Isabella Steiner faces criticism during Die Höhle der Löwen pitch

Isabella Steiner, founder of the non-alcoholic beverage brand ‘nüchtern’, faced a difficult pitch on the German show ‘Die Höhle der Löwen’. Steiner sought 300,000 euros for a 12 percent stake in her company, which specializes in liquid single-portion sachets for non-alcoholic drinks.

While investor Judith Williams praised the taste of the ‘Italy Spritz’ product, investor Frank Thelen criticized the pitch, citing ‘many warning signs’. Thelen accused Steiner of being ‘not honest’ regarding her revenue claims, noting that the three million euros in turnover she reported was generated by selling other products through her online shop rather than her own brand. The dispute over the company's valuation left the founder visibly distressed during the broadcast.