From August 28th, Vox will broadcast eight new episodes of the Founder Show "The Lion's Den" is broadcast on the German television network. The show's concept is now well-known: founders from across Germany pitch their business ideas to a prominent panel of experts and attempt to win one of the "lions" as an investor.
This season, the "Lion Pack" includes familiar faces Dagmar Wöhrl, Carsten Maschmeyer, Ralf Dümmel, and Nils Glagau. Newcomers from the 13th season, Janna Ensthaler and Tillman Schulz, are also back. Entrepreneur and business influencer Tijen Onaran celebrates her jury debut. She replaces Judith Williams, who is taking a break for personal reasons. Onaran lives in Munich and is the founder of Global Digital Women and the diversity consultancy ACI. To increase the proportion of female founders, she actively supports women with venture capital as an investor.
Tijen Onaran feels particularly connected to the founders:
"I know what self-made means from my own experience. I didn't inherit anything, and I wasn't born rich. I was the first in my family to found, finance, and build my own company. Therefore, I understand founders very well, and I know what's important."
Highlights in this season of “The Lion’s Den”
VOX has not officially announced in advance which startups and founders will participate in the show and close a deal. According to the broadcaster, this time the founders' ideas will be "a colorful mix of hot and cold topics (from libido boosters to quick wine coolers)." Artificial intelligence and NFT technology will also be big topics. In season 14, DHDL fans can also expect TV chef Steffen Henssler and rapper Cro to pitch to the Lions. There will also be a new age record of 88, as well as a reunion with a guest Lions duo.
According to information from the startup scene, the skincare product line Dr. Vivien Karl and the food startups Akoua and Brizza will be participating in the opening episode. A company from Munich is currently not participating. However, the Munich startup Bye-Bye-Toe, which has developed innovative panties for women, will appear before the jury later in the season. In previous seasons, the Munich startups, among others, have presented themselves. Articlely, Volume or Presize.
