Retail interest falls short
Waligorski said he learned about Dümmel's withdrawal roughly three months after the show was recorded. The explanation he received was that hardware stores approached about stocking Kippo had apparently not shown enough interest. Dümmel did not respond to Gründerszene's request for comment.
The proposed investment was 50,000 euros for a 30% stake. Both Dümmel and Andreas Herb offered those terms during the pitch, despite Waligorski having no sales figures to present. His first batch of 250 handles, manufactured in China, had arrived only days before filming.
From wrist pain to a new business
Waligorski developed Kippo after experiencing wrist pain while using a wheelbarrow in his garden. His inspiration came from his brother's cable-cross exercise machine: its handles could rotate while the cable remained stable under tension. He built his first prototype using parts from the scrapyard he runs with his cousin.
Kippo consists of two rotating ergonomic handles intended to ease wrist strain. They replace the fixed grips on the existing handle shafts of a wheelbarrow or hand truck. The mechanism requires no electronics, battery or app, according to Gründerfreunde.
The invention also offered Waligorski a possible change of career. The 51-year-old from Essen, Germany, faces uncertainty over the scrapyard because its lease is expiring and a replacement site has been difficult to find. Gründerfreunde and TV Movie reported in October 2026 that he developed Kippo as a fallback business.
His cousin encouraged him to apply to the show and suggested Dümmel as a suitable investor. Waligorski said he would not have applied on his own, according to Gründerfreunde. The outlet also reports that KIPPO is a product brand of KREUZMAN, as identified in the website's imprint; the same brand sells a root spade.
Two competing offers in the finale
Kippo appeared in the season 20 finale of "Die Höhle der Löwen," broadcast on VOX on October 26, 2026. Its 50,000-euro request was the smallest of the evening. Three of the episode's five startups secured on-air deals.
During the demonstration, Herb first pushed a conventional wheelbarrow containing some soil, then tried one equipped with Kippo. He said he noticed a difference and found the modified wheelbarrow considerably easier to maneuver.
Frank Thelen praised Waligorski's ingenuity and saw potential in the product, but declined to invest because he had never used a wheelbarrow. His decision was not based on the valuation or a lack of belief in the invention. Dagmar Wöhrl and Judith Williams also withdrew, leaving Herb and Dümmel as the two investors willing to meet Waligorski's terms.
Herb praised the founder's initiative and wanted to help build the business. Dümmel said Waligorski's story had moved him and welcomed the valuation, interpreting the offer of 30% for 50,000 euros as evidence that the founder genuinely wanted a deal and support.
Amazon sales and a search for another investor
Although disappointed by the failed agreement, Waligorski told Gründerszene he intended to continue. He said he had ordered 1,000 handles and was selling them on Amazon.
As of late October 2026, a two-handle set was listed there for 34.99 euros, according to TV Movie, about 10 euros above the 24.99-euro price presented during the pitch. The outlet reported production costs of just under 10 euros and characterized the margin as not particularly generous.
Kippo's website is actively seeking a new investor to help with product development and distribution, TV Movie reports. Waligorski told Gründerszene that his next step would depend on finding a large buyer, an interested company, a sponsor or another investor.
