- Ten years within the confines of "Lions Cave": Unveiling the Secretive Backstage Scene
Ralf Dümmel isn't radiating lion-like confidence today, instead, he bears a resemblance to a brightly colored poison dart frog. His attire is dominated by a vibrant poisonous green, from his shirt and pocket square to his shoe soles and socks. Mentally, the 57-year-old seems more like a patient, leopard-like observer, rather than the aggressive lion he usually portrays. Dümmel prefers to charge in headfirst, but for now, someone helps him into a polished gentleman's shoe.
Dümmel is getting ready for the show "Die Höhle der Löwen", which he has been part of since 2016. This still brings him some excitement. "My team even proposed fitting me with pulse monitors and setting up an oxygen tent here," Dümmel shares.
Big questions are weighing heavily on his mind. Who will he face off against? And more importantly, what will he take home with him? Fans of the show have coined a term for when Dümmel strikes again - "Dümmeln". But if he fails to close a deal, the investor laments, "I'm miserable."
Dümmel embraces the "lion" concept
The 57-year-old is a living embodiment of "Die Höhle der Löwen", one could say. In the Vox show, entrepreneurs present their business ideas or inventions to investors - the "lions". One of the original "lions" is Dümmel. The investors then raise their eyebrows, pull out their notebooks, and ultimately decide whether or not to invest.
Some founders leave disheartened. Others are so sought-after that the investors engage in competition for the best "deal". The show is a unique blend of business administration and soap opera elements.
The format, which originated in Japan, is celebrating its tenth birthday - the first episode aired ten years ago on August 19, 2014. In the anniversary season, which starts on September 2, 2015 at 8:15 PM on Vox, there are plenty of surprises in store - among other things, the "voice of the region", Werner Hansch, will present his business ideas to the investors.
The two "original lions" Jochen Schweizer and Frank Thelen will make a special appearance in one episode. After a break, Judith Williams, beauty expert and "lioness" from the beginning, will also be back.
42,000 cups of coffee in 10 years of "Die Höhle der Löwen"
There are countless stories to be told for the anniversary: About broken deals and absurd business ideas, about "lion" battles, about Germans and their relationship with money, about great ideas and bizarre products. But one could also take a look behind the scenes of the show on a recording day, and ask the "lions". They open their dressing rooms.
A few steps away from Dümmel's preparatory room, one finds Janna Ensthaler. She holds notes in her hand. "I'm trying to calculate things here," she says. Notes are crucial in "Die Höhle der Löwen". Names, numbers, you can't mix them up. The broadcaster emphasizes that the "lions" invest their own money and are engaged in "real business". Ensthaler is known for her expertise in "sustainable technologies" and "digital innovation". In general, she represents the future.
At this moment, she is still preoccupied with the present. Each recording day, the "lions" meet five different founders. Beforehand, it feels like facing a "mountain", as Ensthaler puts it. "We really need to be as fresh in the morning as in the evening, right?". Apparently, around 42,000 cups of coffee have been consumed in the show's ten years.
A few steps away, Nils Glagau can be found in front of a clothing rack. One might think that a discussion between the 48-year-old and Ralf Dümmel about color theory could also make a good show concept. Both clearly enjoy bold colors. "I like to be colorful sometimes," says Glagau, who seems quite relaxed. "A bit of color". Music is playing in the background.
Interestingly, Glagau and Dümmel also have a certain rivalry on camera. "On a fair level, I believe I've had the most fights with Ralf," says Glagau. "The best" is when all five "lions" are interested in a founder. Those are special moments, according to Glagau. Then he says, "Tillman looks good too. Can you go over there too?"
Tillman is Tillman Schulz, the youngest investor so far at 34 years old. Recently, he participated in the RTL show "Let’s Dance", but it didn't go well. He seems more comfortable on the "lions" stage. He looks forward to the show. Speaking of founders, he says, "We 'lionesses' and 'lions' always say: They come to the 'lions' den with their baby and want us to raise and grow it together."
In Tijen Onaran's private space, the chat is straightforward. The financier emphasizes diversity, exposure, and digitization. She enjoys chats. She recently conducted a "pitch," showcasing a startup founder. "The energy was undeniably fantastic," she shares. But she's also straight-forward: "We don't shell out cash, we invest. I'm not a philanthropic dame with a wealth surplus." She deliberates where to invest thoroughly. And she champions honesty: "I believe we don't need to infuse romance into situations devoid of it. An authentic 'no' is superior to a deceitful 'yes'."
"I crave to witness more concepts that offer a sneak peek into our future between two to five years," Onaran reveals about founders. Being ahead of the curve is what innovation signifies.
Regardless of personal affinity, the series was undeniably innovative when it debuted in 2014. Its most triumphant period was the fifth season in 2018, averaging 2.96 million viewers - on Vox, which was once famed for uplifting content such as cooking and travel.
Moderator Amiaz Habtu, ensconced in a roomful of footwear ("I simply adore accumulating shoes - and I cherish finding the flawless pair for each ensemble I wear."), echoes how other platforms were skeptical about this format initially. "They claimed: This won't fly in Germany, as Germans don't discuss finances - not to mention their account balances." The 47-year-old has been an integral part of the show since its inception.
Habtu holds a degree in business administration and is thus well-versed in the subject matter. Simultaneously, he is in high demand as a life coach. He offers solace to disheartened entrepreneurs who were dismissed with their supposedly brilliant ideas. Habtu is the embodiment of warmth in this format.
It remains to be seen how Ralf Dümmel manages to maintain a harmony between his shoe soles' hues and the color of his pocket squares. The solution might astonish you. "Whenever I acquire a shirt, I also procure a pocket square crafted from the same fabric and color as the shirt," he reveals.
He then hands these pocket squares over to a vehicle wrap specialist, who once wrapped a vehicle for him. Dümmel requested his color options at the time. The man said: all. Now, he has Dümmel's shoe soles wrapped in matching colors. "It's not a matter of necessity, but I appreciate it," says Dümmel.
He sealed this arrangement.
On September 2, Ralf Dümmel will appear on the anniversary season of "Die Höhle der Löwen". Before this day, he needs to ensure he's ready, as he has been preparing for his upcoming show appearances with 42,000 cups of coffee over the past 10 years.
On the 2nd of September, fans of "Die Höhle der Löwen" will eagerly anticipate Dümmel's presence on the show, marking another edition of his participation in the popular series.
