Solving Burnout

In 2021, 25 million people quit their jobs in the United States. This tidal wave of resignations exposed us to the organizational consequences of employee burnout. Coined in the 1970s, the term “burnout” describes an occupational phenomenon resulting from chronic workplace stress, exhaustion and cynicism. Following the wave of resignations, companies frantically increased their wellness budgets but found few solutions to meaningfully engage and retain their people.

Enter CG Chen, a smart and savvy entrepreneur who stands out with her cheerful designs and frequent use of emojis. She experienced burnout herself while building her first startup and felt frustrated with the lack of options for employers. That’s where she saw a white space in the market and thought, “Why not build it myself?”

Mello is building a new standard for companies to measure, track and act on burnout, inspiring happier, healthier and more motivated teams

Mello is creating a new standard for companies to measure, track and act on burnout, inspiring happier, healthier and more motivated teams. “When companies come to Mello, they are looking to stop the bleeding,” says Chen. Using behavioral science, Mello’s platform can incentivize and guide employees toward an immersed flow state, leading to higher motivation, greater productivity, creativity and, ultimately, happiness. Mello also provides individual and team-level insights to track performance and detect the risk of chronic stress and resignation.

Since graduating from Y Combinator, Mello is currently beta-testing its platform and strengthening customer discovery and its value proposition. As workers return to the office, Chen is co-designing solutions with clients for the hybrid workforce, finding a way to encourage both remote and in-person employees to reach their full potential.

Looking beyond the software, Mello is reshaping how companies approach the mental wellness of employees, driving the future of work.