The lion’s den: Lions love stimulants

The lion’s den
Lions love stimulants

From left: Annette Steiner-Kienzler, Nadja Arbab and Maximiliane Staiger convince almost all of the lions with their sugar-free brain food.

© TVNOW / Bernd-Michael Maurer

Three of the five founders go home with a deal in the fifth episode of “Die Höhle der Löwen”.

In episode five of the ninth season of the successful start-up show “Die Höhle der Löwen” five start-ups were once again allowed to present their ideas to investors. Judith Williams (49, “How dreams learn to fly”), Dagmar Wöhrl (66), Carsten Maschmeyer (61), Ralf Dümmel (54), Nico Rosberg (35), Georg Kofler (63) and Nils Glagau (45) were able to manage three of them ) convince and dust off a deal. The lions were particularly fond of one product.

Tilmann Rothe (22) wants to make people’s lives easier with his invention. With his “Beerbag” a crate of drinks can be strapped to the back like a backpack and transported more easily. The highlight: the “Beerbag” can also be used as a stool. Rothe wants 20,000 euros for 30 percent of his company. Nils Glagau thinks the invention is “super cool”. Georg Kofler tries it out and is enthusiastic: “Something for down-to-earth, practical men.”

The lions are put off by the high production costs, the concept that has not yet been thought through, and the targeted pricing. Glagau fits first. Likewise Wöhrl. Maschmeyer is also out. Kofler predicts: “This is not a business” and does not invest. Ralf Dümmel does not want to send the likeable 22-year-old home and struggles with himself for a long time – and in the end actually becomes soft. Nevertheless, he makes it clear: “You don’t sell that in bulk.” Nevertheless, Rothe is delighted with the last-minute deal.

“Robin Hoods the Taxpayer”

After that, it was about what the lions enjoy the most: money! Better said about taxes. Dr. Michael Potstada (30) and Jörg Südkamp (33) want to use their app “Zasta” to help the many “tax declaration mufflers” in Germany to prepare a tax declaration quickly and easily. According to the inventors, this should be as easy with the “digital tax advisor” as ordering a pair of shoes online. The concept behind it: The customer only enters a few personal data and gives “Zasta” a power of attorney to commission a partner tax advisor to examine the customers’ finances and to prepare a tax return for them.

Even if Judith Williams thinks the “Robin Hoods of taxpayers” are incredibly “clever” and predicts a bright future for them, she is out. The rest of the lions stay on the ball and scrutinize the inventors more closely. It’s about scalability, the valuation of the company and annual sales. Nico Rosberg and Ralf Dümmel don’t like the rating. They fit. Dagmar Wöhrl sees numerous problems and is also out. Too many alarm bells are ringing at Carsten Maschmeyer too – it fits. No deal for “Zasta”.

Super hen Heidi is retiring

Then it becomes culinary. Christian Geiser (48), who has been vegan for over 25 years, wants to tackle the problem of laying hens with his egg substitute “MyEy”. He has his super hen Heidi with him as support, whom he wants to send on permanent vacation with his invention. Of course, the master confectioner and baker, who has been creating vegan specialties for two decades, first treats the lions with sweet and savory delicacies.

He can’t convince any of the lions with the fried egg. The desserts, on the other hand, taste good. For “vegan critic” Kofler, the market is too sharp, after all, only around two percent of the German-speaking population eat vegan. He’s out. Glagau disagrees: “It’s a niche, but a trend that will continue around the world.” He sees a future and is the first to accept the inventor’s request: 150,000 euros for 15 percent of the company’s shares. Wöhrl is also interested, but it fits. At the same time, Dümmel and Maschmeyer are discussing a joint venture in the background. Your combined offer: 300,000 euros. In return, each lion receives 15 percent of the company’s shares. Geiser, who is not only an entrepreneur, but also the world record holder in baking, meditates briefly on the offer and accepts the offer from Glagau.

Sugar-free brain food is convincing

Afterwards, too, it stays green: Patrick Kolb (38) and Angela Gonzalez (32) want to promote cycling. With their intermediary platform “bikuh” they bring cyclists and advertisers together. Rolling advertising, so green and fresh. They want 200,000 euros for 20 percent of their company shares. And even if all Lions find the idea “charming”, it has too many weak points. One point of criticism: you can hardly see the advertising that is mounted in the tires in motion. One lion after the other gets out. A deal doesn’t come off.

Finally, it’s about brain power: With “Nao”, Annette Steiner-Kienzler (48), Nadja Arbab (35), Maximiliane Staiger (31) offer a dietary supplement based on Chinese medicinal plants that stimulates an alert mind and a “boost” “promises for the brain. They would like to have 300,000 euros for 20 percent of the company’s shares. The natural stimulant wants to try it out, which can keep you on your feet for up to eight hours, but none of the lions. Kofler, in particular, is not convinced that a stimulant, no matter how natural, can be healthy in the long run – he’s out. The other lions want to grab the idea, however. Dümmel and Maschmeyer want to do something together again, but together demand 25 percent of the company for 300,000 euros.

Wöhrl and Glagau also have an offer. A difficult decision for the three founders. In the end, however, they decide on the offer that, in their view, promises the fastest growth and they give Dümmel and Maschmeyer the contract.

SpotOnNews