“We made probably only one possible decision – to withdraw from Contribee.” Unfortunately, we can’t do it right away, because the money we collect through this platform often goes to cover the costs of creating large projects,” podcast creators Airidas Jankus and Mantas Grimalis wrote on their Facebook account on Wednesday.
“There is probably never a right and good time for such decisions, but this time the timing was really inconvenient.” That is why our Contribee remains active until the last day of October. At the same time, we have already created an account on Patreon, they said.
After information appeared in the media about the investigations conducted by the prosecutor’s office related to Contribee, the journalism platform “Redakcija”, the investigative journalism center “Siena”, Dailius Dargis, who creates content about criminals, and “Laisvės TV” led by Andrias Tapinas have already announced that they are withdrawing from the platform this week. “.
Prosecutor General Nida Grunskienė said on Tuesday that no charges have been brought against anyone while the prosecutor’s office is conducting an investigation related to Contribee.
On Monday, blogger Skirmantas Malinauskas announced that the former director of the company, Gediminas Ratkevičius, embezzled more than 130,000 from the account of the non-governmental organization Blue/Yellow, which uses the platform. euros.
As indicated by the organization itself, the lack of a certain amount in the account was noticed at the beginning of the year, but after contacting Contribee, the funds were returned, so the organization did not experience any losses.
As the news portal “Delfi” announced, the director of the company Adrijus Jakučionis sent a letter informing developers using the platform about the circumstances of the dismissal of the former manager Gediminas Ratkevičius. It was alleged that one of Contribee’s shareholders was relieved of his duties because he entered into a loan agreement with the company.
G. Ratkevičius himself announced his plans to sell the shares of the platform “Contribee” on Tuesday, at the same time he took full responsibility for the situation in the company. G. Ratkevičius intends to apply for permission to sell shares on August 21. at the upcoming general meeting of shareholders of Contribee.
According to A. Jakučionis, in the past Contribee also did not submit financial declarations on time. As the State Tax Inspectorate (VMI) told the portal, the company’s tax arrears amount to 73 thousand. euros. At the end of June this year, the company owed Sodra 3.2 thousand. euros, and on August 8 the debt was only 6 euros.
Contribee last submitted financial statements to the Registry Center for the year 2021, when the company’s losses amounted to more than 51 thousand. EUR, income amounted to 26.9 thousand. euros.
According to the portal, Contribee has 13 shareholders: 31.5 percent. belongs to A. Jakučioni, 30.34 percent. – G. Ratkevičius, 16 percent. – To Mantas Michalauskas, who founded the company in 2020. Another 10.5 percent the company’s shares are held by the Second Co-investment Fund, the rest by smaller investors.
Lithuanian developers began to switch to Contribee more and more in 2022, when after the start of the war in Ukraine, its competitor, the American platform Patreon, did not allow Ukrainian soldiers to transfer support.
2024-08-14 22:04:35