Janna Ensthaler grabs her first prey in the “Lion’s Den”. Carsten Maschmeyer describes a founding duo as a “blender”.
With Janna Ensthaler (38) there is a new lioness on VOX (also on RTL+) her debut. Her long-established “HDL” colleague Carsten Maschmeyer (63) greets the entrepreneur with a declaration of war: “We will be very nice, unless you want to take the loot away from us.”
The new lion could already taste the first pitch, because the start-up “The Way Up” is about upcycling furniture. The founder Lisa Mathieu (28) makes vases or old wood tables from old glass, unique pieces with a QR code that tells a story. So far, the former receptionist has worked alone. “I get up at 5 a.m. every morning, I don’t have a weekend anymore.” Now she wants to take her business to the next level, preferably with a lioness.
In order to establish “The Way Up” on the market, the founder needs 100,000 euros, she offers 15 percent of the company shares. So far she has sold 2,600 glass products and made a turnover of 208,000 euros. Each lion gets a vase to start with. Maschmeyer is not entirely convinced. “Looks a bit spongy,” he says. Even the recycling table doesn’t tear it off the stool because the table legs are not recyclable. “That’s not enough for me, I’m out.” Tillman Schulz also prefers 100 percent sustainability and drops out.
Ralf Dümmel (56) and Ensthaler whisper, Dümmel formulates the offer: “You are a machine to get so far from zero, I almost get goosebumps, really awesome. Janna and I want to go on a great journey with you.” Together they offer the founder 100,000 euros for 30 percent. Dagmar Wöhrl (68) also wants to get in, she would like 20 percent for 100,000 euros. The founder calls her boyfriend and then decides on Dümmel and Ensthaler – not without renegotiating. Finally, everyone agrees on 25 percent. The first prey for the new lioness. She is happy: “First pitch, first deal.”
Dagmar Wöhrl: “It used to be a taboo subject”
The next start-up also immediately arouses the interest of the new lioness. At least the pink baby decorations on stage. “I’m the mother of two daughters, seven and two years old, so the stage set triggers all sorts of feelings in me,” enthuses Ensthaler.
The founders Cornelia Dingedorf (43) and Jacqueline Leuer-Hingsen (35) present “Newma”, hygiene and care products for childbirth. The care products for mothers after childbirth are primarily intended to help with birth injuries and to replace conventional cooling pads and incontinence diapers. The founders need 185,000 euros and offer 20 percent of the shares.
“We’re both moms and we know how it feels after giving birth: you’re in pain, you look like a pear and you feel like a sponge,” the founders introduce themselves. In “Newma” the care of the new mother should be the focus. Wöhrl praises: “It used to be a taboo subject, you didn’t talk about it.” Ensthaler is also enthusiastic: “We are magical creatures and superwomen, we have the placenta, it’s a magical organ, I think the topic is phenomenal.” Schulz has just become a father himself. “I know the problem inside and out,” he says. But he doesn’t want to invest, because: “The competition in the hygiene sector is brutal, the big ones are out there, I’m out.”
Wöhrl agrees with a similar justification and does not want to invest either. Maschmeyer also dismisses it: “I don’t have a network in the hygiene products market, so I can’t help there.” Dümmel is also pulling the ripcord, he has already invested in another hygiene start-up. Ensthaler then also rejected “Newma”. “Economically, the products are ungrateful, you’ve just won the customer, but he’s leaving. That’s why I’m getting out.” No business for the founders. They are visibly disappointed, but: “Especially now.”
“Knaller family pitch” inspires the lions
“Ceiling flash” is the name of the next invention. This is a ceiling marking pen as an aid for a stain-free painted ceiling. With the pen, the ceiling can be divided into sections so that you can see where has already been painted.
The idea came to the founders Simon Biener (22) and Robin Schmedes (27) when their mother wanted to paint the living room ceiling at home and it was still stained despite two coats of paint. The brothers searched for a solution for twelve months. They put almost 10,000 euros into the development and invented “ceiling flash”. Now the founders need 50,000 euros, for which they offer 25.1 percent.
“We grew up on construction sites,” the founding brothers introduce themselves to the lion. They get support from their mother, who shows the lions how easy it is to paint over the blue color of the pencil. The pen should cost 7.90 euros. “That’s the hit family pitch,” Maschmeyer praises, rejects, but at the same time strikes: “I don’t suit you, I don’t invest unless you don’t get an offer today. Without that, I won’t let you out of here. I don’t let two such fresh-fair-cheeky people out of here. I make sure that mom is happy.”
Dagmar finds the two “great, great, great”. But because the product doesn’t fit into her portfolio, she’s out. Even with Schulz, the “ceiling flash” does not fit into the portfolio, he also gets out. Glagau doesn’t want to either. Finally, Dümmel strikes: “The topic convinces me.” He gives 50,000 euros for 30 percent. Deal!
A real “Tada experience” for the lions
Now there’s something between the teeth. The founders Matthias and Jessica Bruckhoff (both 41) present “Tada Ramen”. With their ready-made ramen soup, they want to bring the Japanese soup into the home kitchen without much effort. Thanks to a modular system, there are many ways to enjoy the finished ramen soup. “Today we offer a real Tada experience,” the founding couple introduce themselves. “We offer ready-made soups in restaurant quality, so everyone can take their soup home.” Everything is produced in Germany. In order to establish “Tada Ramen” on the market, the two need 120,000 euros and offer 20 percent.
The lions are allowed to taste. “Very tasty,” everyone agrees. Maschmeyer praises the pasta. Glagau also finds the packaging convincing. Maschmeyer does not consider it a new invention and gets out. Although Schulz comes from the food industry, he has an inner conflict: “Where is the added value with you?” He can’t find it, so he gets out. Wöhrl also: “The special does not come across. That’s why I’m out.”
It tasted fantastic to Dümmel, “and that’s what matters.” He’s thrilled, wants to give the founders 120,000 for 25 percent, preferably bagging the deal right away. But Glagau also wants to get involved. “I would like to build this brand,” he says and makes the same offer. Finally, the founders decide on Glagau. Dümmel looks surprised and not at all amused.
Carsten Maschmeyer on founders: “You are blenders”
The founders of “Circleback”, Kimani Michalke (33) and Brett Dickey (41), want to give plastic packaging a new life. You invented a deposit system for plastic packaging with collection points. The aim is to create a circular economy for plastic packaging so that plastic waste no longer ends up in the garbage in the future. So far, only about a third of the plastic is actually recycled. The two want to change that with “Circleback”, an app-based deposit system. The founders plan to pay 20 cents per bottle. The founders demand 600,000 euros from the lions and offer eight percent. “Circleback” is still only a big vision. There are no sales yet.
Glagau is surprised: “There is still no proof that it works, but you are already calling for a very high rating, that’s too much of a risk for me.” The entrepreneur quits. Maschmeyer is also surprised. “You haven’t made any sales yet.” Judith Williams (51) objects: “There is a lot of movement on the market, plastic is not used everywhere, there are already many alternatives, such as tubes made of cane sugar. You can do without plastic completely, so I’m out.”
Maschmeyer would like to have the expertise of the two clarified. One of the founders worked in banks, then did tourism in Panama. The other is a psychologist. Nobody knows anything about recycling. This leaves the entrepreneur in doubt. “You’re a seller,” he says. “You have no expertise. For me, you’re a phony. I want to earn money from an honorable cause, you want to earn money from this megatrend, but you can’t do anything with it, so I’m out.”
Ensthaler feels sorry for the founders: “To mitigate that, you’re passionate about it, that’s a cool idea, I’d get in there, I’d be your first customer, but I’m out.” No deal for “Circleback”.