- The German startup TV show "Die Höhle der Löwen" celebrates its 100th episode as well as ten seasons
- The 100th episode is also the 80th episode of Hamburg’s investor Ralf Dümmel
- The managing partner of DS Group and board member of Social Chain AG has been an integral part of the show for eight seasons
- With its more than 120 investments, DS Group brought more than 300 products to market
Hamburg/Stapelfeld, 25 October 2021.
Who would have thought? On 19 August 2014, the German TV channel VOX broadcast the first episode of a new television format – "Die Höhle der Löwen”. It was the beginning of an unmatched success story that still continues – and there is no end in sight by any means! For this Monday evening at 8:15 pm, a significant show will be broadcast: It will not only be the grand finale of the anniversary series, but also the 100th episode of the show. Hamburg’s investor Ralf Dümmel can also celebrate a "zero" – it will be his 80th time to enter the “Lions' Den” and fight for strong founders.
"I am proud to be part of the lion pride and grateful for this opportunity to encounter innovative products and, of course, all the fascinating founders, some of which I have already been working with for more than five years. To the next 100 episodes!
Ralf Dümmel,
Investor and Managing Director at DS Group
Click here to watch Ralf Dümmel congratulate on the 100th episode of the show
Since 2016, Ralf Dümmel has been part of the lion pride, which is currently made up of seven strong investors: Judith Williams, Carsten Maschmeyer, Dagmar Wöhrl, Nico Rosberg, Dr. Georg Kofler, and Nils Glagau.
More than 2.5 million viewers watched the debut of Hamburg’s investor on 23 August 2016 – and were able to experience his infectious euphoria for the first time. In the five years that have passed since, there has hardly ever been an episode in which Ralf Dümmel could not celebrate a deal in his famous way. As of today, there was only a single episode in which no startup was taken under the wing of DS Group.
We invest in founders and their products
Dümmel diamonds from ten seasons
Each of the ten seasons of “Die Höhle der Löwen” featured innovative products, impressive founders, and exciting battles. From problem solvers, that make everyday life easier or more beautiful for millions of people, to taste explosions provided by innovative food products – it is a format full of highlights!
Abfluss-Fee
The innovative sink plug – from Ralf’s first season. To date, more than 1.8 million units have been sold, generating a turnover of approx. €15 million.
Rokitta’s Rostschreck – Your cutlery care
Successful since 2017: After the show, Oliver made a romantic marriage proposal to his partner Nadin. This was reported by Germany’s tabloid newspaper BILD. In the meantime, Rostschreck turned into a real sales hit and was sold more than five million times, generating a turnover of around €30 million.
RUWI – Your multi-functional rake
Rudolf Wild rocked the startup show with his 79 years of age: To date, he has sold more than 230,000 units, generating a turnover of around €6 million.
TASTE HERO – The bottle top
Jürgen, Thorsten, and Jana entered the “Lions' Den" with a prototype. Together with DS Group, their Taste Hero was refined and even made it to the shelves in the U.S. With more than 1.5 million units sold, the startup achieved a turnover of around €7 million.
waschies – Makeup remover and baby washing pads
Following their success in Germany, these makeup remover pads are now entering the international market. In the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, France, and South Korea, people now clean their faces with waschies. Meanwhile, about seven million units have been sold, generating a turnover of approx. €18 million.
GOMAGO – Protection against martens
Likable (Grandpa) Klaus convinced us with his marten scare. Meanwhile, more than 400,000 units have been sold, generating a turnover of around €10 million.
LOOMAID – Silicone toilet brush
The Toilet brush with Lotus effect became a sales hit. In less than a year, more than one million LOOMAIDs were sold – generating a turnover of around €18 million.
Frau Poppes – Mix for meatballs & more
Angelika did not only create goosebumps with her story: Her Frau Poppes Mix for meatballs & more blew away all the TV investors. Within no time, more than 450,000 units were sold, generating a turnover of approx. €1.3 million.
Iss Doch WURSCHT – Curry sausage from the glass
Marco Peters was on the brink of extinction – Covid-19 put an end to his success story. Fortunately, he found his way to the Lions' Den, where he did not only receive standing ovations for his courage, but also for “Iss Doch WURSCHT”, his delicious curry sausages from the glass. It was not long before over 500,000 units in the flavors Original, Spicy, Pumpkin Mango, Strawberry, and Veggie were sold, generating a turnover of about €2 million.
Tonight, on 25 October 2021, the big season finale will be held. Then, the motto of Judith Williams, Dagmar Wöhrl, Carsten Maschmeyer, Dr. Georg Kofler, Nils Glagau, Nico Rosberg and, of course, Ralf Dümmel, will once again be: On your startups, get set, go!
And best of all:
Georg Kofler and Ralf Dümmel will be joining forces
Precisely in time for the finale, the two investors Dr. Georg Kofler and Ralf Dümmel will reveal their biggest joint deal. It became official on 19 October 2021: The two “lion” colleagues Dr. Georg Kofler and Ralf Dümmel are joining forces and will soon be running the race as a company team. Ralf Dümmel's group of companies, DS Produkte, will become part of the public company Social Chain AG, with Dr. Georg Kofler as chairman on its supervisory board. "We look forward to the next season with great excitement," rejoices Ralf Dümmel.
Press kit
About DS Group
DS Group, based just outside Hamburg, can now look back on more than 48 successful years. As an internationally operating retail company, DS Group currently has 550 employees and is forecast to generate a turnover of more than €270 million in 2021. DS Group specializes on the production, import, and distribution of innovative products in the consumer goods sector. As one of Europe's largest developers and suppliers of non-food goods, the group supplies over 4,000 products to food retailers, discounters, drugstores, DIY shops, specialist retailers, cash & carry, self-service stores, mail order companies, home shopping, and online marketplaces. Thanks to the company's headquarters near Hamburg as well as three other German locations in the states of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Schleswig-Holstein, and Hesse and eight international locations in China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Great Britain, Hungary and Poland, DS Group covers the entire value chain around the world of products. To date, Ralf Dümmel, managing partner of DS Group, has helped 213 founders place 330 products in the national and international retail market. Numerous bestsellers from the past seasons reflect the range of DS Produkte’s investments: From the innovative sink plug Abfluss-Fee to the baking concept Kinderleichte Becherküche, the gum care gel Parodont, the cutlery care Rokitta‘s Rostschreck, the bottle top Taste Hero, the cleaning pads waschies, the vehicle care wet wipes GENTLEMONKEYS, the miniature inhalator aspUraclip, the learning aid Schreibpilot, the silicone toilet brush LOOMAID, the hazelnut spread Haselherz, the anti-chafing stick SUMMERSAVER, and others, many successful products were able to establish themselves on the market in the long term. With its own brands, such as the oldest German barbecue manufacturer LANDMANN and numerous others, DS Group is also one of Europe's largest retail suppliers.
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Press Contact DS Group
DS Group
Sanja Stankovic
Stormarnring 14
D-22145 Stapelfeld
Tel: +49 (0) 40 675 73 – 1723
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.ds-group.de
Photo credits
DS Group | Stefan Groenveld | Jens Oellermann | RTL Bernd-Michael Maurer | RTL Frank W. Hempel
