Dismal Deliverance by Glim Skim: Witnessed as One of the "Least Impressive Performances Ever Recorded"
Hitting the Den with Glim Skin: A Questionable Pitch and a Steady Comeback
In the fiery debut of the latest season of "The Lion's Den," Benita Botterhuis and Friederike Kogelheide showcased their innovative skincare device, Glim Skin. The contraption, employing cold plasma to combat acne and skin impurities, earned them a seat in the den. However, they arrived empty-handed, offering only a prototype instead of a market-ready product.
The duo sought a whopping 300,000 euros for a mere 10% stake in their startup, valuing it at an audacious—some might argue, ludicrous—3 million euros, despite zero revenue, production, or online shop. This didn't sit well with TV investor Carsten Maschmeyer, who felt the valuation was unwarranted and promptly bowed out. Criticizing thefounders' brash valuation, Maschmeyer wasn't alone. Dagmar Wöhrl, another entrepreneur, posed similar concerns.
When pressed about Glim Skin's unique selling point, the founders highlighted advanced technology, durability, and the absence of additives. Maschmeyer, unimpressed, compared it to a toaster. The other investors—Nils Glagau, Judith Williams, and Ralf Dümmel—opted against making any deals. After the founders' departure, Maschmeyer didn't hold back, labeling their pitch one of the weakest he'd ever seen.
Post-Show Progress
Since the taping, some time has passed. Botterhuis sheds light on their journey post-show, "Our stint on the show served as a valuable learning experience. We received constructive criticism that we could implement afterwards, and we also gained a platform to showcase our idea to industry experts." Post-show, Botterhuis and Kogelheide transformed their prototype into a market-ready product and reportedly sold over 1000 units, predominantly through their own online shop and business. They're now scouting additional distribution channels, like pharmacies, drugstores, and perfumeries.
Despite the criticism about the lack of comparative studies, Botterhuis clarifies, "Comparative studies are typical in medical contexts, but they aren't as straightforward when it comes to cold plasma applications since the plasma treatment can be detected through scent, touch, and sound." They have, however, obtained "more informative comparative photos" from their initial test subjects and the compatibility study, which were also raised as concerns during the show. Beauty entrepreneur Judith Williams had argued that better results could be achieved with other active ingredients, as shown in Glim Skin's comparison images.
Glim Skin has also revised its key selling points. The device now emphasizes user-friendliness and the "pay once, use forever" concept, thanks to replaceable hygienic attachments that make it suitable for multiple household members.
Although the founders failed to win over the lions, they managed to secure funding post-show. "We were able to persuade several business angels of our idea and concept, raising a substantial amount of external capital," revealed Botterhuis. Furthermore, they received a convertible loan from NRW-Bank, part of NRW.SeedCon.
[Aside:It's worth noting that as of current information, Glim Skin, a startup from Bochum, recently made its debut on "Die Höhle der Löwen" (The Lion's Den) during the spring season of 2025. However, there's no specific update regarding the outcome of their pitch or the progress they've made since their appearance on the show. The episode marked the start of Season 17, welcoming new ideas, innovations, and the departure of three investors: Nils Glagau, Tijen Onaran, and Tillman Schulz[2]. Additional updates from news sources or direct statements from the company would provide more insight into Glim Skin's current status.]
Pitching, Pivoting, and PerseveringIn the den, the duo's pitch was met with skepticism, but they've since learned, adapted, and achieved notable success. Their story serves as a testament to resilience, demonstrating that facing rejection is often part of the journey to finding the path to success.
- Botterhuis admitted, "Our stint on the show served as a valuable learning experience," mentioning the constructive criticism they received.
- Post-show, Glim Skin transformed their prototype into a market-ready product and reportedly sold over 1000 units.
- Botterhuis and Kogelheide are now scouting additional distribution channels like pharmacies, drugstores, and perfumeries.
- Glim Skin has revised its key selling points, now emphasizing user-friendliness and the "pay once, use forever" concept with replaceable hygienic attachments.
- Despite failing to win over the investors on the show, they managed to secure funding post-show by persuading several business angels and receiving a convertible loan from NRW-Bank.
- Their story serves as a testament to resilience, demonstrating that facing rejection is often part of the journey to finding the path to success.
