Lena Gercke serves as an investor in the venture "Lions Cave".
Lena Gercke, the German model and entrepreneur who rose to fame by winning the first season of Heidi Klum's casting show "Germany's Next Topmodel" in 2006, is set to make a mark in the business world as a guest investor on the popular TV show "Die Höhle der Löwen."
In this role, Gercke will join the esteemed panel of top German entrepreneurs, known as the "lions," to evaluate pitches from startup founders, decide whether to invest her own money, and provide strategic insights and mentorship to entrepreneurs.
Gercke made her debut in episode 4 of the 18th season, which aired on September 15, 2025, on VOX and earlier on RTL+ (September 8, 2025). She expressed her excitement about joining the show, emphasizing the authentic connections she values in products and following her intuition to support ideas that truly inspire her.
The show, which is the German version of "Shark Tank," follows the format of founders presenting their inventions or business ideas to the "lions" in the hopes of securing an investment. The investors ask tough questions and decide whether or not to invest money.
Gercke's fellow "lions" for the new season include Dagmar Wöhrl, Judith Williams, Ralf Dümmel, Carsten Maschmeyer, Janna Ensthaler, and Frank Thelen. She shared warm words for her fellow investors, describing Ralf Dümmel as a "heart person" and Carsten Maschmeyer as "super nice."
Gercke has built up her own fashion brand and has been successful in the fashion market, even designing jerseys for the FC Bayern women's football team in 2024. She has also shown her support for female empowerment, aiming to encourage more women to become founders and investors through her participation in the show.
The new season of "Die Höhle der Löwen" starts on August 25. The episode featuring Lena Gercke as a guest investor will air on September 15 on Vox (and will be available on RTL+ from September 8).
In her new role as a guest investor on "Die Höhle der Löwen," Lena Gercke will collaborate with fellow entrepreneurs to offer finance and strategic support to startup founders, particularly those in the fashion-and-beauty or lifestyle sectors. As a successful entrepreneur in the fashion industry, Gercke hopes to use her experiences to inspire more women to pursue entrepreneurship and business ventures. With the new season starting on August 25, Gercke's debut episode will air on September 15 on VOX and earlier on RTL+ (September 8).
