'Dream Mousepad' for Designers

After Startup Launch, Continuous Innovative Product Development
Including High-Speed Wireless Charging with No Sticky Hands
Product Development Based on Emotion, Curiosity, and Know-How

Kim Jeongsik, CEO of Ben Group, is posing with a new product that combines a high-speed wireless charging mouse pad and a handy circulator.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daeseop] "This product was created through a piece of childhood emotion, curiosity about the mouse usage environment, and the anguish and affection based on 15 years of experience as a product designer."

Kim Jeongsik, CEO of Ben Group (47), spoke about the recently launched new product. The product he introduced features a combination of a high-speed wireless charging mouse pad and a handy circulator.

CEO Kim introduced the new product, saying, "When using the mouse pad equipped with a handy circulator, the gentle breeze helps maintain the optimal temperature of the hand using the mouse, reducing sweat secretion," and added, "It also supports 15W fast wireless charging through the mouse pad." He explained, "The product design was inspired by the hangar of a space battleship, based on the emotions I felt watching robot movies during my childhood."

He applied the discomfort he experienced during long hours of design work to the product. After long hours of computer work, the unpleasant feeling caused by sticky mouse and hands due to sweat, and the limitations in performance and design of existing wireless charging mouse pads motivated him to create this product.

Ben Group Co., Ltd., which he operates, is a design startup located in Dongan-gu, Anyang, Gyeonggi Province. Founded in 2014, it produces and sells portable fans, wireless phone chargers, and more.

Since last year, the company has been producing and selling a 'vehicle wireless charging automatic holder' using infrared sensors domestically. This year, they plan to develop and launch a vehicle convenience accessory that combines a vehicle multi-cup holder with a small tray and a wireless phone charger.

CEO Kim entered entrepreneurship after working as a design director at a portable electronic device manufacturer. The products he designed have won numerous prestigious awards both domestically and internationally.

He said, "In 2001, I won the Japan Good Design Award and the German IF Design Award individually for a voice recorder and an MP3 player, respectively," and added, "In the early days after starting the company, we mainly focused on commissioned design and engineering as well as importing and selling phone accessories, but since 2018, we have also started direct manufacturing."

The 'portable bladeless fan' that he designed and manufactured directly in 2018 attracted attention both in Korea and overseas. It was developed in collaboration with a specialized portable fan distributor with the goal of creating a unique product that breaks away from typical fan designs.

CEO Kim explained, "So far, 600,000 units have been sold," and added, "While it gained significant popularity domestically, it especially attracted high interest in the Chinese-speaking regions, exporting more than half of the total production volume."

Ben Group is a small company with sales of about 900 million KRW last year. Since last year, they have increased marketing expenses while selling products under their own brand.

CEO Kim said, "The reason we named the company Ben Group is because we set a goal to build a company faithful to the dictionary meaning of 'venture' as 'adventure and moving forward' and to grow it into a large company like major conglomerates," and added, "We will steadily expand and diversify our product lineup to grow the company."