Piyush Goyal proposes startup pitching series with Japan

Tokyo: Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal Wednesday proposed an India-Japan startup pitching series, similar to the 'Shark Tank' format, to connect startups in the two countries with investors and potential business partners, stating the initiative could be organised virtually, leveraging digital connectivity.

The minister also invited Japan's "patient" capital and precision engineering to partner with Indian firms.

Goyal said the pitching series initiative could help deepen commercial ties between the two sides by moving beyond initial pitches towards actual business collaboration.


"India and Japan can develop a pitching series, something like the Shark Tank initiative, that can help young startups pitch," he said, addressing a roundtable on startups. He said Indian startups could pitch their ideas to Japanese investors while Japanese startups could seek partners and business opportunities in India.

"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.

"Together we build more business connects, and move from pitches to pilots, to investment, and to scale," the minister said.

Goyal also extended an invitation to Japanese businesses and startups to work with India, saying stronger bilateral economic cooperation would create broader opportunities for prosperity.

Tokyo: Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal Wednesday proposed an India-Japan startup pitching series, similar to the 'Shark Tank' format, to connect startups in the two countries with investors and potential business partners, stating the initiative could be organised virtually, leveraging digital connectivity.

The minister also invited Japan's "patient" capital and precision engineering to partner with Indian firms.

Goyal said the pitching series initiative could help deepen commercial ties between the two sides by moving beyond initial pitches towards actual business collaboration.

"India and Japan can develop a pitching series, something like the Shark Tank initiative, that can help young startups pitch," he said, addressing a roundtable on startups. He said Indian startups could pitch their ideas to Japanese investors while Japanese startups could seek partners and business opportunities in India.

"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.

"Together we build more business connects, and move from pitches to pilots, to investment, and to scale," the minister said.

Goyal also extended an invitation to Japanese businesses and startups to work with India, saying stronger bilateral economic cooperation would create broader opportunities for prosperity.