Piyush Goyal Showcases India’s Startup Growth at Tokyo Roundtable in Japan

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal highlighted India’s rapid transformation into a global startup hub while addressing a roundtable meeting with startups in Tokyo, Japan.

10 years of Startup India have given wings to India’s entrepreneurial dreams. pic.twitter.com/9rwSrmQHBx

— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) August 26, 2026

Goyal said India now has the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, noting that the country’s startup landscape has expanded dramatically since the launch of the Startup India initiative 10 years ago.

India’s tier 2 & tier 3 cities are emerging as new Startup Hubs. pic.twitter.com/wVgwQdgLLg

— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) August 26, 2026

According to Goyal, the number of startups in India has grown from around 400–500 a decade ago to nearly 2.5 lakh today. He said this growth reflects a major change in the mindset of India’s young generation, with young Indians increasingly becoming job creators, innovators and entrepreneurs rather than only job seekers.

The Union Minister also highlighted the willingness of Indian entrepreneurs to take risks, embrace failure and pursue innovative ideas. He said many young founders are prepared to leave lucrative careers and high-paying jobs to build businesses and create new opportunities.

Goyal pointed to India’s growing number of successful startups, including more than 130 unicorns, as evidence of the strength and resilience of the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

He said the achievements of Indian startups are a source of pride not only because of their economic success but also because of their ability to think differently, innovate and create solutions for the future.

The remarks came during Goyal’s engagements in Japan, where India is seeking to deepen economic, trade and investment cooperation with Japanese businesses and institutions