Vancouver Startup Zoa Engineering Takes Their Backpack-Sized Ski Lift to CBC’s Dragons’ Den
The PL1 Portable Rope Tow—Born in BC—Aims to Revolutionize How Backcountry Skiers Earn Their Turns
The dream of lapping your favourite backcountry stash without the grunt is about to be put in front of Canada’s toughest investors. Vancouver-based startup Zoa Engineering, the company behind the revolutionary PL1 portable ski lift, is set to appear on CBC’s Dragons’ Den on Thursday, October 9th.
For the thousands of skiers and riders who explore the slopes around the Coast Mountains and beyond, Zoa is a homegrown success story. Co-founders Rob and Eric Button, operating out of the backyard of some of the best backcountry skiing in the world, developed the PL1 to maximize time on the snow. Now, they're heading to the national stage to seek investment and strategic partners to take their invention to the next level.
More Laps, Less Sweat: The PL1 Backcountry Advantage
At its core, the PL1 is a powerful e-mobility device—a rope tow system compact enough to fit comfortably in a ski backpack. It sets up in minutes, allowing backcountry enthusiasts to ski more laps on their favourite lines without the full-effort skin track for every single run.For the dedicated Canadian ski tourer, the PL1 promises to:
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Unlock New Terrain: Easily access lines or features that might otherwise be too time-consuming to lap.
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Maximize Daylight: Get more vertical in on short winter days.
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Change the Touring Dynamic: Shift the focus from the uphill grind to the downhill reward.
Zoa is already making waves, having placed more than 250 PL1 units with riders and professionals worldwide in just three years of operation. The founders will share the story of how their garage-born idea transformed into a breakthrough product, hoping to secure a deal that accelerates innovation and expands distribution.
“The PL1 flawlessly works as advertised, and taking multiple laps without having to 'earn my turns' reminded me of refusing to eat the broccoli my parents cooked and getting away with it." — Ian Greenwood in POWDER MAGAZINE, commenting on the device’s game-changing potential.
Beyond Recreation: Professional Utility
While the primary appeal for our readers is the ability to snag extra powder laps, the PL1’s utility extends far beyond recreational use. Its lightweight, powerful design makes it a critical tool for mountain professionals who operate in the Canadian winter environment, including:
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Avalanche control teams
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Ski area operations and patrol/safety crews
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Search and rescue professionals
Tune In to Support the Canadian Innovation
The Dragons’ Den pitch offers a rare look inside a young Canadian company chasing a bold vision: putting a personal lift into the hands of every skier and snowboarder.
Don't miss Zoa Engineering’s pitch on Dragons’ Den:
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When: Thursday, October 9th
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Where: CBC TV and the CBC Gem app
The company is seeking a deal that will help them expand distribution and scale the business, ultimately making this innovative piece of gear more accessible to the Canadian backcountry community.
Learn more and watch the PL1 in action at www.zoaeng.com.