“The Lion’s Den” celebrates its tenth birthday

Ten years of “The Lion’s Den”
The emotional rebirth of Werner Hansch

By Kai Butterweck
02.09.2024, 23:10

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Germany's popular startup show is celebrating its birthday. Exactly ten years ago, “The Lion's Den” began its success story. To celebrate the day and at the start of the 16th season, the emotions in the Lion's Den are on a rollercoaster ride.

“Time melts away like snow in the sun,” Eddie Murphy once declared in his role as a wisecracking child rescuer (“In Search of the Golden Child”). Almost four decades later, the investors in the lion's den are also raising their eyebrows in disbelief. Germany's cult deal show is actually celebrating its tenth birthday. What hasn't been carried out into the wide world from the MMC studios in Cologne with the famous “From the 'Lion's Den' seal”: delicious spice mixtures (“Ankerkraut”), a sustainable shampoo-shower gel combination (” Duschbrocken”), a smart bicycle box (“BeemyBox”), multipacks for deodorant, sunscreen and the like (“Holy Pit”) and much more – hundreds of tinkerers and inventors have already found their deal luck in the popular lion's den.

Carina Heidi Hader from Munich wants to “take away period pain” for no fewer than millions of women around the world at the start of the anniversary season. A self-developed high-tech heat source in the shape of a heart is supposed to help with this. It heats up to 53 degrees in a matter of seconds and thus provides “immediate relief” for cramp-like period pains. At 269 euros, the patented “Paradise Heat Technology” is not exactly cheap. But that doesn't bother the two lionesses Janna Ensthaler and Judith Williams, nor the major entrepreneur Carsten Maschmeyer, who joins forces with the former after a short round of negotiations. Two minutes later, the investor duo jumps out of their chairs, cheering, and bags the first deal of the new season.

The fastest deal in format history

What follows is over in less than five minutes: the fastest deal in the format's history. After the two “topfi” founders Annette and Tomasz Makowski from Sprendlingen need less than sixty seconds to introduce the pot lid holder they have brought with them, the enthusiastic Ralf Dümmel follows suit and convinces everyone present in just under three minutes that he is the “best partner” for the product and the founding team.

Once in the mood to make a deal, the lions also strike in the case of the three “ratzfatz” founders Luisa Schubert, Sarina Morawiak and Maraike Höhne from Berlin. This time it is LEH expert Tillman Schulz and Nils Glagau who are celebrating at the end. “VUP” founder Evelin Stefano from Switzerland is also convinced that she will be able to high-five at least one lion at the end of her performance. The energetic color and style consultant really gives everything to make her dream come true. Even lion Nils Glagau steps onto the improvised catwalk for her self-designed all-purpose tie. Despite all her efforts, it is not enough for a deal in the end. The disappointment is written all over the founder's face: “I did not achieve my goal and that makes me very sad,” sums up the Swiss woman.

“My love was gone and my accounts were empty”

Nerves are a little on edge in the lion's den, but the emotional climax has not yet been reached. Finally, the legendary reporter Werner Hansch walks into the studio. Together with lawyer Marc Ellerbrock from Markdorf, the “Golden Lion” award winner presents the “Gambling Heroes” project. The aim is to offer people addicted to gambling the opportunity to have their gambling losses reclaimed by selected lawyers. Werner Hansch knows exactly what he is talking about, because the retired reporter once lost more than half a million euros at the race track himself: “Gambling addiction took everything from me. At some point, my house was gone, my love was gone and my bank accounts were empty!” explains Werner Hansch.

As he tells the lions about his dark past, his eyes become moister and moister. Seldom have the lions looked so shocked and moved during a pitch as they did at this moment: “That was the most moving moment for me since I've been sitting here in this chair,” explains Judith Williams with a halting voice. Carsten Maschmeyer is also visibly agitated. The fact that a victim who was once lying on the ground turns the tables to help others who have suffered the same thing impresses the investor deeply. The result: Together with Dagmar Wöhrl, the lion goes on the offensive: “I used to be addicted to pills, but now I'm addicted to deals!” says Carsten Maschmeyer. Seconds later, the founder and the investor duo are in each other's arms. Werner Hansch's eyes fill with tears again. But now they are finally tears of joy.