Business · Companies · 1 day ago
HyEx founders leave Die Höhle der Löwen without an investment
Leonie Steinhauer and Ines Frey pitched HyEx on the German TV show Die Höhle der Löwen.
Their start-up says its product can correct poorly performed hyaluronic acid cosmetic treatments.
Steinhauer said a botched lip treatment she experienced inspired the business.
Investors questioned whether the product works, saying the founders had provided doctors’ confirmations but no reliable scientific study.
They also called the planned €89 retail price too high and objected to the founders’ request for €250,000 in exchange for 25.1% of the company.
The founders did not secure an investment: Janna Ensthaler initially expressed belief in the product and market, but eventually withdrew too.
Carsten Maschmeyer also commented that Steinhauer’s lips looked unnatural and said she should avoid further injections for a while.
HyEx founders Leonie Steinhauer and Ines Frey left Die Höhle der Löwen without an investment.
The start-up offers a product intended to correct poorly performed hyaluronic acid beauty treatments.
The founders sought €250,000 in exchange for 25.1% of the company.
Investors questioned the product’s evidence, its proposed €89 retail price and the founders’ terms.
Janna Ensthaler was the last investor considering the pitch, but she also withdrew.
- Who
- HyEx founders Leonie Steinhauer and Ines Frey pitched to investors on Die Höhle der Löwen.
- What
- They sought investment for their start-up, but no investor made a deal.
- When
- Not stated.
- Where
- On the German TV show Die Höhle der Löwen.
- Why
- HyEx aims to correct poorly performed hyaluronic acid beauty treatments, and the founders sought €250,000 for 25.1% of the company.
HyEx founders
Skeptical investors
Product evidence
HyEx founders
The founders presented doctors’ “effectiveness confirmations” and Ines Frey cited her experience developing medical products.
Skeptical investors
Judith Williams said the product’s effect had not been scientifically proven and criticized the lack of a reliable study.
Product prospects
HyEx founders
Janna Ensthaler said the investors had to believe the founders and that, if the product worked, it would be a great product.
Skeptical investors
Other investors expressed doubts about the product, and several withdrew from the pitch.
The founders asked for €250,000 in exchange for 25.1% of HyEx.
Investors challenged the product’s evidence and its proposed €89 retail price.
Dagmar Wöhrl, Ralf Dümmel and Judith Williams withdrew.
Janna Ensthaler also withdrew, leaving HyEx without an investment.
- Founders
- Leonie Steinhauer and Ines Frey
- Investment sought
- €250,000 for 25.1% of the company
- Proposed retail price
- €89
- Product
- A solution intended to correct poorly performed hyaluronic acid treatments
What people are saying
You need to stop getting injections for a while.
This is nothing new and, secondly, it has not been scientifically proven.
I believe in the product and the market.
That is completely unacceptable.
Sources
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