"Thelen returns to the 'Shark Tank'"
On August 25, 2025, the upcoming season of the popular German startup show "Die Höhle der Löwen" on Vox will see the return of Frank Thelen as a regular investor ("Löwe"). This marks his comeback after a brief hiatus, having left the show in 2019 to focus on his VC firm.
Frank Thelen, an entrepreneur from Bonn, will be joining Dagmar Wöhrl, Judith Williams, Ralf Dümmel, Carsten Maschmeyer, and Janna Ensthaler as permanent investors on the show. The exact number of episodes or the duration of his return to the show has not been disclosed.
A new format element called "Battle-Pitches" will be introduced this season. In this format, two founders or teams will compete in one-minute short pitches against each other. Only one of them will be allowed to present their product in full to the investors, while the other must leave the "Höhle" immediately if they fail to convince.
Frank Thelen, in a statement, expressed his excitement about returning to the show, describing it as coming home. He views "Die Höhle der Löwen" as a place where ideas become companies. According to him, success in the show requires courage, hard work, and a clear strategy.
The show "Die Höhle der Löwen" has not been specified as to whether it is in its original or a new season. However, Frank Thelen returned to the show in the anniversary episode last fall, hinting at a possible continuation of the series.
Frank Thelen was a regular investor on the show from 2014 to 2020. His return is sure to bring excitement for the upcoming season, as viewers eagerly await his direct and unfiltered evaluations and feedback.
Frank Thelen, having returned to "Die Höhle der Löwen" after focusing on his VC firm, will now integrate finance and investing into his business ventures as a regular investor on the show. As the new season commences, entertainment heightens with the introduction of "Battle-Pitches", where founders and teams compete for the opportunity to present their product to the investors.
