Wedding episode of "Die Höhle der Löwen": "Yes" to investments?

Before the proverbial "best day of your life" took place, other start-ups took center stage. Avoiding plastic waste and a learning application for trading vied for the lions' favor.

Two "power teams" in the lion's den

"Togeco - Reusable cling film": Togeco, a company founded by Arshya Shahheydari and Nicholas Hänny (co-founder and CEO of Nikin), is on its way to bringing about a sustainable revolution in the kitchen. Their product, Togeco Wrap-Its, is a reusable fresh food wrap that aims to replace single-use plastic. With impressive properties such as reusability for up to two years and heat resistance up to 240 degrees, these Wrap-Its promise to set new standards in kitchen hygiene.

The two founders, who started out together with seed capital of 20,000 francs, managed to generate sales of almost 200,000 francs in the first five months after launching their product online by selling over 6,000 starter sets. This success is also reflected in their ambitious vision to promote plastic-free living and establish Togeco first in Switzerland and then throughout Europe.

In a presentation to the lions and lionesses, Arshya wanted an investment to finance growth, expand the team, develop new products and benefit from the investors' expertise and network. They offered 10% company shares for 150,000 Swiss francs. Despite some concerns about the intuitiveness and final development of the product, Arshya's presentation convinced Jürg Schwarzenbach, who ultimately made an offer of 150,000 Swiss francs for 15% company shares. The offer was accepted by Arshya on behalf of her company.

The product itself, made from 100% platinum silicone, is not only environmentally friendly but also medically safe, which underlines its versatility. It is dishwasher-safe and available in various sizes, making it a practical alternative to conventional aluminum foil, cling film and baking paper. According to Togeco, this represents an exciting step forward in sustainable kitchen production and shows how innovation and entrepreneurial spirit can lead to significant changes in everyday life.

"VirtualAlpha - Trading app for students": VirtualAlpha is a remarkable trading app designed specifically for students and is the "brain child" of Dario Ackermann and Andres Neff, two former Kanti students from Mels, SG. They developed their exciting platform with the aim of offering young people a safe and risk-free environment to gain important knowledge and experience in share trading without risking their own money.

The idea for VirtualAlpha came about when Dario was given the task of investing 500,000 francs virtually as part of his economics and law course. The traditional method of tracking and managing this using Excel seemed inefficient to him. He therefore developed an automated, more efficient solution - VirtualAlpha. This app is not only a tool for teaching, but also offers extensive learning content about the stock market. The VirtualAlpha team, now consisting of four motivated ETH students with a passion for IT, education and finance, has already won 50 schools in Switzerland as customers. The platform uses real financial data to simulate the real stock market, allowing students to experience the impact of their trading decisions in a controlled environment.

In the presentation on "Die Höhle der Löwen Schweiz", the founders offered 10% of the company shares for 100,000 Swiss francs. Their aim was to use this capital to improve marketing and establish VirtualAlpha in the Western European market. The business model is based on a subscription in which schools pay a fixed amount per pupil per month to gain access to the platform.

Despite being recognized as a "power team" by one of the lions, Jürg Schwarzenbach, the founders did not receive a deal. Some investors were of the opinion that the app needed more innovative ideas, experience and knowledge to be successful. However, the founders are optimistic and see VirtualAlpha as a potential career path after their studies. They have ambitious goals for the future, including expanding to the European market and improving their offering, despite a slow profit forecast.

The challenge for VirtualAlpha is to differentiate itself from other financial education offerings while continuing to develop the product to make it attractive to a broader market. Despite the difficulties, the founders have created a solid foundation for growth and innovation in the field of financial education for young people, which is invaluable in today's fast-paced and finance-driven world.

A yes and a no for entrepreneurs

"Wedgram GmbH - Wedding app": The founders of Wedgram GmbH turned the show into a "wedding episode" at short notice. Wedgram is an interesting wedding planning app developed by Bonni Kuruvilla and Ayat Lafta. It aims to revolutionize and simplify wedding planning. "Say yes to Wedgram" is the motto of the two founders, but will there be a yes for an investment?

