Zestful built perk cards, raised $5M and hit 80% MoM growth

For most companies, employee perk management meant paperwork and expense reports. Employees paid out of pocket, submitted receipts, and waited for reimbursement. HR spent hours approving small purchases.

Zestful built purpose-built debit cards letting employers set spending limits and categories. Companies could earmark monthly budgets for fitness or general use. The cards eliminated expense reports entirely.

The approach resonated: Zestful raised $5M from Thrive Capital, grew 80% MoM, and onboarded 100 companies across 14 countries. By focusing on perks, Zestful carved a niche between expense management and corporate cards like Brex and Divvy.

$5M seed, 80% MoM growth, 100+ companies in 14 countries

Purpose-built cards solved a real pain point: expense reports waste time for employees and HR

Employer controls ensured perk budgets were used as intended

Differentiation from Brex and Divvy by focusing on perks, not general expenses

Purpose-built payment tools can transform mundane processes into engagement drivers when they solve real pain points

Zestful expanded its perks catalog beyond 1,300 options and planned mobile app launches. The company maintained $5 per person monthly pricing while growing its enterprise base. The model showed niche payment solutions could compete with larger card platforms.