Andreas W. Herb Invests 500,000 Euros in IRISgo

Entrepreneur and "Die Höhle der Löwen" judge Andreas W. Herb is investing 500,000 euros in IRISgo. Following negotiations after the TV taping, Herb and the two founders, Fabian Christmann and Manuel Laurice Borer, have reached a final agreement to collaborate. According to Herb, this is the largest investment he has made so far in his still-young career as a “Lion.” Together, the partners plan to first expand the business in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and then tap into additional international markets.

Patented Lid for Insulated Mugs

IRISgo develops high-quality insulated cups featuring a patented iris closure. The centerpiece of the product line is the stainless-steel IRISgo Cup Flow. The closure allows the cup to be opened and securely closed again with one hand. Added to this are double insulation and a product concept designed for reusability. According to the company, the cup is manufactured to “Swiss-Made” quality standards.

When you see them, you immediately wonder why something like this hasn’t been around for a long time.

Andreas W. Herb

For Herb, the combination of an immediately apparent customer benefit and a technically protected solution was particularly decisive. In his view, an idea that’s easy to communicate—yet at the same time technically sophisticated and protected—offers an interesting foundation for further business growth.

DHDL Deal Finalized

The commitment to the investment was initially made during the TV taping. As is customary with deals agreed upon there, further discussions between the investor and the founders followed. These have since been concluded. Herb is indeed investing 500,000 euros in the company. The press release does not specify the size of his stake in IRISgo in return.

According to the investor, both sides are already collaborating on the operational side. In addition to the product, he was particularly impressed by the two founders. Herb describes Christmann and Borer as “true go-getters” who developed, tested, and continuously improved their product themselves.

Herb Plans to Get Involved Operationally

Herb does not view his involvement with IRISgo as a purely financial investment. The entrepreneur says he intends to actively participate in building the business. This includes, in particular, further developing sales and the brand, as well as leveraging his network to identify new business opportunities.

“I don’t want to just receive a presentation with numbers twice a year after making an investment,” says Herb. Instead, he is drawn to working directly with the founders and exploring how a single successful product can grow into a larger company. For IRISgo, the deal thus means not only additional capital but also access to Herb’s entrepreneurial experience and contacts.

The DACH region is the first growth market

As a first step, the partners are focusing on Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. There, they plan to further expand IRISgo’s sales and brand awareness. In the long term, however, the plans extend beyond the DACH region. Herb sees the thermos mug as a product that can, in principle, also be positioned in other international markets.

“At IRISgo, we’ve been thinking internationally from the very beginning,” says Herb. The underlying product idea does not address a problem limited to a specific region.

The company has not yet specified which countries beyond the DACH region will be targeted or the timeframe for this expansion.

Following the successful conclusion of negotiations, the startup is now entering a crucial phase. The combination of a patented product and prominent TV exposure is generating attention, but it must translate into sustainable growth.

The first step will reveal how much the sales and brand can be scaled in the DACH region. Furthermore, the planned international expansion in particular will likely determine whether the individual thermos cup concept can evolve into a larger product and consumer brand.