- Over a decade, entity 418 engages in numerous transactions.
August 19, 2014, marked the debut of "The Lion's Den" on screens, transforming into a well-liked format on VOX. Celebrating its tenth year, the show will air its eighth set of anniversary episodes starting September 2.
772 Pitches and 418 Agreements
"The Lion's Den" has proved to be a fruitful platform for startups. Over the past decade, approximately 18,000 entrepreneurs have submitted their inventions for consideration, only a small portion making it to the broadcast. In total, 772 pitches were aired across 144 episodes. The investors, including Judith Williams (52), Ralf Dümmel (57), and the team, invested in more than half of them, closing 418 deals.
The costliest products went home empty-handed. The founders of "Scewo" and their stair-climbing electric wheelchair, demanding an unprecedented 5 million euros for a 10% stake, failed to secure a deal. Similarly, the E-motorbike from "Novus", retailed at an eye-watering 32,000 euros, failed to garner investment.
Contrarily, the youngest contender bagged a deal. The 16-year-old Valeria Weingardt, with her natural cosmetics brand "Betula Natura", secured Ralf Dümmel's investment in the last season. On the other hand, the oldest candidate, Albrecht Schnitzer, left empty-handed with his senior exercise bike.
Interestingly, the investors meet five different startups each shooting day, ensuring they don't encounter them beforehand. This communication is facilitated through radio, informing each party of the other's location.
14 Lions on a Dealing Spree
Over its 15 seasons, "The Lion's Den" has witnessed a revolving door of entrepreneurs and investors. Judith Williams, the lone constant since season 1, along with Carsten Maschmeyer (65), and Ralf Dümmel, lead the list, having appeared in 13 seasons each. Next comes Dagmar Wöhrl (12 seasons), Nils Glagau (10 seasons), and Georg Kofler (9 seasons). In total, 14 seasoned lionesses and lions have continued their quest for deals, with guest entrepreneurs making a reappearance three times.
Traveling worldwide in pursuit of deals, "The Lion's Den" has filmed follow-up visits to successful startups in Iceland, Dubai, New York, Malaysia, and South Korea. Additionally, 19 renowned figures, such as sports stars Michael Ballack, Matthias Steiner, André Schürrle, and Jens Lehmann, and TV personalities Joey Kelly, Jürgen Milski, and Jens "Knossi" Knossalla, have graced its presence.
Springtime Christmas
A total of two Christmas specials have been aired by "The Lion's Den", yet they are filmed in the spring, creating a festive atmosphere through the use of 62 fairy lights, 10 kilograms of artificial snow, two small and one large wooden hut, six small Christmas trees, and a towering 5.5-meter-tall tree. The decor is completed with Christmas songs, outfits, and cookies.
Unerringly, the lions never miss their favorite springtime snack: salted nuts and trail mix, consuming a staggering 550 kilograms over the past 10 years, alongside approximately 42,000 cups of coffee.
The anniversary parade was planned to celebrate the tenth year of "The Lion's Den" and its successful run, during which the investors made over 418 deals. After the tenth anniversary parade, the show will air its eighth set of anniversary episodes starting September 2.
As a constant presence in "The Lion's Den" since its first season, Judith Williams has led a revolving door of investors, appearing in 13 seasons, and has been instrumental in closing many of the 418 deals made by the show.
