TV Criticism
The champagne corks popped in the studio. Not all products had so much sparkle: A wok set for on the go, confetti made from plant seeds and soap that teaches you how to wash your hands properly. When it comes to inclusion, investors stretched their arms – and the “cave” became a charity.
By Mark Stöhr
“Camels!” is one of the most common exclamations in carnival. Will soon be “Samen!” In Cologne and Düsseldorf. called? A Berlin startup presented a confetti alternative in the “Lions Cave” that aims to make parades and parties colorful and organic. Instead of snippets of paper and plastic, plant seeds fly through the air. The lion’s reaction? Grouchy as usual. “Confetti was horror, also when it came to cleaning”, Dagmar Wöhrl remembered the darkest hours of her motherhood. Carsten Maschmeyer didn’t like the colorful hairstyle of one of the three founders: “I have the feeling that we don’t go together on a human level.”
The presented products:
• DeWok – Electric wok grill
• The blue – Vegan soap with a color effect
• Life-size floor plan – Accessible construction plans
• Seed Confetti – Confetti with seeds from 24 native plant species
• Talking Hands – Flip books for learning sign language
The greenest fun
“They think too much,” hissed Carsten Maschmeyer. “Don’t do it,” whispered Georg Kofler. There was seldom so much concern in the pride of lions. And only because the trio of seed confetti behind the stage discussed an offer from Ralf Dümmel more extensively than others. The intensive investor from Hamburg wanted 20 percent instead of 10 percent. That was too much for the semen Spontis from Berlin. It was finally agreed on 10 plus 5 when the colorful packages are listed in 10,000 branches. A piece of cake for dummies.
The deal was preceded by a strange debate. The jury was less concerned about the contribution to biodiversity that the product undoubtedly makes, but more about the unpleasantness of wild seedlings. Maschmeyer in particular caused the guerrilla planters to panic. “I can’t just throw seeds on a well-tended lawn.” When the deal was sealed, he whispered to his colleague Dümmel: “Today you have a confetti party, tomorrow a hangover.”
Founder of the heart
Important visitors in the “cave”: Star chef Christian Lohse supported his founding friend Steve and sizzled an Asian pan for the lions – with DeWok. The cooking set based on raclette or fondue is supposed to make “woken” cool. Steve: a Cologne boy with his heart in the right place. “The product is my baby,” he said and was built close to the water from the start.
The tense mood was not improved by the euphoric feedback that he received from the jury chairs. “Incredibly beautifully made” (Nico Rosberg) is his wok system, which consists of solid wood, stainless steel and natural stone. “I could pass that on to my children,” cheered Judith Williams and made an offer together with Dagmar Wöhrl. That brought Steve’s emotional balance into severe turmoil. It was finally over with the Cologne when Ralf Dümmel bid. “I’m doing it rationally,” said Steve – through tears. Deal stupid.
Blue, blue, blue are all my hands
We can wash our hands. Since Corona even better than before. Or not? “I’m 50 years old,” said the inventor of Die Blaue at her pitch, “and I found out that I never lathered my left thumb properly.” She found out with her own product: a soap that turns your hands blue. This is also intended to detect the very last habitat of pathogens on the skin.
Nico Rosberg took the test – and, oh dear, blue soap landed on his shirt. Seldom has a mood rushed from 100 to 0 so rapidly. “It’ll work out again,” the founder tried to reassure him, but the Formula 1 world champion was no longer in an investment mood at all. “What if I was on my way to a business meeting now? With a stain on my shirt and blue fingernails?” The deal was ultimately won by Nils Glagau, whom the soap manufacturer won over with her disarming and sober vision: “I didn’t want to make a Tinnef, I wanted to do something meaningful.”
No deal of the week
No investment, but still 40,000 euros richer: This is only available in the 100th episode of DHDL. Laura and Maria from Talking Hands left the studio beaming, but it was weird. Were the two young women not taken seriously by the investors as entrepreneurs, but only as do-gooders? The product: Over 100 flip books that children can use to learn the most important words in sign language. This enables them to communicate with other children who are deaf or suffer from autism, for example. Inclusion sometimes in innovative.
One by one, the lions paid tribute to him. But nobody wanted to invest. And so the competition turned into a charity event. Dagmar Wöhrl started by donating 10,000 euros. Maschmeyer, Kofler and Williams followed suit. “You are the best possible combination between sympathy and business,” Kofler called after the founders – seriously?
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
