Die Höhle der Löwen Switzerland 6/7: The best comes at the end - or next year?

The circle of the fair textile industry

We are ZRCL - Sustainable clothes: Kilian Wiget from Schwyz, founder and owner of the sustainable streetwear label ZRCL, presented his vision to investors in the Swiss Lion's Den to get them excited about his idea. With his company ZRCL, which he founded in 2015, Kilian is pursuing the goal of revolutionizing the textile industry by focusing on transparency, sustainability and fair working conditions. He asked for 200,000 Swiss francs for an 8 % share in his company and hoped to win over the lions and lionesses as partners for the next step in his company's development.

ZRCL is a streetwear label that sets itself apart from conventional fashion brands with its transparent production methods. Each garment has an individual code on the label that allows the buyer to trace the entire supply chain of the product - from the organic cotton farm to the sewing factory. This unique selling point makes ZRCL a brand that not only focuses on fashion sustainability, but also offers transparency at the highest level. Kilian emphasizes that the fashion industry is facing considerable problems - not only due to overconsumption, but also due to the not-so-great working conditions in many production countries. With ZRCL, he wants to address this and offer a fair and ecological alternative.

The ZRCL collection includes timeless classics, including T-shirts and jogging bottoms that are designed for durability and comfort. In addition to these basics, Kilian collaborates with various artists to create streetwear collections that are printed locally in Switzerland. The combination of sustainability, quality and creative collaboration makes ZRCL a label that takes a different approach in the highly competitive fashion market.

During the presentation, the lions and lionesses became curious about ZRCL's business model and asked Kilian a few critical questions. Roland Brack wanted to know what the complex ZRCL logo was all about. Kilian explained that the logo symbolizes the cycle (ZRCL - Circle) that ZRCL pursues with its products. This cycle reflects the complexity of the textile industry, in which it is often impossible to trace where the garments come from, who made them and under what conditions they were produced.

Despite a turnover of 1.2 million Swiss francs in 2023, investors were skeptical. Roland Brack did not see any expertise for himself to take the company forward and opted out. Felix Bertram and Anja Graf, who found ZRCL's vision interesting, were also unable to see themselves as investors in the project. Lukas Speiser, who recognized the product as high quality, was bothered by the long development time and also dropped out.

Even without the investment, Kilian will continue to set new standards in sustainable fashion with ZRCL and realize his vision of a fair textile industry.

Two lionesses and three lions on board

Lighthouse Tech glasses for blind and visually impaired people: Andrea Moroni Stampa from Inferiore, CTO of Lighthouse Tech, presented an interesting innovation for blind and visually impaired people: Smart glasses that recognize obstacles and warn the wearer with vibrations. With this technology, visually impaired people can better avoid obstacles in everyday life and gain more independence, as the glasses can replace the white cane or guide dog in familiar environments such as their own home.

Andrea got his presentation off to an impressive start by asking the lions and lionesses to close their eyes to show them what it is like to walk through the world blind every day. The glasses developed by Lighthouse Tech, which are equipped with various sensors, can detect obstacles in the range of 140-160 degrees in front of the wearer and warn them by means of vibrations. The strength of the vibration can be individually adjusted. While they can be used outdoors together with a cane, the glasses completely replace the cane in protected environments.

The glasses are more than just a functional aid - they are also designed to be fashionable and suitable for everyday use. According to Andrea, it was important to create a product that was not only technically advanced but also aesthetically pleasing. The technology behind the glasses, which were developed in Switzerland, is patented, making it difficult to imitate. Lighthouse Tech also plans to further develop the software and integrate artificial intelligence in future versions to make the glasses even more effective.

The company, which is based in Ticino, currently consists of a small team of four people, including two designers and a social scientist. Andrea and his team sought 200,000 Swiss francs in the Lion's Den for 2 % of their company to scale the business further. They estimate that around 270 million people worldwide live with severe to moderate visual impairments. Their initial target market is around 1 million people, mainly in Europe, America and Asia.

