TASE Global to attract 300 crore rupees from Tristar fund by ValueQuest to expand business

Fact Base, a Japanese company that develops manufacturing software, has successfully raised approximately $28.8 million in a Series D funding round. This funding was secured through the issuance of new shares and the transfer of existing ones.

Insight Partners led this round, having previously supported the company during its Series C round. New investors joining the round include Artemis Ventures and MPower Partners. The investment is aimed at realizing Fact Base's plans to expand beyond Japan.

The company creates a cloud-based drawing management system called ZUMEN, designed for manufacturers. Founded in September 2022, Fact Base focuses on small and medium-sized manufacturers who often use paper blueprints and fragmented document management processes. ZUMEN integrates drawings and related documents into a single digital platform.

Over the past year, the company has demonstrated significant commercial growth: revenue increased by 2.3 times compared to the previous year, and the number of companies implementing ZUMEN grew by 2.2 times. Currently, the platform operates in 14 countries, including Japan.

Manufacturing enterprises critically depend on technical drawings throughout their operations, as these documents connect designers, clients, and production teams. However, many small manufacturers continue to manage drawings using paper methods, which creates difficulties in storing, exchanging, and retrieving important information, and hinders the effective utilization of accumulated production data. Fact Base aims to solve these problems with ZUMEN.

The platform centralizes drawings and associated documents in the cloud, helping manufacturers simplify documentation management and laying the foundation for broader digital transformation of manufacturing processes. CEO Masataka Takeuchi noted that the company was founded based on problems observed during visits to manufacturing sites and believes that technology can solve long-standing issues in Japanese manufacturing. The company plans to expand functionality beyond simple drawing management.

Fact Base will use the raised funds to strengthen international sales departments and hire personnel, as well as to accelerate the technical development of ZUMEN. Additional investments will support the implementation of new features and product improvements. The company's mission remains unchanged—to make manufacturing seamless. Furthermore, the company will explore business opportunities outside the core platform, planning to expand its product portfolio through new business development. Additional funding will strengthen administrative operations and management structures.

Fact Base currently has five domestic offices and 11 overseas branches. International expansion has necessitated broader hiring. The company plans to recruit specialists in engineering, sales, and customer support. The next phase will combine product development with international expansion. These investments will help build the organizational foundation for future growth, and the company is preparing for a potential initial public offering. Its stated goal is to become indispensable to manufacturers worldwide, leveraging its experience in Japanese manufacturing.

Max Wolff from Insight Partners described drawing management as a persistent problem in manufacturing, noting that ZUMEN offers an affordable solution with immediate operational value. Insight Partners will continue to support the company's international expansion. Archibald Siganer, Managing Partner at Artemis Ventures, also highlighted the platform's potential among small manufacturers, pointing to the growing need for digitalization. He called ZUMEN an accessible tool for solving critical operational tasks. MPower Partners noted its understanding of Fact Base's factory processes and its capacity for international expansion, believing the company can help modernize manufacturing and global supply chains.

Uzbekistan intends to invest 292 million US dollars in the expansion of the Technochim petrochemical cluster located in the Bukhara region. This project will increase the plant's annual raw material processing capacity by 400,000 tons and create 700 new jobs.

The plans were announced during the visit of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who inspected the complex's production facilities in the Bukhara district, studying its current output and development plans.

Technochim specializes in the processing of oil, gas condensate, naphtha, methanol, and pyrolysis distillate. It is the only similar complex in Uzbekistan. Currently, the enterprise occupies an area of 69 hectares and employs about 500 people.

Existing capacities allow for the annual processing of 100,000 tons of pyrolysis distillate, as well as 160,000 tons of naphtha and gas condensate. In addition to fuel, the cluster produces materials for the chemical industry; for example, its octane booster is used to improve gasoline characteristics, and solvents are used in the production of paints, varnishes, adhesives, and household chemicals.

The next stage of the complex's development is planned to be completed by the end of 2028. The investment project worth 292 million dollars provides for the processing of gas condensate and naphtha, as well as the production of aromatic hydrocarbons and solvents. After the expansion is complete, the total annual capacity of the facility will increase by another 400,000 tons.

The expansion will require attracting additional qualified workers. Mirziyoyev emphasized the need to strengthen ties between the vocational education system and regional enterprises. Among the sought-after specialists are process technologists, engineers, chemists, and laboratory personnel.

According to export plans, Technochim plans to supply about 180,000 tons of petrochemical products, motor gasoline, and diesel fuel annually to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and European Union countries. Furthermore, the enterprise is negotiating with foreign partners on a project to process 150,000 tons of liquefied gas between 2028 and 2030.

Following the visit, the president gave recommendations regarding increasing the export potential of the petrochemical cluster and training specialists for new production capacities.

The private investment fund ValueQuest Tristar, which supports India's advanced manufacturing sector, has secured investor commitments exceeding 210 billion rupees. This figure was achieved just 15 months after the fund's initial close, surpassing both the original target and the full size of the green shoe option (additional amount the fund can raise above the target).

The fund invests in the aerospace industry, defense industry, high-precision engineering, and manufacturing related to the energy transition. To date, it has supported four companies: Hi-Q Electronics, which manufactures critical printed circuit boards for aerospace and defense; Rangsons Aerospace, specializing in fluid distribution systems and satellite communication equipment; Waaree Energy Storage Solutions, focusing on battery energy storage; and Trusted Aerospace & Engineers (TASE Global), a high-precision engineering firm serving various industries and operating internationally.

When selecting investment targets, the fund combines deep sector research with mapping industrial value chains. This approach allows the fund to identify specialized manufacturers who can benefit from long-term industry growth and key milestones in their own business development.

Aniket Dharmshi, Co-founder and Managing Partner of ValueQuest Investment Advisors, noted: 'India is at the beginning of a multi-decade transformation in advanced manufacturing. However, sector growth alone is not enough to guarantee investment returns. The real differentiator is identifying the right business at the right stage of its evolution. The groundwork we do beforehand gives us confidence in partnering with strong promoters and deepening our involvement as they achieve set goals.'

Dr. Arvind Ananthnarayan, Partner at ValueQuest Private Equity, added: 'In advanced manufacturing, competitive advantage is built over years through process expertise, meticulous client qualification, and consistent adherence to quality and reliability. Once a supplier becomes an integral part of a client's critical programs, replacing them can require significant time, cost, and operational risk. We look for enterprises capable of developing these capabilities to strengthen client relationships and turn industry growth into sustainable, profitable growth.'

Furthermore, ValueQuest Private Equity attracts its SCALE Fund II, which will invest in established companies with clear competitive advantages and visible exit paths for investors. ValueQuest Private Equity is a division of the private equity firm ValueQuest Investment Advisors. It manages over 600 billion rupees across two investment strategies, three funds, and co-investments. ValueQuest Investment Advisors manages approximately $3.4 billion across public and private markets.