Tijen Onaran appeared to have breached the agreement with the founders of the learning app, despite suggesting that she could effectively represent them as an ambassador.
The Gritty Grind in Lion's Den:
The Unflinching Duo of Matthias Geenen and Andrea Goßlinghoff takes center stage in the Den. She paints a stark picture of her reality as an educator in a struggling area - 28 students, one with intellectual disabilities, behavioral issues abound, six non-German speakers, and most unable to read or write. "Is justice possible for all these kids?" she queries.
Usually, the answer is a bleak "impossible." Teachers, despite their good intentions, struggles to cater to language-challenged students without disrupting the education of the rest of the class.
Societal Woes, Big Changes
The Lions acknowledge the struggles - integration, teacher shortage, digitalizing education - all sound like pressing matters. And their genesis story is compelling: A teacher solving her own predicament by partnering with a tech whiz to develop a learning app.
But this solution also has the potential for profit: "Say it in German" is a language learning software, designed for kids with learning challenges. Essentially, a digital aid that helps children with special needs while the human teacher caters to the rest of the class. With a need for such aid in Germany high, the product enjoys wide acceptance: It's already in use in 1,500 schools, had a revenue of 600,000 euros last year, and aims to hit a million this year.
Maschmeyer's Swift Offer
Given the context, the founders' request for 70,000 euros for a 10% stake in their company seems modest.
Carsten Maschmeyer, well known for his swift moves, whispers to Tijen Onaran, "I'm in on this. Let's do this together." Onaran agrees. Maschmeyer wastes no time, laying his cards on the table, handing the founders a check for 70,000 euros on the spot, saying lengthy negotiations are not needed.
Onaran, evidently excited about the founders, highlights her firsthand experience with bilingualism and gives insights into her extensive network, including political connections.
Disagreements Ahead
Yet, Maschmeyer's letter to Gründerszene after the show is surprising: The deal materialized as discussed in the show, but Tijen Onaran did not join in. Onaran's office offers a muted response: "The deal didn't come to pass. In the end, there were differing views on cooperation." They wish Maschmeyer and "Say it in German" success.
In the past, Onaran has been seen as a cautious investor, making only two deals per season, and just one in her last season. Out of a total of five deals, three did not materialize after the show's airing.
Onaran's poor deal track record, as reported by Startup Scene, has reportedly disappointed producers who had hoped for more investments given Onaran's initial promises. When asked by Startup Scene, Onaran did not address her restraint or potential lack of funds. Instead, she states that she finds startups she deems most promising and exciting to invest in, with FreeMom and Logga being successful examples. She also mentions that her career has evolved, with a focus on influencing politics and business. Her recent investment in wonder.io illustrates her continued involvement.
Onaran joined the 14th season, set to air in fall 2023, as a new investor. In October 2024, it was announced that she would leave the startup show after the 17th season, the current one. Her fellow jurors were reportedly taken by surprise, with tensions between Onaran and the other Lions emerging prior to her departure, according to Startup Scene.
- The education-and-self-development challenge in a struggling area calls for innovative technology solutions, as exemplified by Matthias Geenen and Andrea Goßlinghoff's 'Say it in German' learning app, designed to cater specifically to children with learning disabilities.
- The collaboration between education and technology continues to shed light on the potential revenue possibilities in business, as evidenced by 'Say it in German', which saw a revenue of 600,000 euros last year and aims to boost this to a million this year,serving in 1,500 schools across Germany.
- Finance and business prospects are not far behind, as keen investors, like Carsten Maschmeyer, recognize the potential in edtech ventures such as 'Say it in German', seeking meaningful collaborations to drive positive changes in education-and-self-development, ultimately impacting society for the better.