The lions and lionesses showed great interest in the innovation. Bettina Hein and Felix Bertram wanted to test the glasses and were impressed by the functionality and design. Lukas Speiser and Nicole Büttner also asked a lot of questions about the technology, the target group and the sales strategy. Andrea explained that Lighthouse Tech relies on a B2B model and works closely with associations for the blind and specialized opticians to not only distribute the glasses, but also ensure the final fitting for customers. Finally, the lions asked Andrea to leave the room to consult with them. After a brief discussion, they agreed that the glasses were an exciting product with a lot of potential. They made Andrea a joint offer of 200,000 Swiss francs, but for 4 % of the company instead of the 2 % originally requested. Andrea was delighted to accept the offer.

After the deal, Andrea was proud of the collaboration with the investors. He now wants to concentrate on further developing the product and using the lions to help visually impaired people around the world to live a better life.

Doubts and an investment

Drivemycar - Car sharing: The founding team of drivemycar - Fadel Bouhouch, Metin Kabay, Pascal Kienast and Jürg Burger from Zurich - presented their car sharing and mobility concept. The four entrepreneurs launched their platform in July 2023, which makes it possible to share cars in Zurich. In just a few months, they have already gained 300 users and 35 vehicles, which together have covered over 10,000 kilometers. Now they were looking for an investment of 300,000 francs for 8 %s from their company.

drivemycar's approach is more than just car sharing. The founders see their platform as a comprehensive service provider for drivers. With their "Drive Box", they offer keyless vehicle handover, which is not only used for car sharing, but also enables other services. In future, car owners will be able to use the app to register their vehicle for a vehicle inspection, service or cleaning.

drivemycar's business model is based on a fair revenue split: 70 % of the revenue goes to the vehicle owner, while the remaining 30 % goes to drivemycar. The founders emphasize that they also focus on sustainability by integrating electric vehicles and charging stations into their service, but also allow conventional vehicles.

Despite the innovative idea, the lions were skeptical. Anja Graf was particularly interested in the logistics and asked how the vehicles are made available. The founders explained that the cars remain in the owners' parking lots and are picked up and returned by the users. However, Felix Bertram noted that they have a disadvantage compared to other car sharing providers, as the car cannot be parked elsewhere. The founders admitted that they do not currently offer this option, but are considering collecting the car from another location after use in the future.

Roland Brack expressed his doubts. Lukas Speiser was also critical and questioned the financial sustainability of the model. The founders explained that they had achieved a turnover of CHF 50,000 in the car-sharing sector to date, but Lukas Speiser remained convinced that the car-sharing business was not profitable. In the end, all the lions backed out. Anja Graf criticized that the business model was more theory than practice. The four founders had to go home without a deal. Although there was no investment, the founders of drivemycar remain optimistic and determined to continue expanding their company.

Luke AG - Care label remover: Stefan and Christoph Pabst from Uitikon Waldegg, the brothers behind Luke AG, presented a care label remover. With their idea, they want to solve an everyday problem that many people know only too well - the annoying care labels in items of clothing. These labels scratch, tickle or hang unsightly out of clothing, resulting in over 60 % of people in the DACH region regularly cutting the labels out. However, this process is often imprecise, which can lead to frayed remnants or even damage to the clothing.

The brothers' solution is Luke: a hand-held device that removes care labels without leaving any residue. The cutting process is patented and the device enables the annoying labels to be removed cleanly without damaging the clothing. But that's not all. With the accompanying Luke app, users can digitize the care label information and thus manage their entire closet in one app. This app not only offers care tips, but also allows users to buy or resell items of clothing. The app is free for purchasers of the Luke device, while a subscription model is available for other users.

To start production and build the brand, Stefan and Christoph were looking for 200,000 francs for 8 %s from their company. They showed the lions and lionesses how easy the device is to use and presented their pre-production model, which is ready for series production. The lions' reactions were mixed. Lukas Speiser praised the compact design of the Luke appliance. Felix Bertram even tested the product. The brothers explained that they came up with the idea while folding laundry and then developed prototypes using a 3D printer. After receiving positive feedback from those around them, they decided to develop the product further.

Roland Brack felt that the founders were mixing up two business models - that of the handheld device and that of the digital app - and that they did not necessarily fit together. Felix Bertram also thought the company's valuation was overambitious and left as an investor. Anja Graf praised the team, but said that she herself had no need to remove care labels and also dropped out. Jürg Schwarzenbach was torn, but decided to make the brothers an offer: CHF 200,000, but for 15 % of the company instead of the requested 8 %. Roland Brack also offered himself as a sales partner, but refrained from investing.

