“The Lion’s Den”: Did the founding duo “just want the advertising”?

In the last episode of the 13th season of “Lion’s Cave”, investor Carsten Maschmeyer becomes suspicious of a founding duo.

The first startup in the season finale of “Die Höhle der Löwen” (8:15 p.m., VOX and RTL +) is aimed at the little ones on Monday evening. Meltem Aktürk has quit her job as an investment banker and founded Sproutling, a mattress with which she hopes to revolutionize baby sleep. “It’s frightening that babies keep dying in their sleep,” the founder explains to the lions. Conventional mattresses consist of a foam core and are not permeable to air.

The “Sproutling” mattress is breathable and permeable to air, providing security even when children turn on their stomachs. The mattress consists of polymer threads that are compressed to form cavities. “Sproutling” is available in two sizes, the small one is said to cost 253 euros. Meltem spent a year researching and developing together with midwives. In order to expand her brand, the founder needs 100,000 euros and offers 12.5 percent. In the past few months she has sold 23 mattresses and made a turnover of 9,600 euros.

The lions are allowed to touch. Everyone thinks it feels good, but Carsten Maschmeyer (64) immediately throws in the towel. “The pitch was awesome.” He does not want to invest, but he lures with another offer. “If somehow it doesn’t work out, you have a job with me.” Dagmar Wöhrl (69) finds the mattress fascinating, but: “That’s not my area.” Janna Ensthaler (39) agrees. “I feel like I can’t help you enough, that’s why I’m out.”

When asked, the lions learned that the breathable material is already being used in other mattresses – a no-go for Nils Glagau (47). “If a big one comes, he could do it, so unfortunately I’m out.” That leaves department store king Ralf Dümmel (56), who doesn’t like the company valuation at all. Was that it for the Sproutling mattress? No. Suddenly Dümmel turns the tables: “Where is your pain threshold?” he wants to know from the founder.

Meltem has to make a phone call and finally offers Dümmel 30 percent. But Dümmel wrote down his own pain threshold beforehand, he wants 25 percent – and sticks to it. 100,000 euros for 25 percent of the company shares. The unusual deal is bagged.

Maschmeyer on the founding duo: “They only wanted advertising”

Annika Krause and Thorben Stieler wanted to escape the madness of everyday life. “We worked a lot, were hardly outside, lost touch with nature a bit.” Then they dealt with wild herbs. The young couple made tinctures for their own use, experimented in the kitchen. In 2018 they quit their jobs and founded “Kruut”. Thorben’s father is a master gardener and through him they came across the herbal elixir Oxymel, which consists of three ingredients: raw blossom honey, naturally cloudy apple cider vinegar and green wild herbs.

“Kruut” is already successful, currently there are the varieties Calm, Strength and Well-Being. Last year, the two turned over 1.5 million euros. In order to get off to a great start, the founders need 400,000 euros and give up ten percent for it. The lions are allowed to try, a tablespoon is dissolved in water. The lions like it. Ensthaler is the first to get out. “I’m excited about the products, but the deal isn’t attractive enough for me, so I’m out.” Glagau whispers to Dümmel, Dümmel whispers to Wöhrl. not Maschmeyer. “I don’t believe those numbers, I don’t accept the rating, so I’m out.”

While Dümmel grabs Glagau, Wöhrl strikes. “I believe in you, in the product, in the idea behind it. I’m offering you 400,000 for 20 percent.” Glagau goes with them. “You guys are great, I think the brand is stylish. I’ve been waiting a long time to make a deal with Ralf.” Now it is time. Glagau and Dümmel together offer 400,000 for 24 percent.

The founding couple consult. Meanwhile, Dümmel whispers to Glagau that he would do it for 20 percent. It is clear that the department store king really wants to put “Kruut” on the shelf. Annika and Thorben return. They want to stand firm and not back down on their 10 percent. Dümmel says: “Shit. We would have been willing to negotiate, but coming back without an offer is not possible. So unfortunately no.” Glagau follows.

Wöhrl is still fighting. “I think it’s a real shame, because at some point you need experience. I would have liked to give you the experience, but I can’t do it under 15 percent. The founding couple consulted again and came back with a refusal. “We can’t give more than 10 percent for our gut feeling. That’s why we unfortunately have to cancel.” No deal for “Kruut”. The lions remain at a loss. Maschmeyer investigates. “If you don’t negotiate, you want advertising. There are two choices: they regret it, or they just wanted the publicity.”

