In the sixth episode of the 13th season of “Lion’s Cave” (May 8, 8:15 p.m., VOX and RTL ), a pair of brothers inspires all lions. But only one wants to invest. New lioness Janna Ensthaler (39) just can’t say “no” and department store king Ralf Dümmel (56) invests in an investor who has risked everything.
Michi (31) and Martin Kopp (33) are brothers and developed “ModulFix” together. The idea came to them when Michi wanted to attach his stand-up paddle to the luggage rack of his bike, but couldn’t find a suitable strap. So the founders invented “ModulFix”, a customizable strap with interchangeable hooks. In order to bring their tension belt system into households, the founders need 100,000 euros for 20 percent.
“I converted my tricycle when I was five years old,” says one of the two founders in the lion’s cage and presents the invention. “ModulFix” can be used in many ways, you can even set up tents or stretch blankets over sleeping children.” The premium version will cost 19.99 euros.
Entrepreneur Carsten Maschmeyer (63) gets out immediately. “I’m upset that I’m not the right partner, but I’m out.” Nils Glagau (47) also waves his approval. “You have a marketable product, but I need passion. I wouldn’t be the right person to accompany you, so I’m out.”
Judith Williams (51) is totally enthusiastic about the founders. “You are the reason why the ‘Lion’s Den’ is so great. It’s the little things that can make life extraordinary, but it’s a shame that I have so few products around the hardware store. That’s why I don’t invest.”
That leaves the two masters of the shelves. Tilman Schulz (33) lets the older lion go first because “you need another strategic lion, that’s why I’m out too.”
The ball is now in Ralf Dümmel’s hands, who followed the discussion with great concentration and is visibly hungry. No question, “ModulFix” is clearly his thing. “The packaging still needs work, but…” Dümmel becomes almost passionate. He sees great potential in “ModulFix”, offers the founders 100,000 for 25 percent. “We belong together, we make it big,” he enthuses. The brothers hit and tears flow.
The next founder, whose invention is primarily aimed at motorcyclists, has petrol in her blood. With “Headwave”, Sophie Willborn (35) has developed a Bluetooth communication system for motorcycle helmets. The idea came to her when she was getting her motorcycle license and the communication system with the driving instructor was so bad that she could hardly understand anything.
The Bluetooth speaker is glued to the outside of the helmet, the glue is so strong that speeds of over 300 km/h are not a problem. The “Headwave Tags” have been on the market since 2016 – now the founder wants to bring a smaller version onto the market. For this she needs 375,000 euros and offers 12.5 percent. The product should cost 229 euros.
The founder drives up on a motorbike in a lion’s cage and hands out helmets with “headwave tags” to everyone. Williams can’t even put the helmet on. “My head doesn’t fit in there.” She finds the product very interesting, but cancels it. “Personally, I’ve had bad experiences with motorcycles and vowed never to do anything with motorcycles again. So I got out.”
Gradually, the founder also reveals that she initially had two business angels at the start, both of whom have since been bought out. By mutual agreement. Dagmar Wöhrl doesn’t like that at all. “I like building brands, I like sticking with them, and I feel like you just wanted to ditch the investors. I have a weird gut feeling because I’m a down to earth person, so I’m out.”
Maschmeyer also gets out. “You are an expressive founder, but the rating bothers me, it’s too high, so I’m out.”
Dumb too. “Your charisma is profitable, your company valuation is not, so I’m out.” And finally Glagau throws in the towel. “I think you’re great, the product too, but the rating is too unattractive for me.”
No deal for “headwave tags”.
With “eSelly”, Olaf Zimmer (42) has developed a sales app with a live shopping function. The marketplace app offers the opportunity to negotiate with the seller via video call and to ask questions in a direct conversation. A category with ads “nearby” is also integrated. In order to set up “eSelly” globally, Olaf needs 250,000 euros. For this he offers 20 percent of the company shares.
“Every few years there is an app that you don’t want to be without, you’re lucky, I’d like to introduce you to one,” the founder confidently introduces himself. “Shopping goes online these days. My app is like a social media app.” Users can upload videos, make video calls with the seller or watch a Selly sales show. Private sellers are still free, otherwise the founder collects 7 percent. The app has been on the market for three months and has 3,000 active users.
