Ralf Dümmel invests €250,000 in Sauberkugel on Die Höhle der Löwen

The “Sauberkugel” Success Story Meets Primetime Television

Susanne and Bernd Schmekel brought their multi-million-euro cleaning product venture, the “Sauberkugel,” to the VOX television program “Die Höhle der Löwen,” securing a €250,000 investment from Ralf Dümmel for a 20 percent stake in their company. Before the entrepreneur couple built an enterprise generating €8 million in sales over eight years, the pair first crossed paths 25 years ago on the ARD dating show “Herzblatt.”

From Handbag Clutter to Global Distribution

The concept for the sticky cleaning sphere originated when Susanne Schmekel noticed persistent dust, sand, and crumbs accumulating inside her handbag. Driven by a desire to solve everyday problems, she designed a small, washable sphere featuring a specialized adhesive surface that captures debris as it rolls around inside a bag. The product has since expanded far beyond its domestic German roots, moving over 1.5 million units into international markets including the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.

Investor Skepticism and the Multi-Löwe Bidding War

While Frank Thelen voiced skepticism regarding why an established, revenue-generating business required outside assistance, fellow investors recognized distinct operational hurdles. Dagmar Wöhrl pointed out that the founders lacked sufficient personnel, upfront financing, and marketing infrastructure to manage their surging international order volume. Despite initial doubts, three separate investors—Andreas W. Herb, Judith Williams, and Ralf Dümmel—pursued deals with the founders. Williams described the competitive investor scramble as one of the most intense battles, while Herb offered an identical matching stake of 20 percent for €250,000 after initially proposing 25.1 percent.

Selecting the Winning Partner

Following a brief deliberation with her husband, Susanne Schmekel announced their final decision to partner with Ralf Dümmel for €250,000 in exchange for 20 percent of the business. Dümmel praised the entrepreneurs for their extensive eight-year track record and multi-million-euro revenue growth before celebrating the finalized agreement alongside the founders.