The five lionesses and lions have probably never fought so fiercely over a deal. The fight for an investment in an online shop for underwater products divides investors into three camps in the “Lion’s Den” (Mondays, 8:15 p.m., VOX or RTL). In the end, the duo “Tillmeyer” wins. A superfood deal also excites the lions. Two other founder ideas, however, come up empty-handed.
The founding couple Alina (29) and Christian Hanauer (33) provide the lions with a holiday and “Star Wars” feeling. With Khroom they have already built a very successful online shop for underwater products. Their latest hit: a full-face snorkel mask. This solves a snorkeling problem observed worldwide that can lead to health problems: re-breathing air that has already been exhaled. The lions give up their initial reluctance when Alina and Christian present their convincing sales and profit figures. Carsten Maschmeyer (65) summarizes: “I knew from the start that I was out of here. I saw that and thought: not my thing at all. But then come you two sales and margin monsters.”
Together with Tillman Schulz (34), he spontaneously forms the investor duo “Tillmeyer”. Just like the rival duo “Dümmthaler” made up of Janna Ensthaler (40) and Ralf Dümmel (57), they are prepared to invest 400,000 euros for ten percent of Khroom. Carsten Maschmeyer exuberantly paints a large heart on his crisp white shirt – a sign of his emotional connection to Khroom. When the two duos outdo each other with a list of their support options, Dagmar Wöhrl (70) loudly intervenes: “Well, now it’s quiet! I’m still here too.” She also offers her expertise and a possible deal. Spoiled for choice for the two founders – or not? Both of them speculated on an offer from Carsten Maschmeyer and Tillman Schulz before the show. The contract goes to “Tillmeyer”.
Will Anne get rich with her superfood? Anne Rich (32) from Dresden tackles her pitch in the Lion’s Den with a lot of enthusiasm and a touch of nervousness. She came up with her business idea “Nature Pandan” by cooking together with her Indonesian au pair Putri. Pandan spice, the “green vanilla of Asia”, plays an important role in Indonesian cuisine. Anne’s plan: She wants to make the superfood, which smells of nuts and vanilla and is said to have an anti-inflammatory effect, known on the German market as a powder and syrup. Anne offers 25 percent of the company shares for 50,000 euros. The lions are not familiar with Pandan. But Anne’s food creations can convince her. Nils Glagau (48) and Ralf Dümmel in particular have a taste for it. Both lions offer 50,000 euros for 30 percent in a combination pack. Anne’s reaction: “It feels good. And I would like to do the deal with you.”
Surgeons sometimes stand at the operating table for hours, bent over the patient. With their robot “Noac”, Sabrina Hellstern (40) and Claudia Sodha (59) want to provide relief and make operations even more precise and safe. In the sensor-controlled robot, surgeons can sit standing and thus operate without becoming tired. For their heart project “Noac”, they gave up their jobs as medical technicians and, with the help of investors, invested three million euros in the development, sold their family car and took out a loan on the house. Will their immense effort be rewarded? They offer a five percent stake in the company for a million euro investment. “You have probably reached the highest level of innovation that has ever been in the lion’s den,” says Carsten Maschmeyer. At the same time, he and Tijen Onaran (39) question the company’s value. The lionesses are also critical of the large number of co-founders and investors. In the end, the founders leave the lion’s den without a deal.
In 2019, founder Sümmeyya Bach introduced her antiperspirant Soummé. She had suffered from heavy sweating since she was a child. Nevertheless, she ventured into the cave with this personal topic and won Ralf Dümmel as an investor. The results after five years are impressive: “We managed to sell over 800,000 units and thus achieved a trading turnover of around 16 million euros,” said the lion. In order to achieve their next goal, the market launch in the United Arab Emirates, they both had a very special date. They met Sheikh Ahmed Bin Faisal Al Qassimi, a member of Dubai’s ruling family. He already supports Sümmeyya and has also invested in her business. The fruits of the cooperation: Soummé is located in the world’s largest drugstore chain Watsons in Dubai.
“Dear lions, let us raise our voices together and roar against any form of violence.” With this emotional appeal to the lions, fashion designer Susana Gomez presents her product Laemon. This is a jewelry bracelet with an integrated loud and silent alarm that can be activated in an emergency. A huge issue for women and others who want to move around more safely, even at night. Lioness Tijen Onaran underlines this with her own experience: “Some time ago I was in the English Garden in Munich and was hit on by a man. I felt totally helpless.” The founder demands an impressive 500,000 euros for ten percent of the company. It’s not just the price of 299 euros per bracelet that the lions notice negatively. They also criticize the company’s valuation as being too high. After her four fellow lions drop out one after the other, it finally comes down to Tijen Onaran: “You see the most emotional rejection because it hurts my heart, but I’m out,” said the lioness. This leaves the founder without a deal.
