We built what should have existed.
Because "good enough" isn't.
We looked at AI in 2024 and saw an industry built on acceptable tradeoffs. Privacy? That's the cost of power. Transparency? Not how this works. Sustainability? Someone else's problem. Sovereignty? Sure — if you read the fine print.
We weren't okay with any of it.
So we built the AI platform we actually wanted to use. One that doesn't ask you to compromise on the things that matter.
The landscape nobody talks about.
If you've tried to use AI seriously in Europe, you know the options.
US Providers
Powerful — but your data lives on their servers, often used for training, and falls under American jurisdiction whether you want it to or not. Pricing is opaque. Environmental impact is massive.
"European Alternatives"
Sound better until you look closer. Most still run on AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud. European branding, American infrastructure. The Cloud Act still applies.
Self-Hosting
Gives you control — and a whole new job. Expensive hardware. Limited models. Every problem is yours to solve.
We tried all three. None of them worked. So we built option four.
Four builders. Same frustration.
We kept hitting the same wall: AI that was either powerful or private, transparent or cutting-edge, sustainable or affordable. Never all of it.
Every "solution" had a catch. Every "European alternative" had American infrastructure underneath. Every promise came with fine print.
So we stopped looking for what we needed and started building it. Not by reinventing everything — but by connecting what Europe already has into a platform that actually works.
Melious is the result.
The Team
Simon Jakobs
Founder & CEO
Keeps the technical vision sharp and the company moving. Happiest when deep in architecture problems.
Dean Fünffrock
Co-Founder & CPO
Obsesses over how the product feels. Turns complex AI into something you actually want to use.
Tom Belser
Co-Founder & COO
Brings structure without killing momentum. Background in consulting, now channeling that into making a startup actually work.
Marc Hornbacher
Co-Founder & CMO
Builds the brand and the community around it. Cares a lot about telling stories people actually want to hear.
Ready to build with us?
Whether you're looking to join our team or start building with Melious, we'd love to hear from you.