessions can help identify Indian partners for pilots, localisation, and co-creation, particularly in areas where India’s market depth can accelerate learning and product iteration.

Over time, a consistent programme could also build trust—an essential ingredient for cross-border business. Trust grows not only through one-off meetings, but through repeated engagement, clearer information flows, and shared success stories.

A practical next step for stronger India-Japan business ties India and Japan already cooperate across multiple economic and strategic areas. Startup-to-startup collaboration is a natural next chapter—one that can complement existing trade and investment relationships.

A structured pitch series could act as an “always-on” connector, bringing together founders, corporates, and investors for focused sessions across sectors. It can also help create a pipeline: early conversations leading to pilot projects, and pilots leading to investments or commercial partnerships.

For the broader ecosystem, the biggest gain may be momentum. When founders know there is a recurring, credible platform to meet overseas partners, they prepare earlier, professionalise faster, and think more globally from the start.

**Why it matters:** A virtual India-Japan startup pitch series can make cross-border collaboration more accessible, helping founders find investors and partners faster while strengthening long-term business ties between two major innovation economies.