Ralf Dümmel really wants to close a deal in the third episode of “The Lions’ Den” and is on the verge of a heart attack.
The third episode of the 14th “The Lions’ Den” season on VOX (also on RTL+) begins in the Middle Ages: The founders of “Vegablum” Daniela Nowak (51) and her partner Stephan Weidtmann (53) love honey wine, also known as mead. Since Daniela is vegan, they looked for a substitute for honey and found it in one of her grandmother’s recipe books: dandelion honey. The vegan honey alternative Wonig was created from dandelion flowers boiled with sugar, water and spices and soon afterwards the first vegan mead called Vet, “vegan elf drink”. The founders want 100,000 euros for 10 percent of the company shares. The bottle costs 11.99 euros, the vegan honey costs 4.99 euros. They have already sold 100,000 glasses. They made 300,000 euros in sales last year.
The drink comes in four different flavors. In the “Lion’s Den” the old custom of nail-driving decides who gets to try the vegan honey wine first. Entrepreneur Nils Glagau (47) blows everyone away and is allowed to go to the Vet. But the others also get a taste. There is also a honey bread that goes down well.
Ralf Dümmel (56) is the first to get out. “The niche isn’t big enough for the shelf, so I’m out.” Nils Glagau follows. “I think you’re cool, but I don’t dare touch mead. I don’t believe in it. That’s why I’m saying no today, I’m out.” New lioness Tijen Onaran (38) is also not interested.
But there is still hope: Dagmar Wöhrl (69) grabs Tillman Schulz (33). “It will be a tough job, the competition is very tough.” The lion duo still wants to get in, but demands 25.1 percent instead of 10 percent. Non-negotiable. The founders hesitate, consult, but then strike. Deal for “Vegablum”.
The lions don’t have their fangs polished
“Today we’re polishing the lions’ fangs.” With “Natch” the founders Heber Gonzalez (44) and Norbert Richard Meinike (49) want to revolutionize tooth brushing. Conventional toothpaste consists mostly of water and other ingredients such as synthetic flavors, colors and preservatives. The packaging also pollutes the environment.
The sustainable “Natch” toothpaste in the form of small tablets is made without water and filled into refillable glass bottles without plastic. “We replaced the fluoride with a substance that you can safely swallow and came across calcium hydroxyapatite,” say the founders. The sustainable toothpaste is currently available in four different versions. The founders want 375,000 euros and are offering 10 percent of the company shares.
The Lions get a taste of Natch. “In the mouth, bite with your front teeth and brush your teeth.” The lions are initially enthusiastic. There are 85 taps in a can, one tap is required per application. A can costs between 11.90 and 14.90 euros.
“I don’t pay 14 euros for toothpaste,” says Nils Glagau immediately. “I don’t see that at all.” He gets off. Janna Ensthaler (39) is also afraid of it.
Ralf Dümmel is also bothered by the high company valuation. “I’m disappointed for two reasons, firstly because of the high company valuation and also the price is far too high, so I’m out.” As it turns out, the two founders also have eight other investors on board. This deters Dagmar Wöhrl and she also gets out. Tillman Schulz is the last to throw in the towel. “It doesn’t make sense for me to invest with you, so I’m out too.” No deal for Natch.
Carsten Maschmeyer bites at “AnimalChat”.
When the animal suffers, the human suffers too. Dr. Heinrich Wilkes (59) is a veterinarian and knows from his practice that not every animal needs to go to the doctor straight away with every ailment. That’s why he and his son Sebastian (34) developed the messenger app “AnimalChat” for veterinarians. It should enable simple, fast and, above all, cost-effective communication.
With “AnimalChat” users can save long waiting times on the phone and simply send a photo or video directly to the veterinary practice. The user then receives an offer for the video consultation. If accepted, the costs can be conveniently paid directly in the app with just a few clicks. It is currently free to use, only veterinary practices take out a paid annual subscription and pay a 10 percent commission on the video consultations when they are carried out. The founders need 200,000 euros, for which they offer 10 percent of their company shares.
Nils Glagau is thrilled. “You’ve found a really hot topic. I believe in telemedicine, great.” Dagmar Wöhrl too. “This is a topic that is very close to my heart; veterinary practices are overcrowded. It can help a lot of people.”
