Interview: Rebello Decor.
Maria Thygesen, founder of Rebello Decor, left the finance world behind to follow her passion for design—and it’s paid off. Today, she runs a successful lighting brand with award-winning lamps. Read on to learn about her journey and how she works with pensopay.
You might recognize Maria from Danish national TV. She appeared on 'Løvens Hule' (Denmark’s version of Dragon’s Den) in the show's 9th season.
In episode 7, she introduced her newly launched business, Rebello Decor, to the investors. The company creates elegant lighting made from brass and opal glass. At the time, Maria was facing huge personal challenges: her business partner had just backed out, and her young son had recently been diagnosed with infantile autism. But she kept going.
Today, she’s built a business and a brand that brings her joy and purpose. Her entrepreneurial lifestyle gives her the freedom to be there for her family—especially her son—which is essential for Maria.
Chasing a Dream vs. Choosing Stability
“I was born in Korea and adopted by my Danish family in Kolding. A close friend of mine was studying at the Design School in Kolding, and I was really inspired by his work. I told my mom I had finally figured out what I wanted to do—but she said, ‘You really need to think this through. I think that path is tough, and chances are you’ll end up unemployed,’” Maria Thygesen, Rebello Decor.
Maria explains that her family didn’t have much money growing up. She was told no to attending boarding school and the international program due to the cost. That experience stuck with her—and shaped her resolve to give her own children a different kind of life.
Finding the Right Career Path: Entering the World of Finance
Instead of pursuing design, Maria moved to Copenhagen with a friend. Their mission? To find an education path that led to good money. “We were young and needed cash for nights out. So we looked at the top three paid trainee programs at the time: freight forwarding, real estate, or finance. Real estate was out right away—you had to work Sundays, and we needed those for hangovers,” Maria Thygesen, Rebello Decor.
Maria ended up starting as a bank trainee and later worked her way up to Head of Marketing. She laughs about how wild the start of her career was—but it turned into a 17-year success story.
Lighting the Spark: From Finance to Founder
"Becoming self-employed wasn’t an easy choice. I was 38 when I started my own business. Today, my husband and I run a holding company with three ventures," Maria Thygesen, Rebello Decor.
Back then, they lived in a large house in Birkerød. But to invest in the business, they made a bold move—selling the house and downsizing to free up funds. "It was tough giving up the lifestyle we’d built: the big cars, the au pair, the sense of abundance. But I felt more and more suffocated by the consumer-driven life we were living. The endless chase for money started to feel empty," Maria Thygesen, Rebello Decor.
Through years of buying, renovating, and selling homes, Maria came across all kinds of lighting—and realized how much the right lighting can transform a space.
Leaving behind financial security to bootstrap a brand in an unknown industry was a huge leap. But that’s exactly what she did. The name “Rebello” comes from the word “rebel”—a nod to breaking with the past and starting fresh. “Honestly, I didn’t feel free—even though I was financially free,” Maria Thygesen, Rebello Decor.
Rebello Decor's mission is to create designs that last for generations. For Maria, longevity is the key to living more consciously.
A Bright Debut: Rebello Decor Lights Up Illum
Maria was invited to an event at Illums Bolighus, where customers could meet the designers behind the brands. At the event, she struck up a conversation with an older man. “He said, ‘I came here just to meet you. I bought your chandelier 'Circle of Life' as a wedding gift for my son and his fiancée—because the message behind your design is so powerful.’”
The Circle of life chandelier reflects the ups and downs of life—just like love and marriage. We all experience highs and lows, and it’s how we learn and grow from them that matters.
“My journey has involved so many tough choices. And after everything I’ve been through, especially with my son’s diagnosis, it meant the world to me that someone understood the story behind the design,” Maria Thygesen, Rebello Decor.
Circle of Life: Award-Winning Design Favorite of 2023
In 2023, 'Circle of Life' won Bolig Magasinet and BO BEDRE’s Design Favorit award in the chandelier category. The annual reader-driven award highlights 23 standout designs across categories like outdoor furniture, hallway décor, and table lamps.
Maria’s Best Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Maria’s top tip? Have a clear plan that accounts for your current life situation. That context matters more than you think.
“For me, I’ve been funding my startup through money from our property business and personal savings. I’ve heard so many people say they want to start something—but they don’t want to cut back on their lifestyle,” Maria Thygesen, Rebello Decor.
Ask yourself:
What kind of entrepreneur do I want to be?
Maria chose to bootstrap, but you can also apply for funding or find investors if you don't have the capital. There are as many types of entrepreneurship as there are job titles.
How much risk are you willing to take?
Talk to your bank. What’s your credit score? Could you get a loan if you had to? Maria made sure all those pieces were in place before launching.
Do you have a plan?
What’s your vision for the company? What are your goals—financial and personal? If you’re developing a physical product, when should the prototype be ready?
Break things into smaller milestones. That way, you won’t set unrealistic expectations and end up feeling like a failure before you’ve even started.
*Bootstrapping: launching and running a business with your own resources instead of external funding.
Finding Balance: Business, Passion, and Personal Struggles
Why Maria Chose pensopay
“I chose pensopay because your pricing structure really supports early-stage businesses. You also have a great reputation. I asked around in several entrepreneur groups, and your name came up more than anyone else’s,” Maria Thygesen, Rebello Decor.
Maria values advice from fellow entrepreneurs—and it was clear which payment solution to choose. “As entrepreneurs, we all start from zero. We fight tooth and nail to make our businesses work. That’s why it’s so important to partner with companies that offer fair pricing—and that you can grow with,” Maria Thygesen, Rebello Decor.
Thank you, Maria, for a truly inspiring conversation. We’re proud to have you as a partner—and excited to follow your journey.
Team pensopay
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