In the new episode of "Die Höhle der Löwen" (VOX, Tuesday from 8:15 p.m. or at TVNow), investors and spectators alike were keen to see the products presented. What the first founder brought with him was "so small that it fits in every pocket" and "so useful that you want to use it every day" – at least Dr. Carl Heinze from Munich. The product is called "Carryyygum", it is a rubber band construction that is attached to the bicycle handlebar. This should make it possible to transport jackets, bottles and other items. Investor Ralf Dümmel (53) was probably the smallest luggage rack in the world.
Georg Kofler (62) was too small. He meant the prospect of profit: "You are a down-to-earth inventor, but it is too small for me in terms of potential, so I get out." Carsten Maschmeyer (60) also saw too little growth opportunities. "If I invest, the pond has to be big enough and here I respect that the pond is too small, so I get out." Dümmel instructed the two of them better: "We have over 70 million bicycles, this is not a niche market, I think the topic is awesome, offer you 150,000 euros for 40 percent." The first deal of the evening was bagged.
Fitness no longer pulls
The next founder is trying to make personalized training affordable for every user with "FitterYOU", an app with a fitness mat. Fritz Grünewalt was also able to present a prominent advocate: football professional André Schürrle (29) is enthusiastic about the concept. "He'll piss on the lions," the kicker said with conviction. Fritz needed 500,000 euros from the lions for ten percent of the company's shares. The founder has already invested an impressive 4.5 million euros.
Nils Glagau (44) summarized the mood of his Löwen colleagues in a nutshell. "It is a high risk, as we all know, there are many filing corpses, you quickly lose interest, I don't believe in them and I'm out." In turn, the investors all got out.
Swimwear made from old fishing nets
The next founder cast her nets out after the lions: Barbara Gölles from Austria makes swimwear from old, lost fishing nets that float in the oceans. "Margaret and Hermione" is the name of their label, named after their grandmothers. "Help me grow. From Austria to Germany and then all over the world," she asked the Lions. She needed 120,000 euros for 20 percent of her company shares.
Kofler was surprised: "I would have thought that everything was invented in swimwear." Shortly thereafter, he announced his surrender to the bikini business. Frank Thelen (44), on the other hand, immediately pulled the ripcord: "Your commitment to the environment is great, it unites us all, but it doesn't suit me, I'm out." In the end, Dagmar Wöhrl (65) was left with: "You are a great founder and I am also a great kid, I offer you 120,000 for 25 percent." The deal was promptly networked.
Food for the lions
The founders Zeevi Chaimovitch and Jörn Gutowski developed "KOFU", vegan and gluten-free tofu, which consists of water, chickpeas, salt and spices. The chickpea product can be roasted, baked or cooked in soup. For founder Jörn it was the second appearance in the "Lion's Den", in 2016 he presented his concept "Try Foods". On the show, he accepted an offer from Frank Thelen, but the deal broke in retrospect.
Of course, all lions were allowed to taste and the taste convinced everyone. Accordingly, the investors were in the starting blocks. But then came the cold shower, because one of the producers is part of the deal as a third party. Frank Thelen responded first and symbolically for the other lions: "I was just about to invest, but I can't, I have a stomachache that the producer is on board. This could be a conflict of interest, so I'm out." Only Judith Williams (48) stayed on board, but for her, something else became the exclusion criterion: the product had to be refrigerated. So there was also a basket from her.
Two lions are interested
"With our specially developed sole we give every shoe a valuable update", the next founders promised. Peter Mucha presented with his brother Werner the "Fleximed insole", which is based on the advantages of walking barefoot and is thus intended to strengthen the natural function of the foot. "We live the product and need a partner who lives with us as well," said Werner. The offer to the lions: 140,000 euros for 20 percent of the company shares. Every lion was allowed to try out the sole.
Kofler showed his interest: "I sympathize with you and your product and would do it with you, I offer you 140,000 euros for 33 percent." But Dümmel also recognized the potential and made the same offer as Kofler – with success. The discounter guru was awarded the contract by the founders.