Melon Secures Approximately 450 Million Yen in Series A Funding to Enhance Well-Being Solutions

Melon Secures ¥450 Million in Series A Funding

Tokyo-based company Melon has recently completed a series A funding round, successfully raising approximately ¥170 million, bringing their total funds raised to around ¥450 million. Under the leadership of CEO Daisuke Hashimoto, Melon is dedicated to solving challenges related to organizational engagement and well-being.

Business Overview

Over recent years, there has been a notable increase in the public’s awareness of self-care and mental health needs. Consequently, the self-care market has seen substantial growth. Within this context, interest from corporations in investing in human capital and employee well-being has surged. Melon provides robust support for both corporate clients and individuals by focusing on self-management through mindfulness practices. They assist clients from identifying issues to implementing training, supporting behavioral change, and verifying effectiveness, thereby offering a comprehensive framework for enhancing mental and physical health.

The capital acquired from this funding round is expected to facilitate further service expansion and accelerate business growth. Melon is also actively looking for partners to join them in creating a brighter future for well-being.

Funding Details

The series A funding round attracted investors such as:

- Tokyo Wellness Impact Fund
- SMBC Venture Capital
- ITEC Hankyu Hanshin Innovation Investment Limited Partnership
- Various individual investors

Use of Funds

The recently acquired funds will primarily be utilized to:

- Strengthen recruitment for management positions
- Enhance sales and marketing efforts
- Fortify the business infrastructure

Comments from Melon's CEO

Daisuke Hashimoto expressed his gratitude, stating, "We are sincerely thankful for the tremendous support from our investors, including the Tokyo Wellness Impact Fund and SMBC Venture Capital. This funding enables us to advance significantly towards our vision of a world where everyone can acquire inner skills. Our team is fully committed to achieving business growth and meeting the expectations of our investors."

Investor Insights

Investor Hiroshi Aikawa from the Tokyo Wellness Impact Fund commented, "Melon approaches the realization of well-being by emphasizing personal self-care and positioning corporations as crucial companions in this journey. We resonate deeply with the company’s vision, believing that individual transformation can invigorate organizations and ultimately drive societal change."

Similarly, Hidetaka Imaeda from SMBC Venture Capital noted, "While visualizing organizational health scores is gradually becoming commonplace, merely making them visible is insufficient. Melon's innovative approach addresses this gap and supports employees in overcoming their challenges. We are committed to contributing to the growing importance of personal self-care in the workplace."

About Melon

Established in April 2019, Melon is an emotional management company aimed at addressing emotional and psychological challenges within organizations. They apply evidenced-based mindfulness practices grounded in neuroscience and psychology to provide tailored organizational development and self-management programs for both corporate and individual clients.

By offering various services including workshops, consulting, and online tools, Melon strives to enhance engagement and well-being, prevent mental health issues, and promote leadership development to cultivate the transformative capabilities of individuals, organizations, and society as a whole.

CEO Profile

After graduating from Waseda University, Daisuke Hashimoto worked in investment banking at Citigroup and later managed Japanese stock investments at Oaktree Capital Management. His 15-year career in foreign financial institutions was complemented by his personal practice of mindfulness meditation, leading him to establish Melon and launch Japan’s first online mindfulness platform, 'MELON Online'. He continues to promote mindfulness through corporate training and public speaking engagements, furthering the mission to enhance collective well-being.