The lion's den: what changes in the new season

From August 31st (8:15 pm) VOX will be shouting again: The successful start-up show "Die Höhle der Löwen" will start in its eighth season. At prime time, start-ups are again looking for donors and vying for investors. In addition to a new slot and a new lion in the pack, there are other changes.

New slot for "Die Höhle der Löwen"

"The Lion's Den" now flickers across the screens on Mondays instead of Tuesdays. It should stay that way until 2021, explained VOX managing director Sascha Schwingel at a virtual press conference in which the pride of lions also took part.

This is the pride of lions

Tech investor Frank Thelen (44) announced his exit in November 2019. His successor is the former Formula 1 racing driver Nico Rosberg (35). "I'm very excited to be a part of The Lions Den," he said. The ex-racing driver is "very proud to be there".

Rosberg sits next to Judith Williams (48), Dagmar Wöhrl (66), Ralf Dümmel (53), Georg Kofler (63), Carsten Maschmeyer (61) and Nils Glagau (44). Apparently, the 35-year-old also goes well with the pack. "Nico fits in perfectly. He knows the competition and is literally looking for a challenge. It's in his DNA," said Judith Williams. Georg Kofler could only agree: "Nico is a real asset for us." Rosberg is "also a great guy behind the cameras," said Ralf Dümmel. "But with that it goes well too."

Fast pace and heated arguments

Thanks to the former top athlete, the pace of the show has changed. "The first episode is already hot," promised managing director Sascha Schwingel. "It's a very lively pride of lions." The audience can look forward to dynamic investors. "The pace has become faster," said Carsten Maschmeyer. "Nico is not only the fastest in Formula 1." It's not squeamish in the new season – the lions fight even harder for the best ideas.

For the third time, Nils Glagau is sitting on the investor's chair at "DHDL". The lion wants to break away from his reputation in the new season. Fans of the show often accuse the entrepreneur of being cool and aloof. Glagau seems to have taken the comments a little to heart. "I am the new refrigerated shelf and I will build my portfolio very colorfully," revealed the 44-year-old. He feels more comfortable than compared to the first season – that's why his charisma has changed. "I do hope that all my haters will experience a different Nile in the new season," said the lion. "New season, new luck."

The corona crisis is leaving its mark

Filming for the new season had to be interrupted for around three weeks in March due to the corona pandemic. "It was an emotional struggle for everyone. Are we going to the filming? Is it safe?", Judith Williams described the difficult situation. "On the one hand you want to be safe at home, but on the other hand you don't want to let the founders down." At the end, the shooting continued: "A big compliment to Sony Entertainment and the whole team. The many masks and disinfectants made you feel very comfortable."

Due to the strict hygiene and safety precautions, there were of course changes that are also visible in the show. "When you finally had a deal, you always wanted to jump up and hug the founders," said Dagmar Wöhrl. But of course that was not allowed. Nevertheless, the alternative was "implemented very warmly and appropriately," moderator Amiaz Habtu (43) recently revealed in an interview with spot on news.

Important for the audience: "We had filming before and after the Corona lockdown," said Ralf Dümmel. "There will therefore be consequences, you run forward and run the founders halfway with joy and then there are some where you stay seated." But it was not only a difficult situation for the Lions, also for the founders. "We had a few founders who wanted to come from Switzerland or Austria. Unfortunately, they couldn't come then," said Dagmar Wöhrl.

Praise to the new founders

Of course, in the eighth season, new start-up entrepreneurs come before the lions. "We have real innovations, great founders and what excited me: Many companies with the topic of sustainability, artificial intelligence and total digital", said Carsten Maschmeyer. "The founders are very self-confident and have strong negotiating skills," said the entrepreneur. "The founders get better every year," remarked Ralf Dümmel. "I found the presentations enormous this year. The way they sold their product was sensational."

The viewers can expect a colorful mix of ideas in the new episodes: In addition to food start-ups and young entrepreneurs from the fields of electromobility, packaging initiatives, innovative building materials and plastic waste avoidance, there are also some sports start-ups at the start. Ideas from the fields of tennis, football and fitness as well as a special training program just for mothers will be presented. Even a real cow shows up at the pitch and a nail polish leaves stunned faces. For the first time in the history of "Die Höhle der Löwen" a company receives five individual offers from five different lions.

After their premiere broadcast in prime time on VOX, the individual episodes can also be viewed on TVNow.