Normally the lions fight for founders like him – but with Olaf Zimmer (42) everything went a little differently.
On Monday evening, the self-made man pitched in the Investor show “The Lion’s Den” (Vox) his shopping app “eSelly”. But while compliments hailed, the offers stayed away.
Even as a young man, Olaf Zimmer thought big: he started a small junk business at the age of 16 with just ten euros, then finally became self-employed at the tender age of 18 – and now runs a company with 75 employees and an annual turnover of 40 million euros . And all this without training or studying!
Now his “eSelly” app is supposed to bring the retail shopping experience to your cell phone. The founder about his next project: “eSelly is an interactive marketplace where you can buy used and new products. But it behaves like a social media app.”
Olaf Zimmer presented the lions with “eSelly”, an interactive marketplace app
Above all, an integrated video function is intended to distinguish the app from other sales platforms. Sellers can use video to advertise their products or even start sales shows or answer customers’ questions in direct video chat.
Zimmer’s goal: to build “eSelly” as quickly as possible into one of the largest trading platforms on the Internet – with the help of the lions! He demanded 250,000 euros for 20 percent of his company.
But instead of haggling over the second-hand app, the lions dawdled! Maybe because the founder was too patent for a pitch in the lion’s den?
▶︎ Orthomol boss Nils Glagau (47) enthused: “I would love to be your investor. But since you’re so good and know your way better than I ever will, I’d be damned if I said you’d add some value to me.”
▶︎ Investor Ralf Dümmel (56) even went one step further: “You are the hottest guy who has ever been here!” Mega compliment from Dümmel! But he didn’t really want to invest either. The retail expert: “For me, it’s not the business model.”
The lions Nils Glagau, Judith Williams, Dagmar Wöhrl, Janna Ensthaler and Ralf Dümmel (left to right) took a close look at Olaf Zimmer (right) and his interactive marketplace app
Hottest founder in show history, but no deal?
In fact, it looked like Zimmer pitched in vain. But new lioness Janna Ensthaler (39) gave herself a jerk. The investor was convinced: “I think you’re just finding a way to start the new era of online sales.” Ensthaler continues: “I think I have the best network in Germany to support your topic financially and also with expertise support.”
Her offer: 250,000 euros plus expertise for 30 percent of the company shares! Sure thing: room agreed! The young entrepreneur cheered after the deal: “Wonderful, that’s how you want to leave the lion’s den!”
Investorin Janna Ensthaler
Fought passionately, cheered exuberantly – and yet rejoiced too soon.
BILD learned: The deal between Janna Ensthaler and “eSelly” did not materialize after the show. The investor confirmed this when asked by BILD.
Ensthaler: “Yes, that’s right. There were various reasons that the deal fell through. But the chemistry between us is right, we just met again and are now looking at working together on other issues.”