Membership costs every veterinary practice 600 euros per year. So far, the founders have two practices in their app. Tillman Schulz gets out. “I can’t help you and that’s why I’m out.” Ralf Dümmel doesn’t see himself as the real lion either and waves him off.
Nils Glagau and Dagmar Wöhrl want to get involved together; they are offering 200,000 euros for 20 percent. Carsten Maschmeyer too. “I’m an animal lover. I’m probably just the puzzle piece you’re missing.” But he also wants 20 percent of the company shares.
The founders consulted, decided on Carsten Maschmeyer, but made him a counteroffer. They offer 20 percent and want 300,000 euros for it. The entrepreneur agreed to pay 250,000 euros and the founders agreed. Deal for “AnimalChat”.
Ralf Dümmel: “I’ll collapse if I don’t get it”
After the problem solvers for the animals come the problem solvers for the kitchen. The married couple Karolin and Darko Djukic (34 and 35) are passionate about cooking. But something has always bothered them: When you prepare fish, meat or vegetables in the oven, the food swims in its own juices and never gets really crispy.
While playing Lego with his son, Darko came up with the idea for “KitchBo”, a modular baking mat. “KitchBo” is made of food-safe silicone, the surface has pyramid-shaped nubs. The food is not lying directly on the mat so that the heat can circulate unhindered. Using a click system, additional levels can be created, for example for skewers. The mat can be cleaned in the dishwasher. A set costs 39 euros. The production price is 12.50 euros. They’ve only been online for two days and advance sales are for 20 mats.
For 40,000 euros in support, the founders offer 10 percent of the company shares. Also in the lion’s den is partner Nikola. Did the Lions click? The lions examine “KitchBo”.
Janna Ensthaler begins: “I’m a big fan of yours.” The entrepreneur wants to invest. Nils Glagau doesn’t, he gets out. Dagmar Wöhrl thinks the product is great and also wants to invest. Tillman Schulz also bites.
That leaves Ralf Dümmel. “You should hear my heart beating,” he begins. “This is mine. This is so mine. This is so hot. I’m offering you 80,000 for 20 percent. I have to do this with you. I’m burning for it, you can’t give this to anyone else, please, please, please.”
There are four offers. Now the founders are spoiled for choice. Dümmel sweats and suffers. “I’ll collapse if I don’t get this.” He stands up and calls out to the founders. “I’m going down to 15 percent.” In the end, the founders choose Ralf Dümmel. The Deal King jumps up and cheers.
Sniff test negative: No lion wants “Scentme”
The five founders André Engels (54), Markus Kessler (60), Dr. Ferdinand Storp (56), Dr. Cornelius Bessler (49) and Peter Knöll (59) have developed “Scentme”, a sustainable scented detergent. The scent pods not only provide different scent experiences, but also the appropriate color care for the laundry.
The detergent pods have the same washing power as conventional detergents and care for all types of laundry. In addition, their scents provide a spa moment in everyday life. The pods are based on a highly concentrated formula without fillers, microplastics, solvents and water. The packaging does not contain any plastic and is made of grass paper. The pods are currently available in eight different scents. The five founders want 200,000 euros and are offering 10 percent.
“A coach has arrived in the lion’s den,” says Ralf Dümmel, commenting on the many founders. In a “car wash” the lions are first allowed to sniff all the scents. “I don’t smell much,” comments Carsten Maschmeyer. Nils Glagau agrees: “I would have thought it would smell more.”
A set costs 11.90 euros. Added to this are the shipping costs. The founders have invested two million euros so far, they have 2,000 customers and have made sales of 50,000 euros so far.
“You are the first to say we are the next billion-dollar company. A billion-dollar valuation, how are you going to achieve that?” asks Maschmeyer. “Your business plan is business madness, I’m out.” Dagmar Wöhrl also gets out. “I don’t know why I would buy this.” Neither does Nils Glagau. “There’s too much competition, I’m out.” Ralf Dümmel is also not investing. “You’re in a huge market where you need a lot of money to gain notoriety, so I’m getting out.” In the end, Tillman Schulz is the last lion to pull the ripcord. No deal for “Scentme.”