Observed Signal · Oct 26, 2026 · Funding · Source: Gründerszene (DACH Startups & Scaleups) · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Positive
DHDL: 'Mein Haus Digital' Secures One of Most Expensive Deals
On the German TV show 'Die Höhle der Löwen' (DHDL), founders Leonie Dowling and Carolin Krebber pitched their AI-based renovation platform 'Mein Haus Digital', which digitizes and simplifies home renovation planning. They initially asked for €425,000 for 5% equity, which the investors considered very expensive. After negotiations, Carsten Maschmeyer and Janna Ensthaler jointly offered €500,000 for a 10% stake, which the founders accepted. Six months later, the deal was confirmed, with both investors supporting the company with marketing expertise and future funding. The platform calculates house condition, necessary measures, and costs, and assists with financing applications and permits. Mein Haus Digital has secured partnerships with Europace and OBI and is exploring expansion into the US market.
This is a notable funding deal for a German PropTech startup, but it is not industry-shifting for the AdTech/MarTech ecosystem. It highlights the growing use of AI in property technology, which may have indirect implications for marketing technology in the real estate sector.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Leonie Dowling and Carolin Krebber pitched 'Mein Haus Digital', an AI-based platform for home renovation planning, on DHDL.
- The founders initially asked for €425,000 for 5% equity but accepted €500,000 for 10% from Carsten Maschmeyer and Janna Ensthaler.
- The deal was confirmed approximately six months after the show was recorded.
- The platform aims to make renovations 10x faster and cheaper than traditional architects by calculating house condition, costs, and assisting with financing.
- Partnerships exist with Europace and OBI; US market expansion is being explored.
Connected Companies & Entities
1 Entity mapped“Mein Haus Digital has a partnership with OBI, a home improvement retailer.”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
DHDL: Drain Cleaner Startup Dekadome Secures Deal with Ralf Dümmel
On the German TV show 'Die Höhle der Löwen' (Lion's Den), founders Anton Vrouzos and Marius Ludwig pitched Dekadome, a reusable mechanical drain cleaner that prevents clogs without chemicals. Instead of a standard investment offer, they used a spinning wheel to determine the deal terms, offering four options ranging from €30,000 for 15% to €60,000 for 30%. Despite skepticism from some investors, Janna Ensthaler and Ralf Dümmel both offered €60,000 for 30%. The founders chose Dümmel, and the deal was confirmed after the show. The product, retailing for €19.99, is now available online.
Sauberkugel founders secure DHDL deal with Ralf Dümmel
Susanne and Bernd Schmekel, founders of Sauberkugel, a reusable cleaning product, appeared on the German TV show 'Die Höhle der Löwen' to seek €250,000 for their business. They have sold over 1.5 million units and generated approximately €8 million in revenue over eight years, with an 80% profit margin. Despite this success, they lacked staff and needed funds for production and retail expansion. Three investors made identical offers of €250,000 for 20% equity. The Schmekels chose Ralf Dümmel, who offered support for retail growth and scaling. Other investors, including Judith Williams and Andreas Herb, also competed, while Dagmar Wöhrl and Frank Thelen declined due to concerns about stagnation and lack of employees. The product is sold internationally, including in Germany, the USA, Japan, Taiwan, and Korea.
Two new investors join DHDL's 20th anniversary season
Vox investor Dagmar Wöhrl inadvertently revealed two new investors for the 20th season of the German founders' show Die Höhle der Löwen (DHDL). In an Instagram Story she shared behind-the-scenes footage that showed Andreas Herb and Johannes Kliesch; Wöhrl later deleted the Story. The additions were reported by Bild and have since been confirmed by the broadcaster. A Vox/RTL spokesperson said Herb and Kliesch will be part of the jubilee season airing this autumn and that further details about the panel will be announced later. Andreas Herb is identified as founder of the MBG Group (known for beverage brands such as Salitos and Effect); Johannes Kliesch is co-founder of the sock and underwear brand Snocks.
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