The app offers couples the opportunity to find and contact the perfect service provider for their wedding. Providers can also actively contact couples who match their criteria. A key advantage of Wedgram is payment security, as transactions can be processed directly via the app. The app is free for users, which sets Wedgram apart from other platforms. Wedgram generates revenue through three main sources: paid advertising in the feed, in-app upgrades and transaction fees, 4% per transaction. With over 300 active daily users, Wedgram is positioning itself in a market that the founders believe has a volume of 400 million. The goal is to capture at least 1% of this market.

In their pitch on "Die Höhle der Löwen Schweiz", the founders were looking for an investment of CHF 250,000 for 10% of the company shares. They argued that the app is not only a source of inspiration, but also an effective platform that helps couples to filter providers and arrange appointments - all in one place.

Despite concerns from some investors about the company's ability to compete with platforms such as TikTok and Instagram and its still low turnover, Bonni and Ayat convinced investors Roland Brack and Anja Graf to say "yes" to Wedgram. In the end, they accepted an offer of 250,000 Swiss francs for 25% of the company shares. Wedgram aims to operate not only in Switzerland, but also internationally. With the new investment, the founders plan to improve their marketing strategies and drive forward the automation of their services. This step towards expansion could help Wedgram to establish itself as the leading wedding planning app in the DACH region and beyond.

"Hopps Seltzer AG - Hard Seltzer" - Hopps Seltzer AG, a spin-off company from the University of St.Gallen founded by Martin Dommer and Peter Schmid, has specialized in the growing market for hard seltzers with its Yeaah Hard Seltzer product. This refreshing alcoholic drink has already achieved impressive sales in the USA (17 billion dollars) and is also becoming increasingly popular in other countries. Martin Dommer, the inspiring founder and CEO, discovered his passion for Hard Seltzer during a stay in New York. He recognized the potential of this product and started brewing his own Hard Seltzer in his apartment in New York.

The result was Yeaah Hard Seltzer, a drink characterized by a low calorie and sugar content, which makes it an attractive alternative to traditional alcoholic beverages. Back in Switzerland, Martin found the ideal production partner in the Locher brewery, a renowned beer producer. With Peter Schmid, an experienced expert in the beverage industry, and supporting team member Fabiola Hartman, the team was completed to conquer the Swiss market.

Yeaah Hard Seltzer is characterized by three unique flavors and is produced in a similar process to beer. This allows the product to be classified as beer, which brings with it certain regulatory and advertising advantages. In "Die Höhle der Löwen Schweiz", the founders were looking for an investment of 100,000 Swiss francs for 5% of the company shares. They presented their product, underlined its market opportunities and emphasized the successes they had already achieved. Despite the convincing presentation and the potential of the market, they were unable to close a deal. The investors expressed concerns about the copyability of the product, the necessary marketing efforts and market acceptance in Switzerland. Another point of discussion was the company's ambition to expand internationally and whether the Swiss market alone offers enough potential for significant growth.

However, the founders of Hopps Seltzer AG were not discouraged by the investors' decision. Their goal remains to establish Yeaah Hard Seltzer as the leading product in the hard seltzer category in Switzerland and beyond. They plan to intensify their marketing strategies and launch the product in additional markets. This optimism and determination, coupled with an innovative product and a clear understanding of the market, could help Hopps Seltzer AG gain a significant position in the beverage market and offer consumers a new, refreshing alternative.

A home and a dress for you and all people

"hoyou - exchange platform for real estate": Hoyou, founded by Christine Hegglin and Roger Wicki in Steinhausen (ZG), aims to become a revolutionary solution in the real estate market. The platform, whose name is derived from "Home for you", enables owners to exchange their properties in an efficient and targeted manner without having to go through the usual sales process.

