“The Lion’s Den”
Who is the new investor Janna Ensthaler?
Janna Ensthaler is looking forward to the task in the “Lion’s Den”.
© RTL / Bernd-Michael Maurer
Season 13 of “The Lion’s Den” starts on April 3rd. Janna Ensthaler is new to the lion pack. Who is the investor?
The new spring season of the VOX founders’ show “Die Höhle der Löwen” starts on April 3rd (8:15 p.m., too via RTL+). In addition to well-known faces, two new investors will be negotiating for the best deals, Tillman Schulz (33) and Janna Ensthaler. Who is the new lioness?
Glossybox founder Janna Ensthaler is counted among the 100 most influential women in German business by “Manager Magazin”. According to VOX, Ensthaler, who comes from Pogeez near Hamburg, began her professional career as a management consultant at Bain & Company in London. After completing her studies in economics at Oxford University, she did a Masters in International Relations at the London School of Economics (LSE).
In 2011 she founded the cosmetics company Glossybox, with which she expanded to the USA, China and Europe before it was sold to the British The Hut Group. She then dedicated herself to founding Kaiserwetter, a restaurant with healthy fast food in Hamburg. Most recently, she founded Eventinc, a platform for booking and marketing event locations.
She brings that with her as a TV lioness
Since 2021, Janna Ensthaler has been a founding partner of the Green Generation Fund (GGF) in Berlin, an investment fund specializing in climate and sustainability technologies. With GGF, Janna invests in innovative companies that develop solutions for climate-friendly energy generation.
Her heart beats for the topic of sustainability, she explains in the VOX interview. These include green technologies, sustainable agriculture and food production. “I am convinced that it is the task of our generation to face the challenges of the climate crisis and to bring innovative solutions to the streets – I would now like to make my contribution as an investor with a focus on sustainable technologies.”
As a four-time founder in the past twelve years, she knows what it’s like “to be at the very beginning with an idea,” she explained in mid-March 2023 in an interview with the “Gründerszene”. “With the three companies I founded and my fund, I have been able to gain so much experience that I would now like to pass on. And with my specialist expertise in the areas of greentech, foodtech and the digital scene, I would like to support founders. I know about the challenges and the sleepless nights that starting a business can bring.”
Family planning next to “DHDL”
She also emphasized that, as an investor, she attaches great importance to founders “who bring in-depth specialist knowledge, strong stamina and passion for their topic”. When it comes to business models, she likes to be surprised. “But one thing is certain: I only invest if I’m really convinced that the founders take sustainability seriously.”
The future of “The Lion’s Den” is apparently secured for the investor: “I’m very happy to be part of the future shooting,” she said of the “founder scene”. “We have a very nice atmosphere on the set and a great production and directing team. Even my family planning, so it was rumored, doesn’t stand in the way.”
The entrepreneur announced in early March at Instagram: “We are expecting our third child with great anticipation.” At the same time, she is very much looking forward to filming the upcoming seasons of “DHDL”. “I’ll stay fully on board.” In keeping with International Women’s Day, she also sent the message: “I greet all mothers with their super power! It doesn’t matter which way they go: completely at home, or in a mix of work and family.”