At DHDL, founder Sam Kirchberger-Puechlong impresses with Smartwaxx and, after negotiations, secures a deal with Ralf Dümmel.
Nose and ear hair is a topic that many men don’t talk about. Unfortunately. In the new episode of “The Lion’s Den” Vincent Samuel Kirchberger-Puechlong presents his product: Smartwaxx – wax sticks for the painless removal of front nose and ear hair. The application is simply explained: The sticks are heated with a hairdryer; the wax should stick to the hair, not to the skin.
Kirchberger-Puechlong founded the startup in Dubai in 2024. He came up with the idea because removing nose and ear hair yourself hurts. And hairdressers often no longer offer this service: “Lack of hygiene in the process and too much time spent for too little return,” says Kirchberger-Puechlong as the reasons for this.
This is how he came up with the idea for the product
Kirchberger-Puechlong’s network in Dubai helped him develop the product and bring it to market. However, initially only for barbershops, hairdressers and large customers. At the time the show was recorded, the founder was selling the product online for the B2B sector. A pack of 50 sticks previously cost 19.99 euros.
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Now he wants to use the product to expand the B2B area as well as to retail and bring the wax sticks into households. That’s why Kirchberger-Puechlong is in “The Lion’s Den” and is offering 90,000 euros for ten percent of the company shares.
Personal story in the cave
All five investors are enthusiastic about the product and founder, and Kirchberger-Puechlong was particularly impressed with his calmness. When the show gets serious, Janna Ensthaler asks: “Considering that there is a lot at stake, you are quite calm. Where does this inner strength come from? What have you experienced in life that makes you so calm?”
Kirchberger-Puechlong then talks about his biography. “I was adopted and placed in a foster family at a relatively early age. My mother was in no condition to raise me as a child,” says the 26-year-old. “As a result, I have learned to deal with my emotions and remain calm in situations. I place enormous value on emotional intelligence – for me it is one of the core essences in life. Every strong entrepreneur has emotional intelligence.”
The founder says in the show that he broke off contact with his birth mother when he was 18. “At some point the day will come when I have to talk to her again to make it clear to her that I’m not angry with her at all, I’m just going my way,” he says.
This is how the deal went
Frank Thelen, Dagmar Wöhrl and Enstahler are out as investors. The reason: The topic doesn’t suit them and they can’t help Kirchberger-Puechlong. “You are humble and you brought an enthusiastic customer with you,” says Thelen. “But I have to think about what I can do and how I can help you as a founder. And I can’t do that.”
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Dagmar Wöhrl also praises: “Big compliment, Sam. You can tell you stand behind your product. I have nothing to do with hairdressers and barbershops. I’m not the right investor for you.”
Two offers, one deal
Because the founder hopes that a lion will not only bring him money, but also a mentor, help with sales and a network. Two investors remain: Judith Williams and Ralf Dümmel. Both are prepared to give the founder 90,000 euros, but for 20 percent of the shares.
Kirchberger-Puechlong negotiates – and pushes the valuation up. In the end he decides on his dream lion and gets the money from Dümmel in return for 15 percent of the company shares. Dümmel says: “Product works, founder works.”
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Did the deal actually happen after the show? Ralf Dümmel’s spokeswoman told Gründerszene: “The deal will of course come about.”
In the future, Smartwaxx will be used both in professional environments and for private use. In the show, the founder talked about wanting to offer smaller pack sizes for home use. This was already implemented after the broadcast.