Glagau and Dümmel hunt the zebra

Ramtin Randjbar-Moshtaghin comes from Hanover, is an oriental expert, speaks four languages ​​and has brought something “refreshing” for the lions: “Zebra Ice”. The ice cream consists only of fruit puree or juice, is therefore lactose and gluten free, vegan and does not need to be refrigerated. It can be transported and stored without refrigeration. The ice cream lover needs to put it in the fridge for 12 hours to enjoy it cold at home. There are currently two varieties: mango-passion fruit and guava-strawberry. In order to promote internationalization, the founder needs 100,000 euros and offers ten percent of the company shares.

The lions are allowed to try and lick enthusiastically. The ice cream tastes good. The price too: 99 cents for the “zebra ice cream”. But then Maschmeyer discovers a horse’s foot: “The packaging is made of pure plastic.” A no-go for Ensthaler: “Solid product, but you should touch the packaging, sustainability is an important issue for us, so I’m out.” When it turns out that the founder already has other products on the market, Judith Williams (51) gets out. “I can’t grab the brand yet, so I’m out.” Also Maschmeyer. “I lack the focus, that’s why I’m out.”

Glagau wants to invest. “I think the ice cream is delicious, offer 100,000 for 20 percent. Dümmel definitely wants to invest. “I’m burning. I think the ice cream is delicious, I ate both. I really want it.” He also offers 100,000 for 20 percent. The founder wants to call, Dümmel trembles. Which lion gets the zebra? Dümmel is awarded the contract.

In “Hiddencontact” all the lions step on the brakes

With “Hiddencontact”, Marius Wald and Jari Klose have developed a QR contact point that drivers can stick behind the windshield. After registration, the QR code hides an input mask for messages. Helps when your own car was involved in an accident and the driver himself was not present. The “Hiddencontact” user then receives the message via a messenger.

The two founders want to establish themselves as service providers and expand the circle of users. They need 100,000 euros and offer 20 percent of their company shares. They have been working on the idea for 16 months and it was only launched a few weeks ago. “Hiddencontact” should cost between 5.99 and 8.99 euros.

Glagau puts on the brakes first: “Clever and simple solution, but you don’t solve the problem of distribution, it’s not that mature for me, so I’m out.” Woehrl follows. “That’s not even enough for a million, that’s almost impossible, so no investment for me, I’m out.” Tillman Schulz takes a similar view. “You would have to have an incredible level of awareness for that, it doesn’t even cost a million, that’s why I’m out.” Dümmel also gets out. Stays Maschmeyer. “It only works if you make it big. So far you have nothing. Only fog in the windshield, so I’m out.” No deal for “Hiddencontact”.

Founders take two lions with them on “educational leave”

“27 million employees in Germany are entitled to five additional vacation days. And nobody knows it,” founders Lara Körber and Anian Schmitt begin their pitch. In Germany there is a right to educational leave. The entitlement includes five to ten days for further training that is certified as educational leave. With “Bildungsurlauber.de”, the founders have created a platform that offers various courses, currently 14,000.

Users can download the application forms from the website and submit them to their employer once they have been filled out. In order to be able to offer even more options, the duo needs 150,000 euros and offers ten percent. The two currently turn over 8,000 euros a month. They get commissions from the course providers. An immediate topic for Maschmeyer: “Your company valuation is brave with your mini sentences.” Nevertheless, he whispers to Ensthaler. Dumb gets out. “It’s not a business model for me, I’m out.”

Glagau wants to get in. “I understand your vision, I think we would be a good multiplier.” He wants 20 percent for the 150,000. Wöhrl follows suit. “The right topic at the right time, I would like to be there, I’m offering you 150,000 and I want 15 percent.” Maschmeyer and Ensthaler are bidding. “Many company bosses will hate us for it,” Maschmeyer begins. “But the crappy companies will hate us, the good ones will love us, we would cause a hype, but we want 20 percent.”

The founders consult. They would like to make the deal with the lion duo, but only want to give up 15 percent. Maschmeyer goes to 18 percent, the deal stands for “Bildungsurlauber.de”.

That’s it. The last deal of the season. Now the lions are going on educational leave…

SpotOnNews

source site-8