Vilnius-based employee engagement platform MELP secures €1.2M to expand its operations

Vilnius-based MELP has raised fresh funding from a VC firm and business angels to expand its operations in the UK market.

Vilnius-based MELP, a company that provides an employee engagement platform, has raised €1.25M in funding.

The investment came from Coinvest Capital, which contributed €800,000 to the round, along with participation from business angels.

Coinvest Capital, a sovereign venture capital fund established by the national development bank ILTE, invests public funds from the EU and Lithuania, alongside private investors, in European startups that create value for Lithuania.

Since its launch, the fund and its partners have invested in 49 startups and exited six. Total venture capital deployed exceeds €57M, including €25M from Coinvest Capital. Private co-investors have contributed €12.9M under a profit-sharing model, with an additional €19.1M invested under the pari-passu model (i.e., at equal terms).

The fund operates a profit-sharing program that caps annual returns on investments at 4 to 8 per cent. Any returns above this cap from successful exits are allocated to accredited private co-investors. 

Of the €44.3M in committed capital entrusted to the Fund, €13.1M remains available for new investments following this transaction in MELP.

MELP’s approach to workplace well-being

MELP was founded by Robertas Šaltis, Vidmantas Šiugždinis, and Juozas Sargūnas, and in 2022, the company launched its employee engagement platform. The platform is designed to help employers engage their workforce, increase involvement, and reduce turnover.

The name MELP is an acronym of four business areas in English: Medical services, Employee benefits, Lifestyle & Longevity, and Protection, reflecting the planned scope of services offered to users.

The company states that it envisions a future where organisational success is driven by motivated and engaged individuals, and aims to make workplace communication, recognition, and employee benefits accessible and meaningful.

Currently, MELP’s platform is used by companies including Ignitis Group, Nortal, IKI Lietuva (Rewe Group), Atea Baltic, Volvo Lithuania, City Service, Vilnius City Municipality, and other organisations.

Since its previous investment round in January 2024, MELP has increased its user base from 16,000 to 68,000 and sales by 2.5 times. 

In 2025, MELP signed a contract with LTG Group companies to provide services to over 5,000 employees. The company also implemented an international agreement with the Affidea Group across 15 European countries, giving more than 10,000 employees access to the platform, with content available in 16 languages.

Capital utilisation and growth

MELP will use the funds to expand its operations in the UK market. 

“The company is expanding not only geographically but also by successfully enhancing its functionalities and focusing on innovation through the use of artificial intelligence – from task automation to an interactive intranet for employees,” says MELP co-founder Robertas Šaltis.

“The MELP e-shop service, which allows employees to independently select additional benefits, is also growing rapidly – we project €3M in sales through our employee benefits marketplace in 2025.”

Šaltis stated that MELP’s previous investment supported growth in the Baltic states and testing in European markets. He said most of the new funding will focus on the UK, targeting mid-size companies with frontline workers to increase employee engagement.

Viktorija Trimbel, Managing Director at Coinvest Capital, adds, “Some teams simply stick to their established strategic goals, while others are able to adapt and revise those goals as the environment changes. I believe the MELP team belongs to the latter group, and their ability to respond appropriately and in a timely manner is one of the key reasons behind the company’s impressive growth.”

“The founders’ experience and the team’s competencies have allowed them to identify and capitalise on opportunities in surrounding markets, without expending resources on less familiar territories. They have also recognised the potential offered by AI, and today MELP is equipped with valuable experience and the right tools for the next leap. We wish them continued success.”