In the fourth episode of the 13th season of the start-up show “Die Höhle der Löwen” (April 24, 8:15 p.m., VOX and RTL ), hair is perfectly staged, the lions try their hand at golf and a founder becomes a “heroine”. . While some go home with a deal, others have to pack their bags without having achieved anything.
Making a virtue out of necessity: The first chance of the evening in the lion’s cage belongs to the Dutch couple Nadine (39) and Marcel Stiller (41). When Nadine’s hair became thinner and thinner after a hormonal change, she came up with the idea for her volume hair tie. “I’ve looked all over the world for the perfect hair tie but haven’t found one.” So she invented a new one: 80 prototypes later, “Volummi” was born, the hair-friendly hair tie consisting of two strips and a button. “This is how the perfect ponytail is created, the way we women love it,” explains Nadine to the lion.
Entrepreneur Judith Williams (51) grabs a “Volummi” and tries it on Nils Glagau’s (47) lion’s mane, who now wears a ponytail. Suits him, everyone thinks. “Volummi” is available in sizes S and M, costs 9.99 euros and is 100 percent recyclable. The founders want 135,000 for 15 percent of the company shares. Carsten Maschmeyer (63) waves it off immediately. “I don’t do cosmetics, if there were still artificial intelligence in there I would get in, but that’s the way I’m out.” Department store king Ralf Dümmel (56) wants to get in. “The product is lovingly constructed, I would be the right partner.” The entrepreneur offers 135,000, wants 20 percent.
Cosmetics queen Williams is in her element. She wants to get in, with lion colleague Tillman Schulz (33) in tow. “You are the ‘perfect fit’. You have done your homework. I would do it with Tillmann, we also want to be fast internationally.” The duo offers 200,000 for 20 percent. Dümmel’s hunting instinct is awakened, he hurriedly increases it to 200,000 for 20 percent. The newly styled Glagau also wants to invest. “You are awesome, you will not only make a lot of women happy. I want to build a brand with you and offer 135,000 for 15 percent.” In the end, the founders choose Williams and Schulz.
dr medical Daniel F. á Wengen (64) and Monika Küsel (67) from Switzerland were looking for the best golf club, but couldn’t find what they were looking for and developed the “Iceblock Putter”, a transparent golf club with guidelines for the right shot. The golf club made of acrylic glass has the largest face in the world. Due to its special shape, it can stand independently and thus offers the player optimal alignment. Twelve months of work went into the invention. “The world of golf needs that,” explains the passionate inventor and ENT doctor. The founders want 150,000 and offer 15 percent.
The racket is said to cost 269 euros, and the founders have sold 26 of them so far. A number that makes Maschmeyer nervous. “It’s not proof it’s working, so I’m out.” As a non-golfer, Dagmar Wöhrl (68) gets out, and Dümmel doesn’t want to play either. “I have no idea, I don’t understand, so I’m out.” Janna Ensthaler (38) doesn’t have much to do with golf either. That leaves only golf lovers Schulz. “I’m having a hard time finding the right words, but I lack the scalability, so I’m out.” No deal for the Swiss entrepreneur couple.
A Munich innovation manager comes next in “The Lion’s Den”. Wolf Weimer (27) comes from a family of journalists and wants to make media a new experience. So far, almost all media have had the option of having the report read to you by voice output, but this is not the case with newspapers. That’s why the founder developed “Articly”. Newspaper articles are regularly set to music there and can be listened to by users via the app. It is available by subscription and costs 6.99 or 8.99 euros.
In order to further develop the app, Weimer wants 70,000 euros, for which he offers 20 percent. “I’m like many of my generation, we’re crazy about audio content,” the entrepreneur introduces himself. “Reading the newspaper was yesterday, listening is the new reading.” Wöhrl immediately revealed herself as a newspaper reader and got out: “Exciting topic, you have big plans, I see too many stumbling blocks, I’m out.” Even Dümmel can’t do anything with an article app: “I think you’re a cool guy, but I know what I can’t do, so I’m out.”
Maschmeyer, on the other hand, is enthusiastic. “I’d like to do that with you. 70,000 for 20 percent.” In Ensthaler, Weimer finds an ally with a number of similarities: both studied at the same university and both come from a family of journalists. Reason enough for the entrepreneur to make an offer: “I believe in your model, 70,000 for 20 percent.” Weimer confers with his brother and chooses Maschmeyer.
The founder of “Brilamo” and developer of the wine glass polishing rod is Linda Koller (27) from Dresden. She wants to make life easier for many wine lovers. Wine glasses are usually polished with a tea towel – many a glass breaks in the process. “Brilamo”, an innovative wine glass polishing rod, is intended to remedy the situation.
The founder has so far invested 80,000 euros in her invention and does everything herself. A set with a polishing cloth costs 79 euros. So far, the founder has sold 813 sets via the online shop and made a turnover of 57,000 euros. In order to establish her product on the market, the founder would need 100,000 euros, she offers 15 percent. The lions are allowed to test and Williams makes enthusiastic noises. Is the first deal on the horizon here?
“That’s totally cool,” Dümmel agrees. Glagau is the polishing rod too expensive, he gets out – Ensthaler too. Will Williams strike? No. “You’re my heroine today. You sure are an inspiration, I admire you, I love it, but it’s not my product, so I’m out.” Wöhrl does not agree either: “You are a person with whom you can walk a path, I have two souls in my chest, but I’m out.” Dümmel thinks the 79 euros are too expensive, but: “My greatest successes are problem solvers, I’d really be up for it.” He offers 100,000 for 25 percent. The founder, overjoyed, strikes.
veterinarian dr Lars Meyer (38) invented the “wishing capsule”, an individually adaptable dietary supplement. As a senior physician in a veterinary clinic, he recognized the importance of dietary supplements for animals and expanded his offer to humans. His “wish capsules” can be put together individually and tailored to the body, the diagnosis and the respective diet. The ingredients can be configured on the website, and advice is also possible. A box with 290 capsules costs 100 euros.
In order to get off to a flying start with his company, the founder needs 200,000 euros. For this he offers ten percent of the company shares. The “wish capsule” has been available to order online for two months, so far 8,000 euros have been turned over, the founder has invested seven figures – with loans. The “wish capsule” owes 800,000 euros, which the lions don’t like at all.
Maschmeyer gets out immediately: “That’s too much for me.” Schulz also thinks: “The knockout criterion is the credit, that’s why I’m out.” Dümmel and Wöhrl also decline. Only Glagau is undeterred: “We have been on the market with micronutrients for over 30 years. I think the future is personalized.” He offers 200,000 euros for 30 percent. The founder swallows and calls his wife on the phone. Glagau wants 30 percent instead of ten percent, which is too much for the founder. “I would make a loss with that, that’s a depressing view of things, isn’t it?” The founder finally says and makes a counter offer: 25 percent for 200,000 euros. Glagau declines. The vet drives home without a deal.
