Did you know the right footwear can actually enhance your quality of life? Former athlete Cecilie Lisberg certainly does. Her experience with custom insoles led her and her father, Per, to launch Zoles—a brand on a mission to redefine the role of the insole.
With a shared passion for sports and 3D technology, Cecilie and Per Lisberg founded Zoles. Their company makes personalized 3D-printed insoles and helps customers easily find the support they need through expert guidance. This year, Cecilie and her team appeared on season 9, episode 7 of Løvens Hule (Lion's Den). And they’re now featured in the follow-up serieLøvens Hule – velkommen til virkeligheden.
Footwear and Wellbeing: How Insoles Can Make a Real Difference
As a former athlete with high arches, Cecilie knows firsthand how vital the right insole can be. Without the right support, even everyday movements can lead to pain or injury. She learned early on just how important proper foot alignment is—not just for sports, but for life in general.
Issues like knee, hip, lower back, or spinal pain often trace back to poor foot posture. These discomforts can cause people to become less active, which in turn affects mental and physical wellbeing. Staying active is key—not only does it promote social interaction and energy, but it also improves your overall health and reduces stress and anxiety. According toSundhed.dk, physical activity helps extend life expectancy and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic issues.
So if you’re dealing with recurring aches or minor injuries that are holding you back, your feet might just be the root of the problem.
Zoles: Your Digital Foot Therapist at Your Fingertips
That’s exactly the problem Zoles aims to solve. Their chatbot acts as your personal in-store assistant—assessing your needs and any pain points. Using the camera on your phone or tablet, you can scan your feet, and Zoles’ 3D system will identify 38 unique points to map your foot posture.
With Zoles’ unique combination of expertise and technology, you’ll receive a tailor-made insole suited for both everyday use and sports performance.
From Dream to Reality: Zoles' Journey on Løvens Hule
“I’ve watched Dragon’s Den every year, every episode—at least once. So when we got the call to be part of it, I was both excited and terrified,” Cecilie Lisberg, Zoles.
Cecilie and the team managed to secure not just one, but two skilled investors: Tahir Siddique and Thomas Visti. Cecilie says they had actually hoped for those two specifically—so things couldn’t have worked out better.
“It’s truly been a gift. We feel incredibly lucky to have them on board. From a business standpoint, their support helped us complete and launch our foot-scanning app ‘ZOLA’—which we’d already started working on. We launched it in February, almost the same day the episode aired. They’ve also been amazing sparring partners whenever we needed advice.”
An Entrepreneur’s Advice: Time Management & Dedication
“One lesson I think most entrepreneurs can relate to is being overly optimistic about time. You think you’ll have a company up and running within a few months or a year. In reality, it takes much longer—especially with tech or software businesses like ours."
“It also takes serious willpower and commitment. You need to be prepared to fight for it, and accept that most things will take three times longer than expected. If that still feels manageable—financially and emotionally—then go for it,” Cecilie Lisberg, Zoles.
Why Zoles Chose pensopay: Reliable Support for Their E-commerce Debut
“After ongoing issues with our previous payment solution—and no resolution in sight—we decided to look elsewhere. Several people in our network recommended your strong customer support, so we went with you,” Cecilie Lisberg, Zoles.
“We’re new to the world of e-commerce. Up until now, we’ve only sold through physical stores, clinics, and invoices to retailers. So it’s important for us to have easy communication and fast access to support—and that’s exactly what we get with you. We’ve had a lot of questions and often needed a bit of extra help, which is natural when you’re just getting started. You’ve really met our needs, and we’re so happy to have found a partner who made the move into e-commerce feel so much easier.”
