A trending topic at “The lion’s den“: ice bathing. No wonder, as the frosty water temperature stimulates blood circulation, stimulates the immune system and, despite the initial cold shock, makes the body feel comfortable and supposedly also spontaneously reduces stress.

So the two 26-year-old founders Aurel and Nicolai from Cologne are not that wrong with their business idea “pool.down” for a smart cooling device. Their use transforms an ordinary bathtub into an ice bath.

An app-controlled heat exchange ensures that the bath water drops to up to three degrees. Thanks to the smartphone solution, the temperature can be prepared remotely. The heart rate can also be monitored while ice bathing using a connectable wearable such as a smartwatch with a health function.

The promise of the young founders: Healthy cold therapy will be comfortable, safe and measurable – without the bulky ice barrels that would normally be set up outdoors. However, their company idea comes with a proud price: Aurel and Nicolai want 200,000 euros from the “Lion’s Den“Investors have ten percent of the company shares.

“Ankerkraut” founder at “Höhle der Löwen”: “If you all don’t dare, I’ll do it!”

And then there is a pre-chilled tub of ice cream on the open stage. Suddenly a woman jumps up who long-time “The Lion’s Den” watchers might recognize from the past: it is Anne Lemcke, who, together with her husband Stefan, presented their then-founded “Ankerkraut” for spice mixtures in 2016. Now they are returning Ankerkraut founders who have changed a lot visuallyreturned to DHDL for the second time as a potential investor.

“If you all don’t dare, I’ll do it,” says the woman in the spring-like floral dress resolutely. Her husband can’t believe what’s happening before his eyes: “Oh God, Anne. I’m having a crisis – what are you doing?” But then she dives into the ice water.

The cold shock doesn’t seem to bother the subject all that much. “Oh, it’s not so bad,” says Anne, dripping wet. And Carsten Maschmeyer says approvingly to the still rather confused Stefan: “You have a fantastic wife.”

“Lion’s Den” candidates have a two million euro rating – but no sales yet

The actual invention seems less awesome, and with a retail price of almost 1,500 euros it would also be an expensive investment for ice bath fans. Frank Thelen also quickly finds a massive problem: heat exchange. “It gets really hot in the place in the summer,” he says and simply means: “Physics!” He doesn’t believe in the “pool.down” idea. It is all the more sobering that the founders who claim a two million euro valuation cannot yet show any sales.

Devastating verdict: “That’s why your cold water leaves me cold,” says Carsten Maschmeyer. In doing so, he speaks from the hearts of his colleagues. No deal for “pool.down”!

And the brave tester? Anne Lemcke is given a bathrobe, but has to spend the rest of the evening back in her investor seat in a wet, cold dress. Once the immune system has joined in on the fun.

The complete “The Lions’ Den” episode can be seen on Monday, March 9th at 8:15 p.m. on VOX and in advance on RTL+.