Former professional footballer negotiated the sale of toiletry items with DHDL. Is a business agreement in place following their televised discussion?
In the midst of the Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020, Giuseppe Leo, a former professional footballer, embarked on a unique venture: Air Cube, a startup that produces an innovative odor neutralizer for toilets. Leo, who has invested a six-figure sum from his own pocket, has been working tirelessly on Air Cube since its inception.
The UVP (Unique Value Proposition) of Air Cube is set at 139.99 euros, with current production costs in China around 26 euros, leaving room for optimization. Unlike traditional air fresheners, Air Cube doesn't mask odors but eliminates them without the use of chemicals.
Air Cube operates in two phases: it sucks odors from the toilet bowl, filters them, and enriches the ambient air with positively charged ions to neutralize odors. The device is triggered in automatic mode via a motion sensor.
Leo's journey with Air Cube took a significant turn when he met Carsten Maschmeyer, a successful entrepreneur and investor, who became his mentor. Leo's initial team, initially sceptical about the idea, has shown increased interest due to potential career opportunities.
In a bid to secure further funding, Leo pitched Air Cube to a group of investors, known as the lions. With the statement, "Today, it's about the big business," Leo asked for 200,000 euros for ten percent of the company shares.
The negotiations saw offers from various investors. Williams offered 200,000 euros for 15 percent of the company shares, while Ralf Dümmel and Frank Thelen asked for 20 percent for the same amount. However, Ensthaler withdrew from the negotiations.
Despite the challenges, Air Cube has made significant strides. It has been selected as one of the most innovative startups for the CES in Las Vegas, one of the world's largest trade fairs for consumer electronics, which will take place in January 2026.
Leo, who handles all aspects of Air Cube, from accounting to marketing to product development, has since hired someone for customer support and accounting. The team size of Air Cube has grown from one to two employees.
Leo's girlfriend, Vivien Konca, describes him as someone who has been promoting toilets and was already talking about his toilet obsession on their first date. Despite the quirky nature of the venture, Leo's dedication and vision for Air Cube are undeniable.
With the support of Maschmeyer and the potential investments, Leo is optimistic about the future of Air Cube. As he continues to work on perfecting the device, the world of consumer electronics eagerly awaits the innovative odor neutralizer.