Janna Ensthaler (38) is interested. “You’re doing the new Ebay. But what makes the difference?” she asks. “The new thing is the video content,” explains the founder and says that he himself had previously founded and built a successful company. If necessary, he also wants to put his own money into “eSelly”.
Williams finds the idea exciting, but “250,000 will never be enough, so I’m out”. Wöhrl also praises the founder, but also leaves. “I’m not the greatest expert in the field. It’s with great regret that I’m out.”
Glagau is also not interested. “You’re a top founder. I can’t offer you the speed you need. You know your way around better than I ever could. Unfortunately, I have to let you go.” Dummel nods. “I like guys like you, you’re one of the best that’s ever worked here. But for me it’s not a business model, I’m out.”
Ensthaler remains, struggling with herself. “I just can’t say no today. My biggest passion is writing big new stories. You’re about to usher in a new sales era.” She offers 250,000 for 30 percent.
The highly acclaimed founder consults briefly and then strikes. “Yes, we make the deal.”
The next founder ventured a fresh start at the age of 43. The trained mechanical engineer Lars Hähling founded “Foodwater”, a vegetable broth for cooking and drinking, made from regional and seasonal vegetables, filled in a returnable bottle.
Dressings and marinades can also be prepared with Foodwater. Foodwater obtains the vegetables from regional vegetable farmers and fills the finished vegetable broth in returnable returnable bottles to minimize the environmental impact. The vegetable waste generated during production is composted by Foodwater into fertilizer and reused in the farmers’ fields. The founder needs 75,000 euros to set up a production facility and offers 30 percent.
Every lion can try. “Yes, vegetable broth, keep cold,” says Maschmeyer. “Good idea, but I’m out.”
The product is brand new, has only been available in factory outlets since Friday, costs 2.80 euros. Wöhrl is impressed that the founder has quit his job to do something completely different. “It takes a lot of courage.” She doesn’t want to invest. “Anyone can easily do this at home, so I’m out.” Glagau also does not believe in the success of the product. “Great idea, but I don’t think you’ll get the big crowd. That’s why I’m out.” Schulz thinks the price is too high and doesn’t want to invest any money in setting up a production company. “I don’t know how the production is supposed to go in the future, so I’m out.”
Only Dummel remains. “I’m convinced of you. You put everything on one card. That’s sensational. The trend is towards healthy eating. You risked everything, why shouldn’t I risk something too. I like it. 75,000 for 35 percent.”
Deal for “Foodwater”.
Ben Duffy, Fernando German Torales and Daniel Flynn have known each other since their school days and played together in a rock band. In addition to music, they share a passion for artificial intelligence and robotics. With their invention “Bearcover” they now want to use their knowledge in these areas for something useful. “Bearcover” is a robot called “Oscar” with radar technology for hospitals and nursing homes, which is intended to make the work of nursing staff easier by using radar technology to monitor the movements of residents. Especially at night. If the robot notices something unusual, it alerts the nursing staff via an app.
In order to relieve nursing staff all over the world with their robot, the founders need the support of the lions in the amount of 600,000 euros. For this they offer 10 percent of the shares.
“We have created a superhero who can see through walls,” the founders introduce their “Oscar,” which is about to roll into the lion’s den. The robot costs 199 euros per month in the pilot phase, later 399 per month.
Maschmeyer has doubts. “If a relative came into the house, would you trust a robot?” Williams thinks the invention is hugely important, but it’s not her area, so she drops out. Wöhrl does not rely on “Oscar” either. “I’m afraid the nursing staff won’t be able to rely on that, so I’m out.” Glagau too. “You have chosen a difficult world, you need someone who knows, that’s not me, I’m out.” Dümmel also has “no idea”. “I only invest where I can help, that’s why I’m out.”
Maschmeyer is thoughtful. “You have huge competition with Robotic and the negotiations with care facilities and clinics are very complicated. Also, your six-million rating puts me off, so I’m out.”
No deal for “Bearcover”.
