TOKYO — Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal highlighted India’s emergence as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem—with nearly 250,000 startups launched over the last decade—at the India–Japan Startup Roundtable held in Tokyo on August 26.
Addressing government representatives, venture capital investors, and a 222-member Indian business delegation, Goyal underscored that India’s domestic scale, STEM talent pool, and digital public infrastructure complement Japan’s precision engineering and capital capabilities.
Four-Pillar Framework for Startup Cooperation
To accelerate economic and technological collaboration, Minister Goyal proposed a four-pillar roadmap for future engagement:
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Japan–India Deep-Tech Capital Corridor: Mobilizing patient capital to back early-stage research, deep-tech innovation, and commercialization.
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Two-Way Innovation Bridge: Connecting universities, incubators, R&D centers, and testing facilities across both nations.
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Manufacturing and Technology Integration: Combining India’s engineering scale and entrepreneurial dynamism with Japan’s precision manufacturing standards.
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Joint Startup Pitching Platforms: Facilitating routine interactions between Indian founders, Japanese corporate venture arms, and strategic investors.
Goyal also highlighted India’s proposed $1 billion second Fund of Funds focused on supporting deep-tech enterprises, inviting increased investment from Japanese institutions.
Corporate Engagement and Investment Scope
Co-organized with JETRO and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the event drew participation from 40 leading Japanese firms, including MUFG Innovation Partners, Mizuho Financial Group, SBI Investment, Fujitsu, SPARX Group, Beyond Next Ventures, and Kyoto Fusioneering.
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Key Focus Sectors: Venture capital funds identified artificial intelligence, semiconductors, defense, space, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and deep tech as primary targets for joint investment.
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Ecosystem Shift: Investors noted a structural evolution in India’s startup landscape, shifting from software-centric platforms toward manufacturing- and technology-intensive ventures.
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Current Footprint: Indian Ambassador Nagma Mohamed Mallick noted that the ongoing India–Japan Pitching Series has already connected 65 Indian startups with nearly 100 Japanese corporations, generating over 30 business tie-ups.
