The Lion’s Den: Maschmeyer deal with start-up AnimalChat collapsed

The father is a veterinarian, the son is a software developer – together they founded the start-up AnimalChat. The messenger service for pet owners who want to easily seek help and avoid unnecessary visits to the vet was well received in the “Lion’s Den”. But the deal that investor Carsten Maschmeyer concluded subsequently fell through. The founders confirmed this to the Wirtschaftswoche and Gründerszene portals.

On the show, Maschmeyer promised an investment of 250,000 euros for 20 percent of the company shares and was enthusiastic about the business idea. “To build a company, you need vitamin B. I offer you something better: vitamin M. Maschmeyer,” he explains his own advantages to the founders. “I’m exactly what you’re missing.”

“The Lion’s Den” deal doesn’t happen

But the founders apparently saw things differently after the show. “In the negotiation process after the recording in February, it became clear that we had different ideas. We then decided not to go down the path together,” says founder Sebastian Wilkes to Wirtschaftswoche. His father and business partner Heinrich Wilkes adds: “Mr. Maschmeyer’s team had other goals and ideas. We didn’t see ourselves in that at the time of the company.”

AnimalChat is a messenger app for communication between pet owners and veterinarians. As an alternative to visiting the practice, a video chat function and a payment solution are also integrated. However, at the time the “Lion’s Den” performance was recorded, AnimalChat only had two customers. Investor Maschmeyer should therefore contribute not only money but also his sales know-how.

A team has now been set up to help with software development, marketing and sales, says Sebastian Wilkes. The founders do not provide exact customer numbers. The homepage lists seven veterinary practices and similar companies that use the app, as well as half a dozen other supporters and cooperation partners.