News business economy Piyush Goyal Proposes India-Japan ‘Shark Tank’ Series to Boost Startup Investments
Last Updated:August 26, 2026, 11:37 IST
‘India and Japan can develop a pitching series, something like the Shark Tank initiative, that can help young startups pitch,’ says Goyal during his Japan visit.
Piyush Goyal is on a four-day visit to Japan from August 24 to 27, where he is leading India’s largest-ever business delegation to the country, comprising more than 200 representatives from various sectors.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has proposed an India-Japan startup pitching series, modelled on the popular ‘Shark Tank’ format, as part of efforts to deepen investment and business ties between the two countries.
Speaking at a startup-focused 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 dedicated pitching sessions. The initiative could also be conducted virtually, taking advantage of digital connectivity between the two markets.
“India and Japan can develop a pitching series, something like the Shark Tank initiative, that can help young startups pitch,” Goyal said.
Under the proposed format, Indian startups would get an opportunity to pitch for Japanese investment and business partnerships, while Japanese startups could seek Indian partners and explore opportunities in the country’s large and growing 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,” he said.
Goyal also called for greater cooperation between universities and venture funds in India and Japan, with the aim of creating stronger links between the two countries’ startup ecosystems.
“Together we build more business connects, and move from pitches to pilots, to investment, and to scale,” he said.
Part of a wider India-Japan economic push
The proposal comes during Goyal’s four-day visit to Japan from August 24 to 27, where he is leading India’s largest-ever business delegation to the country, comprising more than 200 representatives from sectors including manufacturing, semiconductors, clean energy, steel, automobiles, financial services, healthcare and startups.
The visit is focused on expanding trade, investment and technology partnerships between India and Japan. Goyal has also held discussions on semiconductors and artificial intelligence and met Japanese government and industry leaders to explore cooperation in emerging technologies and next-generation industries.
The startup proposal adds an investment and entrepreneurship dimension to the broader India-Japan economic engagement, potentially giving young companies in both countries a more direct route to capital, technology and international business partnerships.
Goyal’s four-day visit, running from August 24 to 27, will take the delegation across Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka, and is aimed at deepening trade and investment ties under the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.
On Tuesday, he chaired a roundtable with leading Japanese and Indian industry representatives on semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI) in Tokyo, underlining the growing importance of these sunrise sectors in strengthening India-Japan economic and technological cooperation.
He also held discussions in Tokyo with senior leaders of leading Japanese financial and investment institutions on strengthening long-term capital flows, deepening investment partnerships and expanding Japanese participation in India’s growth story.
(With PTI Inputs)
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Ask News18Will this ‘Shark Tank’ series boost India-Japan startup growth?
The proposed India-Japan ‘Shark Tank’ series is intended to boost startup investments and business ties between the two countries by allowing Indian and Japanese startups to pitch to investors and partners from the other nation.
What other sectors are India and Japan collaborating on?
India and Japan are collaborating in sectors such as manufacturing, semiconductors, clean energy, steel, automobiles, financial services, healthcare, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, supply chains, quantum technology, space research, and startups.
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First Published:
August 26, 2026, 11:37 IST
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