Press Release

January 27, 2021
JAFCO Group Co., Ltd.

Free Installation Support for Pipedrive CRM Platform
Providing an option for start-up companies for sales management system installation
JAFCO Group Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President: Shinichi Fuki, hereinafter “JAFCOGroup”) and Mer, Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Co-Founder & CEO: Tomoaki Sawaguchi;hereinafter "Mer") will cooperate to provide free installation support for Pipedrive CRM platform with the aimof ensuring smooth numerical management for start-up companies at seed/ early-stages. This service will allow
JAFCO Group to provide an option for its portfolio startups in selecting a sales management system that matches
their growth levels.
*1 Platform implementation will be conducted by Mer.

Background and Purpose of the Pipedrive Installation Support Program
JAFCO Group provides back-office operation support for a number of its portfolio companies. For start-up
companies to perform management of actual versus forecast results, which is the most important factor for anIPO, it is necessary to implement numerical data analysis using a sales management system, but manycompanies have been unable to perform smooth numerical analysis because it requires a lot of time and humanresources to install and operate the sales management system. Also, limited options available for sales
management systems have also been a hurdle for start-up companies.
With the aim of offering extensive support for entrepreneurs to allow them to focus more on their businesses,
JAFCO Group has begun to form alliances with various companies to diversity support services that leverage
its accumulated expertise and know-how. As part of such collaborative initiative encompassing the VC and startup sectors, JAFCO Group will cooperate with Mer, the Master Partner of Japan for Pipedrive CRM platform,
which has been installed by over 95,000 companies worldwide, to offer free Pipedrive installation support forstart-up companies at the seed and early stages to widen optimum tool options for its portfolio companies.

For more information, please contact
pr@jafco.co.jp, JAFCO Group Co., Ltd.

Service Outline
This service offers free installation support for Pipedrive to JAFCO Group’s portfolio companies. Based on
JAFCO Group’s expertise accumulated by supporting the IPOs of 1,009*2 startup companies, the service not
only covers initial setting and simple setup, but also system function customization in line with each company’sbusiness model. This ensures its portfolio companies smooth management of actual versus forecast results fromthe seed/ early stage of business development. Because Pipedrive is a simple and user-friendly tool, steadysystem operation is possible for companies without an IT specialist.
*2 Cumulative number of portfolio IPOs as of December 2020

Details of Pipedrive installation support service
1. Pipedrive
2. Free initial installation support-Data cleansing and migration to Pipedrive-System function customization in line with business model

Note: This service is also available for companies currently using other CRM platform.

Outline and Features of Pipedrive CRM Platform
Pipedrive is CRM platform provided by Pipedrive Inc., the world’s largest CRM service company. Pipedrive
has been installed by over 95,000 companies in 175 countries worldwide, and its development fromsalespeople’s point of view is its strong feature.
Pipedrive features-

Instinctive and easy-to-use UI-

Affordable price plans-

Various functions and integration with 200+ external services

As entrepreneurs’ closest partner in bringing their visions to life, JAFCO Group is committed to providing
strong support for portfolio companies to allow smooth operations from the early start-up stage by leveraging
its accumulated expertise in back-office operations.

For more information, please contact
pr@jafco.co.jp, JAFCO Group Co., Ltd.

About JAFCO Group Co., Ltd. https://www.jafco.co.jp/english/
Company name:

JAFCO Group Co., Ltd.

President & CEO:

Shinichi Fuki

Location:

24F Toranomon Hills Mori Tower, 1-23-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Established:

April 5, 1973

Stock exchange:

TSE First Section

No. of employees:

130 (consolidated; as of September 30, 2020)

About Mer, Inc.
Company name:Mer, Inc.

Co-Founder & CEO:Tomoaki Sawaguchi

Location:

1-28-2 Shoto, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Established:

February 2020

For more information, please contact
pr@jafco.co.jp, JAFCO Group Co., Ltd.