“The Lion’s Den” is back. In the first episode of season 13, newcomer Tilman Schulz landed his first deal.
With newcomer Tillman Schulz (33), Ralf Dümmel, Carsten Maschmeyer, Nils Glagau, Dagmar Wöhrl and Judith Williams are again hungry in the VOX cage and want to be fed. Aaron Rau and Jonas Weber kick off the new season with their “Lockcard”. The founders don’t like big wallets, so they developed a smaller version in grandma’s garage. The “Lockcard” mini wallet for coins, bills and credit cards, with a key compartment and AirTag holder, was created from the 3D printer.
However, the founders quickly found out: “Not a single order came.” They then gave up their studies, collected followers on social media and became full-time founders. Finally the orders came. In order to establish their company “Lockcard” on the market and switch to sustainable resources, they need 200,000 euros. In return, the founders offer 15 percent of their company.
The lions are excited
Investor Carsten Maschmeyer (63) initially had doubts. “Aren’t you keeping up with the times? Today you pay with your smartphone.” Entrepreneur Dagmar Wöhrl (68) objects: “You still need small change for the shopping trolley.” Maschmeyer also finds the price too high. The standard version should cost 27.99 euros, the production costs are less than three euros.
At the end of the pitch, however, the commitment of the young founders inspires all lions. Everyone wants to be part of the “key experience” and invest. Also Tillman Schulz, at 33 years old the youngest lion so far. Born in Dortmund from a family of entrepreneurs with a focus on “food”, he wants to build up a cool brand in the long term, offers 200,000 and wants a 30 percent share in the company.
Department store king Ralf Dümmel (56) and Maschmeyer, on the other hand, want to land the deal together, offering 200,000 euros for a 25 percent share. Lioness Wöhrl also “goes into battle”. She offers 200,000 for 20 percent. Dümmel and Maschmeyer were awarded the contract. “Mega guys, the greatest thing besides the product is the maturity of the guys,” says Dümmel.
One lion less: “Pandemic doesn’t stop at lions either”
At the next pitch, the lions are only four, lioness Judith Williams (51) is missing. “The pandemic doesn’t stop at the lions either,” explains Dümmel. “PlugVan” will be presented, a modular system for vans that can be used to convert any van into a mobile home. The equipment ranges from a sofa lounge to wall cupboards, a multifunctional table made of real wood and a mini kitchen. The modular system can be installed in just five minutes and can be removed again at any time.
In order to establish their company on the market, the founders Jörg Kortmann, Florian Fey and Max Müller need 350,000 euros. In return, the trio offers 7.5 percent of the company shares.
The founders present their invention to the lions outside the VOX studio. The modular system costs 21,000 euros, 50 models have already been sold. Dümmel gets out immediately, the system presented is not his “business model”. Nils Glagau also because he sees no potential. The lion also explains: “If I need something, I’ll hang it on the back.” Maschmeyer is bothered by the price, because “a small mobile home doesn’t cost much more, but it’s more comfortable”. Schulz prefers mobile homes and also gets out. Unfortunately, without the desired deal, the founders go home.
“duck good, all good”
Mary-Ann and Dennis Kwong are the owners of the Chinese restaurant Dim Sum Haus Hamburg. During the pandemic, they came up with the idea for a food startup. “Turn a bad situation into a good one,” says a Chinese proverb, and that’s how “Mary Kwong” came about, a Peking duck cooking box for the home with instructions on how to cook it. In addition to the Peking duck for self-cooking, the cooking box also contains the traditional Chinese side dishes and cooking utensils. “Within 30 minutes you can conjure up our favorite dish on the table.” The box costs 85 euros and the founders have sold 12,000 of them to date.
In order to meet the demand and to develop further cooking boxes for various dishes, the company needs financial support of 300,000 euros from the lions. In return, ten percent shares in “Mary Kwong” will be offered.
The lions are also allowed to taste the Peking duck, and everyone likes the dish from the cooking box. When investor Wöhrl asked where the ducks came from, the founders replied: “From regional farms.” Dümmel gets out, he prefers to eat the duck in the restaurant. Maschmeyer also prefers to enjoy the duck on site. Wöhrl, Schulz and Glagau, on the other hand, strike together and make the founders a combined offer: 300,000 for 30 percent. The founders are happy. “Duck good, all good.” The first deal for the new lion Schulz, even if only in a triple pack.
“With our startup you can look into the future”
Cosmetics queen Williams will be back in the next round. Sebastian Witt and Robin Röm present “Cityscaper”, an app for the interactive exchange of opinions in urban planning. “Cityscaper” is intended to enable citizens to exchange ideas with builders when it comes to urban planning. Even drafts can be examined virtually with the helpful app. “With our startup, you can take a look into the future,” entice the founders, adding: “Everyone is shaping the cities of tomorrow with us.”
In order to establish their communication and planning app with augmented reality on the market, the founders of “Cityscaper” need 240,000 euros. In return, they offer ten percent shares in the company.
Lioness Williams thinks the app makes sense, but gets out because it’s not her line of business. Dümmel, on the other hand, fears that municipalities could be too cumbersome to use it and also gets out. Schulz doesn’t want to invest either. “I can’t put that on the shelf,” the lion explains. Investor Maschmeyer would like to take part, but: “You think big, but plan so small, that’s why I’m out.” That’s why the founders say: “No deal”.
“From big cats to small fish”
The next founder goes by the name of Dennis Vietze and has a passion for fish. The system engineer has been working in aquaristics for over 30 years and encountered a problem that inspired his founding idea. Vietze was bothered by the fact that for small aquariums there were either filters that were too big or filters that didn’t have enough power. Eventually he decided to build a filter himself. He tinkered in his basement for over two years, now “Aquakallax” is finished and aquarium enthusiasts from all over Europe want to buy it.
The filter mats from “Aquakallax” filter up to 400 liters of water in one hour and only require an output of 4 watts. The founder has already sold 4,000 units at a price of EUR 28.95. In order to establish his invention on the market, the fish fan would like 150,000 euros. In return, he offers 15 percent of the company’s shares in “Aquakallax”.
The chances are good, because three of the lions come out as aquarium owners. Maschmeyer is more interested in tech investments and gets out. Wöhrl and Schulz also decline. Glagau doubts that he can bring the necessary momentum. Dumb remains. “You’re a guy you want and need to help, and I’d like to do something with you.” He offers 150,000 for 25 percent.
The Founder retreats for a moment’s reflection, then reappears and strikes. “Ralf, we rock it!”, explains Vietze, and a deal is made.
In the next episode next week, the second newcomer “Die Höhle der Löwen” will enter VOX: entrepreneur Janna Ensthaler.