The lions' habitat or lair - "The Most Emotional Moment So Far" witnesses Werner Hansch causing lions to shed tears
Since the launch of "The Predator's Den" on August 19, 2014, approximately 400 agreements have been sealed, amounting to around 50 million in investment. While most products often fade into obscurity, the show has undeniably given a little nudge to both economic and television timelines. The real stars of the show have always been the investors, not the entrepreneurs begging for capital – or perhaps not. Their back-and-forth banter and comical business lingo make up the essence of "DHDL", and their witty financial talk is a highlight.
Judith Williams, the initial "Predatoress", opened the season with a prolific statement. After a one-year hiatus, she returned to her jury seat. She commended the creator of "Nayca", a heart-shaped heating pad designed for menstrual pain, by saying, "You need content with impact, and someone who knows their stuff." The creator, a graduate in aerospace engineering, was unfazed. She had previously demonstrated menstrual cramp simulators for the investors, which gave the men a glimpse into what 15 million German women experience each four weeks. Tillmann Schulz winced in pain, Carsten Maschmeyer kept his cool, but it's likely that the electrodes hadn't been connected correctly. Regardless, he walked away with the deal – along with Janna Ensthaler, who praised the entrepreneur's "tech and sales prowess".
In this season, "The Predator's Den" presented ready-made meals devoid of guilt. The duo almost secured a deal with "ratzfatz", but this time, Tillmann Schulz and Nils Glagau had better arguments. Their offering: deep-frozen, organic meals specifically for kids. Their target market: double-income families who lack time or desire to cook, but want to offer their children more than fish sticks and chicken nuggets. The meals are free of preservatives, added sugar, and have minimal salt. The trio boasted that there's "an abundance of vegetables hidden in the tomato sauce" that children typically avoid.
"Ratzfatz" eventually struck a deal with "topfi", a rather unusual "stupid deal". The founding couple needed just 50 seconds to pitch their pot lid holder, intended to prevent burns from condensed water. "Mr. Regal" stepped in just under three minutes ("I'm the perfect lion for this topic") and invested 100,000 euros in the solid lid business. A Swiss woman entered the "den" with a very secretive mission. Her self-designed silk scarves under the label "VUP" (very unique people) aim to replace the tie as the corporate uniform. She declared dramatically, "This is my life's mission." The investors respectfully declined her rebellion, and Dagmar Wöhrl even pleaded for mercy from the determined Swiss woman ("I won't leave here without a deal"). "You're overwhelming us with your enthusiasm!"
Werner Hansch confessed to his gambling addiction.
The emotions ran high near the end. Werner Hansch took the stage. Now 86, he was once a well-known German sports journalist for many years and sunk into a gambling addiction in his mid-60s. He lost 600,000 euros on horse races, losing everything: his home, his love, and his finances. With a trembling, broken voice, Hansch retold his story and presented "Zockerhelden", a platform he created with his business partner to help gambling addicts recover lost money from providers. Many online casinos and sports betting providers had been operating without valid licenses until as late as 2022. Carsten Maschmeyer became involved ("I used to be addicted to pills, now I'm addicted to deals") and brought Dagmar Wöhrl into the fold. Judith Williams commented, "That was the most moving moment in the show's history."
In the show, Werner Hansch, a former sports journalist, shares his struggle with a gambling addiction. Despite his age, he seeks help and creates a platform with his business partner to recover lost money from unlicensed online casinos, touching the hearts of the investors.
Children in double-income families can now enjoy healthier meals, as "ratzfatz" and their partners offer deep-frozen, organic meals specifically designed for kids, containing no preservatives, added sugar, or excessive salt.
