Jürgen Milski goes among the founders

"The Lion's Den" - Jürgen Milski goes among the founders

This year, "Die Höhle der Löwen" on VOX is once again getting festive in a Christmas special. But what would Christmas be without Christmas baking? The first founder in the "Höhle der Löwe" Christmas special is Jessica Schilling (36), a passionate amateur baker. She presents her innovative baking idea: "CuCap", the clever helper for filled muffins.

With entrepreneur Nils Glagau (48) as her energetic "Christmas elf", the founder demonstrates to the lions how easy her invention is to use: dough in the tin, "CuCaps" with centering aid on top, into the oven. The silicone cap eliminates the need for tedious scooping.

There is more to her product than sweet indulgence: Jessica, who used to work in marketing, found her way into self-employment through illness. "I had three hip operations. But just sitting around doing nothing was just too boring for me. I started baking again and looked for something to do." Now she wants to take off internationally with "CuCaps". She is offering 25 percent of her company shares for 120,000 euros. A pack of 12 "CuCaps" will cost 21.90 euros, the centering aid 29.20 euros. Jessica developed everything herself and has sold 4,000 units since 2020.

The lions get a taste. Financial entrepreneur Carsten Maschmeyer (64) doesn't bite. Although he likes snacking, he doesn't bake, and he doesn't like the business plan. Nils Glagau also drops out. "I don't believe in the path with this very niche product," he explains. Sales expert Tillman Schulz (34) also thinks the product is too small. Family entrepreneur Dagmar Wöhrl (69) also doesn't want to get into the Christmas bakery business. "You need a lot of money to build a brand," she suspects.

That leaves Ralf Dümmel (57). He has already eaten a particularly large muffin with relish. And turns out to be Santa Claus for the founder in his glittering red suit. "You're solving a problem, I think that's brilliant, I want to do that with you." The department store king offers 120,000 for 30 percent. The founder accepts. She is overjoyed and sheds tears of joy. "A huge Christmas present."

Lion's Den: "Heyfam" - time for presents

The Christmas baking in the "Lion's Den" is done, what's missing are the presents. And the same question every year: "What should I give?" Founder Milana Marks presents the solution with "heyfam". The 28-year-old has developed a smart app that enables data-based gift-giving. Profiles of friends and family are created and the algorithm suggests individually curated gifts - from experience vouchers to books and sports equipment.

The gifts can be sent directly from the app with just one click. To continue growing with "heyfam", Milana needs 150,000 euros and is offering 20 percent. The app, which is not yet live, is to be free of charge, with a commission for every gift booked.

Nils Glagau immediately waves it off. "I love giving gifts, it makes you think. I would find it wrong to invest in this platform because I want people to still engage with other people." Tillman Schulz doubts the figures. "It's a bottomless pit, it's going to run into seven figures, I'm out." Dagmar Wöhrl also pulls the ripcord. "You fascinate me as a woman, you have that certain something that you want from a female founder, but there's not enough money to achieve the goal." Ralf Dümmel doesn't get on board either. "I love the Lion's Den because of people like you, but I'm not the right investor for you. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you, but I'm out."

But Carsten Maschmeyer snaps up a Christmas deal. "I'm a tech investor and if your wish list says Maschi, you've got me for 25.1%." The founder makes leaps of friendship. "My dream lion, my dream deal. It's going to be a blessed Maschi Christmas."

Romantic Molly Suh light in the "Lion's Den"

Is something still missing? Atmospheric lighting and a bit of romance! Molly Suh founders Maurice Jedlicka (32) and Amy Peters (27) are making sure of that with a whole choir of children. With their sustainable candles, they are putting an end to conventional candle wax: their secret recipe is recycled vegetable fats from the catering and hotel industry. In a recycling and upcycling process, the fats are cleaned, freed from harmful substances and used as an odorless base wax for the "Molly Suh" candles. The founders are offering 15 percent of the company shares for 75,000 euros. The scented candles are to cost 22 euros, the tea lights 11 euros.

The spoilsport is Nils Glagau. "I was expecting something innovative, I don't have a unique selling point, sustainable candles already exist, I'm out." Carsten Maschmeyer joins in: "You have great goals, but you're up against global corporations with a lot of experience, chemists and scientists, you'll get tangled up in the market, I'm out". Dagmar Wöhrl is not getting in either. Tillman Schulz too. Ralf Dümmel, on the other hand, has all his candles burning. "I'm up for you. I think you're cool." He offers 75,000 for 25 percent. Deal. Overjoyed, the founders agree.

Lion Christmas dinner with vegan "Taste Religion" sauce

Baked goods, presents, candles - but now it's time for the feast! The lions spill the beans: Carsten Maschmeyer serves fondue on Christmas Eve, Nils Glagau serves goose in the traditional way, Dagmar Wöhrl serves sour snacks and Ralf Dümmel serves potato salad and sausages. Sausages will probably not be on the table for the next founding team, as Lasse Thiele (27) and Mattis Eckmann (28) present vegan, delicious sauces with "Taste Religion".

In their "Taste Religion", they do without animal products and harmful additives. The range includes six tempting sauces, including vegan gravy and black garlic teriyaki sauce. The food experts invite the lions to a vegan Christmas menu and offer 15 percent of the company shares for 150,000 euros.

The vegan roast is not so well received by the lions, but the vegan gravy is all the more popular. The sauces cost 4.99 euros each. "Bad roast, good gravy", comments Ralf Dümmel. However, he does not want to get involved as he has already invested in other sauce start-ups. Carsten Maschmeyer is not involved in Food. But Dagmar Wöhrl, Nils Glagau and Tillman Schulz are doing something. The lions whisper and make an offer: 30 percent for 150,000 euros. The founders gulp for a moment, but then take the deal. Deal for "Taste Religion".

Celebrity BB - Jürgen Milski wants a deal from the lions

And suddenly Jürgen Milski (60) is on stage, yesterday on "Promi Big Brother", today on "Höhle der Löwen". He has brought along his best friend Ralf Kosche (60) and an innovative solution for more safety on the ski slopes. With their "Gogglestop", a goggle stopper for ski helmets, the founders want to prevent accidents.

Ski instructor Ralf knows the dangers from 20 years of experience and has developed an ingenious Velcro fastener that fixes the ski goggles securely to the helmet. Jürgen is convinced: "The goggles will never slip back again!" The founders offer the lions 30,000 euros for 15 percent of the company shares.

The two founders come on stage in ski boots. "Oh", shout the lions when they recognize Jürgen Milski. They are all allowed to take a closer look at the "Gogglestop" on the helmets. The piece costs 19.90 euros. "We need a strong lion for sales," summarizes Jürgen.

Dümmel doesn't need to be told twice. Without further ado, he gets up and approaches the founding duo. "I think that's great, you're a skier and you've developed a product that provides safety. I'm the right person for you, we'll do it together." Jürgen has tears in his eyes. One of the fastest deals ever seen in the Lion's Den. "Something like this only happens at Christmas," comments Maschmeyer and wishes "Merry Christmas, Merry Business".