Hongneung Small but Strong Special Zone is a medical, bio, and healthcare cluster that encompasses industry, academia, research, and hospitals, discovering and supporting deep-tech startups in various fields. Introducing promising deep-tech startups poised to thrive in the global market.

Witn Company is a firm with the mission that "everything that touches the skin must be scientifically designed." The company is led by a CEO and a CTO with PhDs in neuroscience, who personally discover cosmetic materials and produce products at their own manufacturing facility. They have also expressed ambitions to grow into a global company, starting from Thailand and expanding throughout Southeast Asia. The CEO of Witn Company, Song Bo-gyeong, was met at the Seoul Bio Hub, where the company’s affiliated research institute is located.
Witn Company “Operates all processes in-house from raw material development to product production and branding”

Witn Company operates all processes in-house from raw material development to product production and branding. Scientists who used to write papers in laboratories have set up their own manufacturing plant and oversee everything from product design to production.

CEO Song Bo-gyeong stated, “Thanks to having our own production facilities, we were able to quickly test products applying the skin improvement materials we discovered. All processes from production to shipment are conducted in-house. We have a corporate research institute in the Seoul Bio Hub within the Hongneung Small but Strong Special Zone, where we develop materials and formulations ourselves,” and added, “Initially, we outsourced production after developing products, but it was inefficient. Even when we wanted to make a small quantity of test products after discovering materials, we had to order unnecessarily large quantities due to minimum order requirements. We judged that it was more efficient to have our own production facilities, even if small, to freely conduct research and development and prototype production. We also help startups with similar concerns by taking small orders for product production. As a result, we were able to operate the business profitably from the early stages of the startup and quickly establish the basic cosmetics brand Organicity lineup.”
Witn Company prides itself on understanding consumers' diverse skin characteristics and sensitivities better than anyone else.

CEO Song Bo-gyeong said, “Co-founder and CTO Kim Seo-yul and I obtained our PhDs in neuroscience, studying the brain together. During this process, we conducted numerous overnight studies and animal experiments. At that time, the CTO suffered from skin troubles for quite a while due to disrupted sleep cycles, and no cosmetics seemed to help,” and continued, “We searched for ingredients to improve the skin through papers and tested them by mixing them ourselves. We even sourced ingredients from purchasing agencies like iHerb and applied them directly. This experience instilled a belief that applying sufficient effective ingredients would definitely have an effect on the skin.”

He further explained, “Through this experience, we realized that skin improvement depends on the amount or purity of cosmetic materials, which was quite interesting. This is why we offer Organicity products in two types: high concentration and low concentration, to consumers,” and added, “While contributing to academia with our research is certainly meaningful, applying what we studied to real life and helping others with the same problems is rewarding, which led us to start the business. This is the reason Witn Company has the mission that ‘everything that touches the skin must be scientifically designed.’ We take pride in each product because we develop and prescribe all product materials ourselves.”

As scientists personally oversee everything from discovering cosmetic materials to production, offering customized products for the skin, the market has responded.

CEO Song Bo-gyeong stated, “Witn Company always researches technologies that ensure active ingredients are well delivered to the skin. Our own brand, Organicity, also offers differentiated products with scientifically designed formulations based on research capabilities,” and emphasized, “Product efficacy can be gauged through consumer usage reviews. For instance, the Ex-Retinol™ Serum, first unveiled this year through Wadiz, contains ingredients developed during Witn Company’s 2023 research project. It is a product combining next-generation retinol complexes and microalgae-derived vegan retinol. This product showed excellent results in clinical trials for skin density, pore, and wrinkle improvement. Particularly, the 8-week clinical results showed about a 60% improvement in skin density, the same figure as the 4-week clinical effect after facial wrinkle improvement medical device procedures commonly performed in dermatology.”
He continued, “Unlike dermatological procedures, we have long researched ways to deliver active ingredients well to the skin through non-painful application. As a result, the product has received great response, bringing a sense of pride and satisfaction. The Ex-Retinol Serum achieved an unprecedented KRW 120 million, 24,962% funding success in basic cosmetics through Wadiz,” and added, “In two joint purchases conducted with pharmacist and influencer Pharmacist Joo-yeon, we achieved over KRW 400 million in sales, proving the product's utility and brand trust. Currently, steady purchases are being made on our own mall along with the Organicity lineup, accumulating good reviews.”

Growth Continues with Support from Hongneung Small but Strong Special Zone…Establishment of Thai Corporation with Launch Show Scheduled for December

When asked what is needed for Witn Company to grow further, CEO Song Bo-gyeong replied, “I believe Witn Company is currently in an expansion phase. As awareness and sales increase, investment in production and new product development is necessary. The most urgent task is to expand production costs and increase global certifications to enter the global market,” and continued, “We plan to cover the necessary costs for these plans by starting an investment round and utilizing government subsidies. To officially enter the global market, we recently established a corporation in Thailand and are preparing a product launch show in December. We plan to grow the Thai corporation into a distribution hub for Southeast Asia, using it as a bridgehead for global expansion.”

He further stated, “I would like to attribute this growth to the support from the Hongneung Small but Strong Special Zone. By residing in the Seoul Bio Hub research laboratory within the special zone, we could focus on developing materials and formulations using various equipment,” and added, “Especially with many research personnel from KIST, Korea University, and Kyung Hee University nearby, opportunities for joint research naturally arise. The Seoul Bio Hub connects various programs such as medical device education, clinical trial institutions, and investment, making it more than just a residency space but the center of a ‘researcher startup ecosystem.’”

Witn Company “Aims to Grow with Technology and Be Remembered as a Brand”

Finally, CEO Song Bo-gyeong shared Witn Company's future plans.

He stated, “The main consumer base for the basic cosmetics brand Organicity is women in their 30s to 50s, with over 20,000 reviews accumulated on our smart store. Most reviews mention seeing direct efficacy, with a monthly repurchase rate of about 10%. To further strengthen Organicity’s recognition, we are preparing a Black Friday event at the end of the year and plan to use genuine reviews left by actual consumers in marketing. It’s Organicity’s unique branding strategy to build trust beyond simple advertising,” and continued, “In the first half of 2026, we will expand offline touchpoints such as department stores, pop-up stores, and select shops. Based on these achievements, we will actively pursue global expansion. Starting with the brand launch show in Thailand in December, we plan to focus on a successful entry into the Thai market. We consider Thailand a testbed for K-beauty trends and a hub for Southeast Asian beauty distribution. In fact, based on Witn Company’s technology and product capabilities, we are collaborating with local aesthetic shops to build ‘medical spa exclusive products.’ We are preparing not only professional lines but also popular lines that many consumers can access, expanding our reach from Bangkok to Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, and beyond.”
He concluded, “Witn Company’s ultimate goal is to grow with technology and be remembered as a brand,” and expressed aspirations, “As a brand created by researchers, we aim to grow into Korea’s representative derma brand trusted by domestic and international consumers, without losing the authenticity of skin science.”

IT Donga Reporter Kim Dong-jin (kdj@itdonga.com)

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