9 questions for the founders 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: Karl and Patrick Weifels, the founders of Catrub ONE.
Contents
Catrub ONE: Stylish piece of furniture and cat lounge
Catrub ONE is a multifunctional cat lounge and a stylish piece of furniture at the same time. It adapts to any interior and serves as a playground, scratching post and resting place for house cats.
The two founders Karl and Patrick Weifels have set themselves the task of designing the Catrub ONE in such a way that it makes cats and their owners equally happy. The father-son duo was able to convince in the VOX start-up show “Die Höhle der Löwen” and secured a deal with investor Ralf Dümmel.
Scratching post, playground and resting place for cats: That is Catrub ONE
BASIC thinking: Hello Karl, hello Patrick, you are part of the twelfth season of “Die Höhle der Löwen”. How does that feel?
Of course it’s something very special when you can go into “The Lion’s Den” and have the opportunity to present your product in front of such a large audience. We’ve been working on Catrub ONE for a number of years and it feels very good to be part of the twelfth season.
What makes your product so special?
The Catrub ONE is multifunctional, modern cat furniture and an innovative further development of the classic scratching post. The simple and stylish design fits perfectly into the modern furnishing style. The ONE fulfills all the needs of a cat at the same time due to its multifunctionality.
Whether sleeping, playing, scratching, or just enjoying the view. There is a solution for everything: Catrub ONE. In addition, the material is extremely easy to care for, the shape is space-saving and the individually interchangeable elements meet the requirement for durability. All of this is not yet available on the market in this form.
Catrub ONE: The idea and the concept
How did you come up with the idea and your concept?
In 2018, after talking to friends, we had the idea for the Catrub ONE. Many cat owners said that they keep having problems with the appearance, cleaning and durability of their cat furniture.
We wanted to change that and looked for a solution. The idea for the Catrub ONE took shape, and during the development phase we repeatedly questioned and improved our ideas.
And how did you end up in The Lion’s Den?
Instead of applying directly to the show, the broadcaster first approached us and asked if we were interested in applying for “The Lion’s Den”. But of course, like any other startup, we went through the entire application process before we were invited to the pitch.
We saw the VOX start-up show “Die Höhle der Löwen” as a great opportunity for founders to benefit from the knowledge and network of an investor.
The pitch and the negotiations
What was going through your mind just before your pitch?
The day of the recording went like in a movie. We’ve completely lost track of time. We prepared together and went through the process again.
Just before the pitch we were very nervous, also because it was our very first pitch. However, when we stood in front of the lions and noticed how warm and interested they are, the excitement calmed down a bit.
What happened then?
Immediately after the recording, we got to know some of Ralf’s team and discussed the first key points on site. A few days later we drove to Hamburg to get to know Ralf and the entire DS Produkte team in person and to discuss the next steps in detail.
Catrub ONE: That’s how it goes now
What has happened to you and your product since shooting and participating?
We benefit from working with Ralf and have been able to learn a lot. His network, which we can use, is of great value to us.
Due to the current global situation in terms of supply chains, material procurement and so on, the time from recording to broadcast is very short in order to be sufficiently prepared for the broadcast. But we were also able to master this challenge together with Ralf and his team .
What are the next steps?
We are currently concentrating entirely on the sale and further development of the Catrub ONE. We want to serve the European market with our product first, and then take the next steps to Asia and North America.
In the long term, we want to establish our Catrub brand in the pet industry and develop further solutions in the field of cat accessories.
Looking back, how do you rate your experience at The Lion’s Den?
We are very satisfied with our path so far and believe that we made the right decision in favor of Catrub. It was a unique and great experience to be part of the show and present our idea to such a large audience. We have also received valuable feedback from successful investors.
→ Catrub ONE exists here to buy.
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