Photo: TVNOW / Bernd-Michael Maurer

Yammbits in the 'Lion's Den': Fruit ball startup secures TV investment

The Munich-based startup Yammbits sells small fruit balls as a healthy snack. The founders left yesterday's episode of 'Die Höhle der Löwen' (The Lion's Den) with an investment.

The founding couple Julian Berhang (40) and Elena Sarri-Berhang (36) have Yammbits Fruit Balls developed, small balls made from dried organic fruit. Yammbits are currently available in three flavors: "Exciting Apricot-Mango," "Cool Coconut-Aronia," and "Galactic Pomegranate-Cassis-Raspberry." The snacks are vegan, lactose-free, and contain no added sugar. Cashew butter is used instead of palm oil. The founding couple needed 100,000 euros to expand their company and offered a 15 percent stake in the company.

Positive feedback from all 'lions'

The fruit balls were well received by TV investors, especially Judith Williams, who revealed herself to be a big fan of fruit balls:

"So I buy a lot of these balls. I know everything in the organic section. Every brand, because as soon as a new ball appears, I buy it."

Nevertheless, the investor joined the Munich Startup not one:

“This innovation factor is currently not enough for me – unfortunately.”

Also Nils Glagau the Yammbits tasted good:

“These turned out to be very tasty balls.”

However, he pointed to the tough competition and therefore decided against an investment:

"It won't be easy to score points there. Accordingly, I think that would be too much risk for too small a margin."

Carsten Maschmeyer also said goodbye, but with a different reason: the fruit chocolates were too sweet for him.

Dagmar Wöhrl was convinced by the product and offered the required 100,000 euros for 20 percent of the company shares:

“So the product is great.”

Also Ralf Dümmel was impressed by the Yammbits:

"All the lions—and this is the greatest compliment—praise your product. That's a huge advantage."

Dümmel demanded 25 percent of the company shares for the 100,000 euros.

Wöhrl withdrew her offer to Yammbits

The founding couple returned from a brief consultation with a counteroffer of 22 percent for Ralf Dümmel, whereupon Dagmar Wöhrl withdrew her offer. Ultimately, the founders agreed with the investor on a 25 percent stake, on the condition that he brings the fruit balls to at least 10,000 stores. Failing that, he will settle for 20 percent.

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