9 questions for the founder of “The Lion’s Den”
In this questionnaire we ask the founders and participants of the Vox show “The Lion’s Den” questions about their products and experiences on the show. This time: Lisa Mathieu, the founder of The Way Up.
A stylish interior with a connection to nature? That’s what Lisa Mathieu is committed to with her start-up The Way Up. your product portfolio vasestables and crockery – all made from recycled or upcycled materials – caused great enthusiasm among investors in the VOX start-up show “Die Höhle der Löwen”.
The founder also provided a premiere: Because Lisa Mathieu convinced both Ralf Dümmel and the new investor Janna Ensthaler of their products. From now on, the two lions will support The Way Up as a duo.
Contents
The Way Up: home accessories made from recycled materials
BASIC thinking: Hello Lisa, you are in the thirteenth season of “The Lion’s Den”. How does that feel?
Awesome, I’m so excited to be a part of The Lion’s Den season thirteen!
What makes your products from The Way up so special?
The Way up specializes in home accessories made from old materials that look new at the same time. For example, we offer vases made from 100 percent recycled glass or build tables in a herringbone pattern from parquet that is up to 100 years old.
What used to be a heap of broken glass or a floor is now our material. The Way up wants to show that recycling and upcycling can be beautiful and diverse.
The concept of The Way Up
How did you come up with the idea and concept of The Way up?
I’ve always had a penchant for modern, minimalist interior design, but at the same time I have a great connection to nature and old materials. In the home and living area, old materials are usually associated with rustic furniture or colorful fabrics that have been patched together.
I wanted to change that and felt a need for unique furniture: modern interior design with a traditional, individual history.
“The Lion’s Den”
How did you end up on The Lion’s Den?
In order to successfully build a company, you need support. It quickly became clear to me that I wanted to make a big company, no one can do it alone. There are only 24 hours in the day, even if you give your all – it’s always teamwork and that’s a good thing. This also includes financial means.
I started out of unemployment and although it started well, the seed capital was not enough to build a large company. So I hoped that I would find a strategic partner with the VOX start-up show “Die Höhle der Löwen” who believed in me and my idea.
Pursuing my vision together was my dream and it came true: In the end I not only found a great lion, but two and I am more than happy!
The pitch and the negotiations
What was on your mind just before your pitch?
Oh god, I was so excited and shaking so much before my performance that even the sound guy had to calm me down while I was wiring. Everything goes through your head: “It can be so good, this is your chance, please believe in yourself and your idea.”
On the other hand, there are those self-doubts in you: “I hope I don’t have a text hanger, please be nice to me and don’t ask things that I can’t answer because I’m so excited.”
How did the subsequent negotiations go?
After the shoot, I filled out a sheet with lots of questions and data about my company and then sent it to Ralf’s team. After that, the team got to work, checking all the facts about my company.
In the first strategy meeting, Janna Ensthaler and I were invited to Ralf Dümmel in Stapelfeld, we all got to know each other, but the company The Way up was also made completely transparent by every department! “illuminated”.
For example, a team member from the legal department is in the meeting, has done his homework and questions such as: “Are there any legal disputes?”, “Is the company name correctly protected?” etc. were openly discussed. I remember the sentence all too well: “We checked The Way up, but actually didn’t find anything great.”
In the meetings we also discussed together where the journey for The Way up should go. We asked ourselves who can best help in which areas and it is of course also part of the process that we agree on different ideas and find the best solution for the company.
The Way Up: This is how it goes now
What has happened to you and your products from The Way up since filming and participating?
Very much! I have about a year between recording the show and broadcasting it. We used this time to prepare everything as best we could: there were many strategy meetings, I visited my manufacturers, had new goods produced, procured materials, designed packaging and much more. We work hard every day to ensure that THE WAY UP becomes an established, diversified company for sustainable home accessories.
And how does it continue? What are the next steps?
Next, I would like to build a great team and offer our customers an even greater variety of beautiful recycled products. The Way up should become the platform for sustainable and at the same time aesthetic interior design.
Looking back, how would you rate your experience at The Lion’s Den?
It was the best decision I could have made. I am very glad that I took this step. Afterwards I thought: “Why did you drive yourself so crazy beforehand? It wasn’t that bad after all.” I’m always very self-critical of myself, but I was very happy that the excitement has passed and I didn’t have to struggle with any lyrically stuck or anything like that.
→ There are vases from The Way Up here to buy.
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