FH graduate Phil Janßen and his start-up Steets have concluded a deal with Frank Thelen in "Die Höhle der Löwen": The team is now giving up 25 percent of the company shares for 300,000 euros. The aim is to significantly increase the production of parking aids for walking aids.
A year ago, the trio of Phil Janßen, Thorben Engel and Philipp Battisti launched the innovative parking aid for walking aids on the market after several years of development. Almost 20,000 modules, which can be fitted to any commercially available walking aid, have already been sold. But this figure only made the investors on the TV show "Die Höhle der Löwen" smile wearily. Too little. However, they were enthusiastic about the product itself.
"This is one of the most elegant solutions I've ever seen here," said Frank Thelen during the pitch. The retrofittable module allows standard walking aids to be parked freely by activating fold-out support legs with a handle and automatically retracting them again under load.
The walking aid can then simply be put down - for example to wash hands or pick something up from the shelf. "We want to make the lives of millions of people easier and safer with our product," says Phil Janßen.
An emotional moment of the pitch was the appearance of Heinz Schlechtingen (98), the grandfather of founder Phil Janßen, who demonstrated the suitability for everyday use. He was the oldest participant in "Der Höhle der Löwen" so far and paved the way for the trio of founders. However, negotiations with the investors proved difficult at first. Instead of the planned 15 percent, the trio ultimately had to cede 25 percent.
For Phil Janßen, however, it was still a good deal. The product speaks for itself, but the TV appearance has significantly increased awareness of Steets. The reactions immediately after the show aired on September 8, 2025 were overwhelming.
Phil Janßen studied design at Fachhochschule Dortmund and developed the project together with the co-founders as an interdisciplinary project. Market and patent research was supported by the Fachhochschule Dortmund's start-up service and programs such as greenhouse.ruhr.