The way hoyou works is intuitive and user-friendly. After creating an account on hoyou.ch, users enter their real estate and search profile. The platform attaches great importance to quality and the protection of users' privacy by carefully checking each property. The hoyou algorithm plays a central role by comparing exchange properties and making suggestions for potential matches. Once a match is found, users can arrange viewings and, in the best case scenario, complete the exchange of their properties. The success of hoyou is reflected in the impressive figures: with over 600 registrations and 300 properties in the database, 88 matches and 12 transactions have been realized. These figures illustrate the high level of interest and the potential of the platform.

hoyou's business model is based on various sources of income. On the one hand, there are subscription models for users, and on the other, the platform works with exchange experts - usually real estate agents. They pay 149 francs to be on the platform, but also earn money with their own services for customers. These exchange experts support the owners throughout the entire exchange process. Hoyou also offers customized services where users can enjoy additional privacy and anonymity for a higher fee (59.90 francs, different from the standard subscription at 29.90 francs). During their appearance on "Die Höhle der Löwen Schweiz", the founders were looking for an investment of 300,000 francs for 10% of the company shares. But will the lions and lionesses want to revolutionize the real estate market with Christine and Roger? Their innovative concept and previous successes finally convinced Roland Brack, who made an offer of 300,000 Swiss francs for 20% of the company shares. The founders accepted the offer.

hoyou's vision goes beyond the traditional real estate market. The platform aims to dynamize the real estate market and offer users more flexibility and efficiency in their search for the ideal property. With the fresh capital, hoyou plans to strengthen its online presence and marketing activities to reach a wider audience and further develop the platform. Hoyou therefore not only represents an interesting business idea, but also a change in the way real estate transactions are handled. In a world where flexibility and efficiency are becoming increasingly important, hoyou could play a leading role in the transformation of the real estate market and usher in a new era of real estate exchange. 

"Manusia - rental fashion": Manusia is an online platform for rental fashion and was founded by Lorena Maderana and Emma Kistemaker in Basel. The name "Manusia" means "human" in Indonesian and reflects the company's philosophy of making fashion accessible and sustainable. Manusia focuses on renting occasion dresses in the premium segment and enables customers to enjoy high-quality fashion at a fraction of the original price.

The idea behind Manusia was born out of a love of fashion and the desire to try out different trends without incurring high costs. Festive dresses, especially for different events, can be very expensive. To counteract this problem, Lorena and Emma have developed a model that makes it possible to rent exclusive dresses for special occasions instead of buying them. The company initially carried out a pilot project to test the model on the Swiss market. Through various pop-up events in different regions of Switzerland, customers were able to experience the rental fashion directly. Manusia's circular rental model contributes to sustainability by extending the life cycle of garments and guaranteeing a sustainable washing method developed in collaboration with dry cleaners.

In their offer, a rental price includes not only the chosen garment, but also an additional dress as a plan B, dry cleaning and insurance for possible damages. Manusia strives to become the leading technology company for rental fashion in Switzerland by offering their customers a data-driven, innovative and personalized rental experience. The founders offered the lions and lionesses 20% of the company shares for 200,000 Swiss francs.

Nicole Büttner first asked what the two intended to do with this investment. They replied that they would invest it in inventory, marketing, advertising, storage costs and packaging. However, Lorena and Emma's presentation and explanations met with too little interest from the lionesses and lions. A deal did not materialize. Nevertheless, the two founders remain optimistic. Their goal is to build up a broad partner network of brands by 2024 and to expand in the DACH region by 2028, to offer not only occasion dresses but also everyday dresses and to develop a subscription and resale model to appeal to even more customer groups.

Manusia's business model reflects a global trend, such as that demonstrated by Rent the Runway in the USA with sales of over 200 million dollars. Manusia stands for a change in the fashion industry that aims to prioritize sustainability and accessibility.

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