"Die Höhle der Löwen Schweiz" from 30.9.2025: Between emotion and reason

The seventh episode of the current season of The Lion's Den Switzerland once again brought founders with exciting ideas in front of investors. From an outdoor backpack for dogs and an oriental baking mix to a financial app for families: the range was broad, the presentations engaging - and yet there was only one deal.

Dogpak: Adventure with a dog

Peggy and Devin from Lauterbrunnen in the beautiful Bernese Oberland opened the show with Dogpaka specially developed rucksack for dogs. The idea arose from the company's own passion for outdoor adventures. As with the outdoor equipment for humans, the dog rucksack is also designed to ensure maximum comfort with weatherproof materials, a perfect fit and modular, expandable options. Jackets, sleeping bags, life jackets and first aid kits will also be part of the range one day. The two founders are focusing on the growing pet market. Although the lions praised the quality and niche, it was still too early for them to invest. Felix Bertram and Roland Brack at least promised support with sales and marketing. A deal did not materialize, but the founders were able to gain valuable feedback and new contacts.

Foodasis: Tradition in powder form

Ahmed brought with him Foodasis a piece of Algeria into the lions' den. His chickpea-based baking mix combines street food tradition with healthy nutrition. Organic, gluten-free and versatile - from sweet pancakes to savory dishes. Despite imminent listings in stores and interest from caterers, skepticism remained: too much explanation was required, margins were tight and an ambitious valuation - 60,000 Swiss francs for 5 percent shares, Ahmed's capital requirement - prevented an investment. Although there was sympathy for the founders and the product, this was not enough in the tough food market.

BarFlirt: Analog romance in the digital age

With BarFlirt Jürg from Rorschacherberg has set his sights on a counter-movement to Tinder & Co. Singles meet in bars, get to know each other casually - and the hospitality industry benefits from new guests. Barflirt is currently available in the cities of Zurich, Winterthur and St. Gallen. In order to scale the concept further, Jürg now needs an investment, not only financially but also strategically: he entered the Lion's Den with CHF 65,000 in exchange for a 20% stake in his company. What's more, the founder was already able to show respectable sales of 14,000 francs per month with minimal costs. However, the concept was not scalable enough for most investors. Roland Brack, however, saw both a business opportunity and a social benefit and offered 65,000 francs for 25 percent. The first and only deal of the evening was perfect.

Findmee: Searching was yesterday

Kevin, who is only 20 years old, presented Findmeea tracking device that works via a hybrid network and therefore goes beyond previous trackers. Particularly suitable for construction machinery and bicycles, the product is said to be energy-efficient and durable. The lions appreciated the technology and Kevin's commitment, but recommended more focus and substance before an investment made sense. A deal did not materialize, but Kevin gained respect and contacts. Roland Brack in particular saw great potential behind the solution, but also the high competitive pressure. He offered to sit down with Kevin to further refine his business model. In this case, that can be worth almost as much as cash.

Clanq: piggy bank in app form

The trio of founders Christina, Fabienne and Carina introduced the Clanq presents a family finance app. Cashback from shopping automatically flows into the children's savings account, and there is also educational content about saving. With 500,000 francs against six percent, they were looking for capital for the international rollout. After all, Clanq now has over 1,200 accounts with an investment volume of 6 million. However, in relation to these figures, the valuation did not convince the lions: too little turnover, too many unanswered questions in the fintech market. Anja Graf was the most outspoken: "With 6 million deposits, not much has been achieved in terms of turnover". Felix Bertram also proved to be particularly critical once again: he simply didn't see Clanq as a way to make money. He also pointed out the competitive situation, as many banks are now focusing on families and children as target groups. Roland Brack, usually a last-minute savior, also waved goodbye. The founders were not discouraged: "We're just getting started."

Reloadz: protein water with athlete power

Finally, Yves and the professional footballers Ana and Kiki Marković performed with Reloadz on. Their vegan protein water was to combine sport, lifestyle and nutrition. With 250,000 bottles sold and social media reach, the basis seemed to be there. 200,000 francs in exchange for 10 percent of the company shares: Yves and Kiki wanted to win over the lions (and the lioness present) for this investment. However, they did not see enough unique selling points and doubted the sustainability in the saturated beverage market. No investment - but clear indications: Success here depends less on the product than on clever marketing.

Conclusion: More feedback than deals

The September 30, 2025 edition ended with just one deal - for BarFlirt. But in the other cases in particular, the lions showed a lot of sympathy and offered contacts and collaborations. The mixture of emotion and rationality that characterizes this show has rarely been so clear: almost all the founders were convincing on a human level and with their passion, but too many question marks remained over the business side. The start-ups now need to take the advice to heart and take the next step.

However, the show used the example of Neon, which appeared in the Lion's Den six years ago, to show how successful an investment by the "lions" can prove. The founders launched Switzerland's first smartphone bank account. "If it takes off, it could be a great story," said Jürg Marquard at the time. He didn't invest, and possibly regrets it today. Roland Brack invested 200,000 at 2 percent, Bettina Hein added another 50,000 francs. Today, Neon is successful and is one of the market leaders in neo-banking.

Click here for the program: https://www.oneplus.ch/catalog/1000604