Another million-euro deal in "Die Höhle der Löwen"

From digital platforms and sustainable food to high-tech jeans for children, everything was included in the October 7, 2025 show. Once again, there was a lot of goodwill from the lions as well as harsh criticism. Some founders probably had to go home with the realization that many good ideas alone are no justification for an investment.

Patvin GmbH: Services at the touch of a button

To kick things off, Patrick and Melvin from Schaffhausen presented their platform Patvinwhich aims to bring clients and service providers in Switzerland together in an uncomplicated way. Whether mowing the lawn or tutoring - users can use the app to find suitable helpers. The founders saw great potential in the growing gig economy and offered 20 percent of their company for 160,000 francs.
The lions were skeptical: there are already too many similar platforms; "you are too late for the game," was Lukas Speiser's verdict. The difficult chicken-and-egg problem and lack of a growth strategy also raised doubts. Roland Brack criticized that simply investing 160,000 francs in marketing was not a plan. Felix Bertram, on the other hand, doubted the need. Bettina Hein also thought an investment was premature. There was no deal, but the founders were able to take away a lot of valuable advice.

Feine Manufaktur: Vegan honey alternative

Dani and Xenia from Habsburg impressed with their sustainable, vegan honey alternative. Made from five regional ingredients, in a jar from Swiss production, their product struck a chord. With sales of CHF 500,000, listings at Lidl and talks with other retailers, they asked for CHF 235,000 for 17% of the company.

While the lions discussed sustainability and the bee philosophy, they praised the taste - Felix Bertram could hardly tell the difference to real honey, Roland Brack thought the product was even better. In the end, it was he who jumped over the shadow and made an offer: 235,000 francs for 30 percent. The founders were delighted. This deal can be seen as a bit of a surprise, as food products often have a hard time finding the favor for an investment.

Dreifeder: children's pants that are almost indestructible

With his brand Dreifeder, textile professional Kaspar from Balgach brought children's jeans into the studio that are said to be ten times more robust than conventional pants. They grow with the child, regulate temperature and can withstand almost anything. Despite an impressive demonstration and solid sales (1.3 million francs so far), the lions lacked faith in the mass market. Children grow quickly, argued Roland Brack, and Tom Zimmermann even spoke of an "oversolution". Nicole Büttner-Thiel criticized the high price - between 69 and 79 francs - for these pants. Kaspar remained alone - but was convinced that he would continue successfully even without a deal. After all, his concept can be seen as a valuable contribution against fast fashion.

Crowd Sports: The fans as investors

Roger, Richard and Leroy wanted to revolutionize the transfer market with Crowd Sports: Fans can invest directly in clubs via their platform and receive rewards in return. With 21 partner teams and audits by FINMA and FIFA, they demonstrated their seriousness - but their financial requirements astonished the lions: 1 million francs for 5 percent.

While Roland Brack left early on, Tom Zimmermann critically recalculated the ambitious rating. Nevertheless, the trio impressed with their vision and professionalism. In the end, Felix Bertram and Lukas Speiser were prepared to offer the 1 million euros in exchange for a 5 percent stake. The three founders were now spoiled for choice: who do they want to bring on board? After a brief consultation, they came up with a counter-proposal: what if the two lions each invested 500,000 francs for 2.5 percent? The two agreed, and once again a deal worth millions was made, making it the highlight of the episode.

NIQUI: Smoothies with a medical claim

Three men from Bern - two doctors and a chef - presented NIQUI, smoothies full of phytochemicals. Developed with medical know-how and gastronomic sensitivity, they were intended to combine health and enjoyment. The lions praised the taste and quality, but criticized the immature business model: no real company yet, unclear distribution of roles, no clear brand. Bettina Hein and Felix Bertram saw potential, but did not want to invest. Felix Bertram was at least prepared to use a few of his contacts. No deal, but the founders took away valuable branding tips.

SideFill: The flat drinking bottle that can be filled from the side

Finally, the young founders Nicolas and Maurice presented their patented SideFill bottle - flat, robust and can be filled from the side. Practical when normal bottles don't fit under the tap. They offered 5 percent of their company for 300,000 francs. The lions praised the ingenuity, but criticized the weight, hygiene and exaggerated valuation. A turnover of 143,000 francs to date, lots of positive feedback and many other creative ideas with which the two young founders wanted to underpin this valuation did not work. Felix Bertram once again made it clear: "Your valuation comes from Fantasialand". Accordingly, an investment did not materialize, but Roland Brack at least offered a sales partnership - a small but important door into the retail world.

Conclusion: A fine line between vision and reality

Episode 8 impressively showed that innovation alone is not enough. A viable business model, clear growth potential - and sometimes simply the right timing - are crucial. While Patvin and NIQUI need to fine-tune their strategy, Feine Manufaktur proved that authenticity and market maturity are rewarded. And with Crowd Sports, two lions took the biggest step of the season together - an investment of millions in a start-up that is rethinking sport and finance. The impression for TV viewers: two deals, lots of food for thought - and an episode that showed how thin the line between vision and reality can be.

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