DesignX, a startup working in the manufacturing industry digitally, has raised USD 1 million in pre-series A funding from the Piper Serica Angel Fund. In 2021, the company raised USD 300,000 in equity from Modular Capital, Accel, and a few manufacturing industry veterans.
Founded by engineering graduates Rajat Srivastava and Nishant Srivastava, DesignX focuses on hyper-automation for manufacturing shop floors. Its product, The Df-OS platform, helps lighthouse factories enhance productivity and sustainability through real-time data analytics. It benefits sectors like automotive, and consumer electronics by reducing waste and lowering carbon footprints.
DesignX aims to transform manufacturing with minimal infrastructure investment, akin to the impacts of unified payment interface (UPI) and 4G technologies.
With the fresh funding in Kitty, DesignX plans to expand its Df-OS in key markets like Japan, and Europe. This capital will help factories achieve lighthouse status, focusing on AI-driven analytics and sustainability. The initiative aims to enhance product development and disrupt global manufacturing processes as part of DesignX's mission to disrupt without disruption.
Commenting on the new funding round, Rajat Srivastava, Co-founder of DesignX, said, “We started with an idea that has now taken shape as a powerful product that will redefine global manufacturing. This funding will help ensure the world knows about our innovative solutions.”
DesignX has partnered with major industry players, such as Unilever, Hero Moto, and Dabur.
Ajay Modi, Investment Director at Piper Serica, remarked, “India is at the cusp of a manufacturing revolution. DesignX's Df-OS offers a flexible, cost-efficient solution that understands manufacturing processes better than ever. We are excited about the potential of this tool and the strong demand we foresee in the manufacturing ecosystem.”
Digital transformation poses significant challenges for many manufacturers due to outdated processes and insufficient infrastructure. DesignX's Df-OS tackles these issues by significantly reducing both the time and cost involved in transforming factory processes. This enables manufacturers to quickly adapt to contemporary demands.
The factory process application market is experiencing significant growth, currently valued at approximately USD 34 billion annually. DesignX said that it is well-positioned to capture a 50 per cent share of this market over the next 7 to 10 years.