For Marcel Paa (35), the appearance on the TV show was worth it
Thanks to Löwen-Stutz he now bakes big rolls
SonntagsBlick revealed that founders who get deals for their business ideas on the Swiss edition of the TV show “Die Höhle der Löwen” often go away empty-handed. Blick visited a young entrepreneur who got off to a flying start thanks to the investment.
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Marcel Paa (35) is a trained baker and took part in the TV show “Lion’s Cave” in 2021.
Samuel WalderRingier journalism student
For their start-up, young entrepreneurs not only need luck, a good idea and a lot of perseverance – but first and foremost a lot of money. You can borrow it from friends or family and get it at the bank. Or get investors as a participant in the TV show “Die Höhle der Löwen” by convincing them of your business idea.
But it’s not quite that simple, as Sunday’s Blick published. Because before an investor talks money, the start-ups have to sign tough contracts. And even if you get into the wreaths, it’s far from clear that the deal will go through. Candidates and their business are only put through their paces after the broadcast. Investors can still get out.
Not many alternatives to sugar
Marcel Paa (35) grabbed his chance and convinced with his idea. He is a trained baker and confectioner and founder of the Hello Sweety company. In 2021 he made his big appearance in “The Lion’s Den”. He received 100,000 francs for his sugar substitute – for a five percent share in his company.
“It all started with YouTube,” explains Paa when Blick in Sins AG visits him. “I came up with the idea of doing without sugar for three months as an experiment. I quickly realized that there weren’t many alternatives.” That’s how he came up with the idea of Hello Sweety.
The start-up was well positioned in 2021. But needed more money to grow and expand advertising. So off to the TV! There Paa met the investor and entrepreneur Patrick Mollet (46). Two years later, Paa sells his sugar substitute at Globus, Aldi and Spar, among others.
«Investments have helped us a lot»
But he is not satisfied with that. “Next, we want to try the international market,” says Paa. He thinks confidently of Germany. “The CHF 100,000 helped us a lot. This was the only way we could achieve our goals,” says the young entrepreneur.
Investor Patrick Mollet remembers the first meeting with Marcel Paa well: “After the show, I immediately sat down with him and the other shareholders.” After the investment, he also took a seat on the board of directors. It is important to him not just to transfer money. “Whenever possible, I take part in the general meetings of the company.”
He is also regularly in contact with HR and management issues. He does that with all the start-ups he supports. “I try to contribute my know-how as well as possible,” says investor Mollet.