The founders thought the offer was fair and accepted it. With this deal, Stefan and Christoph not only secured the necessary capital, but also valuable support for Luke's market entry. Now nothing stands in the way of the start of series production and the development of the brand.

Zero deals, but "Super Fancy"

Zero point - bouillon: Giuseppe Reveruzzi from Kemptthal, the founder of Nullkommanull, presented his bouillon made from pure vegetables and impressed the lions and lionesses with the taste of his product. The Nullkommanull brand, which Giuseppe founded in 2015, stands for high-quality convenience products free from additives, flavor enhancers, soy, yeast, sugar, lactose and gluten. The first products he launched on the market include beef, poultry and vegetable bouillon made from fresh, organic vegetables and meat from Switzerland.

The story of Nullkommanull began as a hobby in Giuseppe's own kitchen, where he produced the first jars in the evenings and at the same time acquired customers, whom he still supplies today. After initial production problems with an external manufacturer, Giuseppe decided to rent a kitchen himself and resume production at weekends. Eventually, he decided to quit his job and focus entirely on zero waste. Today, he produces at a historic site in Kemptthal, where Maggi's first bouillon cubes were once made.

In the show, Giuseppe was looking for 300,000 francs for 5 % of his company to optimize production, increase efficiency and further expand the team. The lions were delighted with the taste of the vegetable bouillon and agreed that it was very tasty. Giuseppe explained that he mainly sells his products in organic stores, health food stores, butchers and online stores.

Despite sales of almost 600,000 Swiss francs in 2023 and Giuseppe's ambitious plans, it remained difficult for the lions to get involved as investors. Felix Bertram praised the product, but decided against an investment. Lukas Speiser appreciated the taste, but also opted out. Jürg Schwarzenbach and Roland Brack also did not see a suitable business model for themselves and withdrew. In the end, Nicole Büttner also decided against investing. Despite praise for the quality of his bouillon, Giuseppe Reveruzzi was unable to close a deal.

Fountain - drinks dispenser: Alexander and Luca Pfyffer, cousins from Zurich, have developed a solution to the growing global problem of single-use plastic bottles with their start-up fountain. They connect fountain's beverage dispensers to the local tap water and enable consumers to create customized drinks - from flavoured water to drinks with added electrolytes, even hot drinks such as tea are possible. This technology is set to revolutionize the mineral water and soft drinks industry, which according to Alexander Pfyffer has a global turnover of over 860 billion Swiss francs.

The aim of fountain is to contribute to sustainability by not only reducing CO2 emissions by 80 %, but also reducing plastic waste by 98 %. Disposable bottles are a thing of the past, as the system is connected directly to the tap water. For suppliers, the solution is not only more environmentally friendly, but also more financially attractive, as fountain is 50 % cheaper to operate than distribution via disposable bottles and refrigerators.

Fountain offers the opportunity to create individual drinks that meet the user's exact requirements: Cold or warm, with flavor or additives such as electrolytes, depending on requirements. This personalization option sets fountain apart from the competition and is an important part of the business model that the founders want to focus on even more in the future.

Five fountain machines are already in use, including at universities, private companies and events. These five devices have already dispensed over 20,000 drinks and generate between 300 and 900 francs in revenue per month per device. The business model is based on a subscription system: customers pay a basic monthly fee of CHF 250, to which additional costs for flavors or functional additives are added depending on consumption.

With an investment of 220,000 Swiss francs for 9 % of the company shares, they want to significantly expand the business in the coming year, install 50 more devices and achieve an annual turnover of around 550,000 Swiss francs. Their long-term goal is to avoid half a million disposable bottles a year.

Despite their enthusiasm and clear concept, the founders were unable to attract an investor. Roland Brack praised the idea as "super fancy", and other investors such as Felix Bertram and Tobias Reichmuth were also impressed by the product and the founders. Ultimately, however, the investors were not prepared to invest the required capital at such an early stage of the company. Felix Bertram in particular thought the valuation was too high and was skeptical as to whether the team would be able to finance growth with the required 220,000 Swiss francs. Lukas Speiser and Jürg Schwarzenbach also dropped out.

Despite the investors' rejection, the founders remained positive. They see the feedback as valuable input and are convinced that their vision of revolutionizing the beverage market is only a matter of time.

Source: www.oneplus.ch