"The Lion's Den": "Flicked?" Maschmeyer's questions to lubricant founder

"I've had enough!" Viewers have never seen "Lion" Carsten Maschmeyer (66) so excited on "The Lion's Den" (Mondays, 8:15 p.m., VOX or RTL+ ). A founder duo working on a math learning toy really gets him worked up. He's particularly interested in the story of the founders of a lubricant made from coconut oil. His colleague Ralf Dümmel (58) is also on edge after the presentation by three inventors from the Allgäu region. Their adapter for the wall socket is designed not only to make charging batteries safer, but also to help save billions in electricity costs.

Maschmeyer angrily: "I've had enough!"

With the help of their children's toy "TukToro," Elisha Benner (27) and Andreas Häring (30) want to "really shake up the outdated education system." The app-based learning toy is designed to teach children between the ages of four and ten arithmetic in a playful way. For a whopping €400,000, they are willing to give eight percent of "TukToro" – a company valuation of €5 million. Are the founders miscalculating? The lions consider the toy to be useful and high-quality. However, the selling price of €79 and the €56,000 in sales to date make them suspicious. According to the founders, "€1.3 million in sales are in the pipeline."

Behind the numbers, however, are only letters of intent, not contracts. Carsten Maschmeyer objects: "But with the anticipated revenue of 1.3 million, we still won't reach 5 million." The founders are trying to justify the company's value through future recurring income. Maschmeyer finds this "completely weird and brazen." Enraged as rarely before, he states: "It's teeming with buzzwords to impress us investors. I've had enough! I'm not taking your bait. I'm out!" Ralf Dümmel, Tijen Onaran (40), Nils Glagau (49), and Janna Ensthaler (41) are also withdrawing: "The deal is a disaster. With so little revenue, it's a tough game. So you don't have to be angry if you lose." This calculation didn't work out for the founders.

"I liked that you negotiated"

Korea is trending worldwide, as evidenced by K-Pop, K-Beauty, and Korean TV series. Founder Sung-Hee Kim from Hamburg wants to "bring the 'K' to German kitchens." The daughter of two Korean restaurant founders, she offers typical Korean organic marinades and soups under the label "Arang." She needs €100,000 to acquire 20 percent of "Arang." The spicy tofu marinade is particularly popular with the lions. However, the small profit margin between the selling price and production costs is less appealing to potential investors. "How do you make a living?" Carsten Maschmeyer wants to know. He's pulling out, along with Dagmar Wöhrl (71), Nils Glagau, and Tijen Onaran. "Mr. Food" and Asia expert Tillman Schulz (35) notes: "There's a problem with the price here. I'd try the trip with you, but for 35 percent." The founder reveals her fighting spirit: "It's about my company. I would love to have you on board. My counteroffer is 30 percent." Tillman Schulz is impressed and agrees: "Deal! I liked that you negotiated. We're going to rock this!" And Sung-Hee Kim is satisfied: "He was my dream lion."

Fire rescue does not set fire to the lions

Leonard Mergel (30) from Elmshorn is a passionate firefighter. He knows: Many people and households could be saved. The prerequisite: The emergency responders at the scene of the fire have better knowledge of the residents and the premises. He invented the app-based rescue system "Home ResQ" at his own expense. Using a QR code on the apartment door or mailbox, readable only by the fire department, rescuers can identify where help is most urgently needed before opening the apartment. To roll out his system across Germany, Mergel needs a Lion and an investment of €150,000 for 20 percent. Are the Lions just as passionate about the topic? Ralf Dümmel, a former volunteer with the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW), admits: "This is not my business model at all." The other Lions see difficulties in scaling the product, also given the bureaucracy and strict data protection in Germany. Carsten Maschmeyer summarizes: "I see a lot of innovation, but also complications. As hot as the project is, I'm getting cold feet." He's the last one to get out.

Battery deal energizes Dümmel

Charging the batteries of household appliances and cell phones brings with it three problems: fire hazard, reduced battery lifespan, and the waste of electricity worth three billion euros per year in Germany. Brothers Andreas (43) and Christoph Tutschner (37), and their childhood friend Hans-Peter Nägele (35) from Leutkirch are true problem solvers. With the "Akku Life Guard," they offer an adapter that protects against overheating and overcharging and can shut down automatically. Good for the battery, people, and wallets. Although not yet on the market, they are asking for 200,000 euros for 10 percent of "Akku Life Guard." All the lions, except Ralf Dümmel and Nils Glagau, are dropping out. Who will be the first to break cover? Nils Glagau is desperate for the deal: "This product really appeals to me. You're not just a power outlet—you're the power outlet." However, he demands 20 percent. Dümmel's counterattack isn't long in coming: "Your sales strategy needs to be much bigger." He enthusiastically proposes numerous changes in product design and distribution and matches Glagau's offer. After a brief consultation, the three return with a clear commitment to Dümmel and a counteroffer of 15 percent. And Dümmel strikes. "I was afraid of losing the product because I'm so passionate about the topic. That's why I say 'yes.'"

A bedroom atmosphere in the studio: Stefan Arens (49) and Nathalie Sorondo-Gooden (47) from Palma de Mallorca come to the cave with a very private business idea. "Kokomoon" is a coconut oil-based lubricant and their passion project. They founded their brand "with a lot of desire and passion." For 20 percent, they need 100,000 euros. "Kokomoon" is so high-quality that it's even edible. Inspired by this, Carsten Maschmeyer remarks: "There are games where taste plays a role." He wants to know exactly: "How did the coconut product get into the intimate area? What idea made it suddenly flow differently than before?" The founders emphasize that their "Kokomoon" "doesn't unnecessarily burden a woman's intimate flora." Business-wise, however, things haven't "flowed smoothly" for the founding couple yet. A turnover of 10,000 euros in eight months is not only "totally scaring" Judith Williams (53): "The bet is too risky for me." She is the last to drop out.

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