Pet owners frequently experience the inconvenience of poop bags leaking after a walk or tearing easily while disposing of waste in a car or bag. Although it is a product used daily, it has not been easy to simultaneously address issues of odor, durability, ease of use, and environmental concerns.
Kim Do-hyung, CEO of PetRise, discovered business potential in this small inconvenience. After listening to the voices of pet owners, discarding 12 samples, and going through a year of trial and error, he developed the 'Wanspapa Earth Poop Bag,' a waste bag incorporating charcoal deodorizing technology, high-strength film, and an Easy Open structure. The product, which originated in Korea, has entered Amazon in the U.S. and Japan, and PetRise is expanding its overseas distribution network by establishing a U.S. subsidiary and participating in SuperZoo, the world's largest pet exhibition, in 2026.
CEO Kim Do-hyung expresses his aspirations for global expansion while introducing 'Wanspapa,' a pet waste bag combining charcoal deodorizing technology with high-strength film. He perfected the product by addressing minor inconveniences encountered during dog walks, such as odors and tearing.
CEO Kim entered the poop bag business in 2024. While developing a pure soap paw cleanser for pets at Sungkyunkwan University’s College of Entrepreneurship and listening to the stories of pet owners, he learned that more people than expected were experiencing inconveniences with the use of poop bags, such as leaks, difficulty opening the bags, or tears easily.
“Among the various inconveniences, the most frequently mentioned issue was poop bags. There were problems with leaks, bags that were difficult to open, and tears easily, and the recurring guilt about the environment from throwing them away every day.”
As it is a product used daily, there were clearly areas that needed improvement. Development began with consideration not only for odor, ease of opening, and durability, but also for environmental issues, given that the product is discarded every day. After discarding 12 samples and conducting tests for a year, the 'Wanspapa Earth Poop Bag' was launched in 2025, featuring durability, deodorizing effects, and oxo-biodegradable materials. As word of mouth spread domestically, we also looked into overseas markets. Upon confirming that people in countries with many large dogs are more sensitive to odors because they often store used poop bags in their cars, we expanded our scope to develop an export product incorporating charcoal.
Tackled with charcoal instead of masking with scent… Pet waste bags enhanced with 30 years of film manufacturing technology
While many existing poop bags masked odors by adding scent, Wanspapa focused on reducing the smell itself.
We took a different approach. Instead of masking the smell, we reduced it by using hardwood charcoal.
Although the poop bag may look like a simple plastic bag, the design of the film itself was crucial, as it must reduce odor, resist tearing easily, and be comfortable to use with one hand during walks. We collaborated with a specialized company possessing over 30 years of film manufacturing expertise to conduct numerous tests, adjusting the film thickness, strength, tearability, and charcoal blending ratio. In particular, we devoted significant time to maintaining the film's strength and processability while incorporating the charcoal.
In internal tests, the ammonia adsorption rate was improved by approximately 20% compared to standard PE film. The use of a high-strength film reduces tearing issues during use, and the application of an Easy Open structure, which allows users to easily locate and open the bag opening, has enhanced user convenience. Rather than addressing odor, durability, and ease of opening separately, the product's quality has been improved by reducing the recurring inconveniences experienced during actual walks within a single unit.
CEO Kim’s previous experience also influenced the ability to develop the product with overseas markets in mind from the very beginning. After completing a healthcare MBA, he worked at a biotech firm managing the Canadian and Singaporean markets, where he analyzed overseas consumers and markets. This experience was combined with the inconveniences he personally experienced while walking his dog, Wandoo, every day, and these insights were reflected not only in Wanspapa’s product development but also in its overseas expansion strategy.
To Amazon in the US and Japan… K-Pet, which started with poop bags
From the beginning, CEO Kim's vision for the market was not limited to the domestic market. He believed that there were many domestic pet products with quality and technological prowess that were not sufficiently known to overseas consumers; consequently, Wanspapa decided to compete in the global market as a K-Pet brand that leverages Korean manufacturing technology and quality, rather than stopping at selling just a single product like poop bags.
“There are many excellent domestic products, but there are also many brands that are not yet sufficiently known in the global market. Rather than simply exporting products, I want to introduce South Korea’s K-Pet brands to the world.”
Currently, PetRise has established a U.S. subsidiary and is selling Wanspapa on Amazon in the U.S. and Japan. It is also participating in SuperZoo, the world's largest pet exhibition, in 2026 to expand its contact points with global buyers. Overseas markets are showing interest in the product's functionality and quality, including odor reduction technology utilizing charcoal, an Easy Open structure, and high-strength film. Based on this, the company is expanding its sales channels and distribution networks, primarily in the U.S. and Japan.
Kim Do-hyung, CEO of Petrise, explains the global market competitiveness of the self-developed premium pet waste bag brand 'Wanspapa'. Based on 30 years of manufacturing expertise, they have implemented charcoal odor reduction and easy-open technology in a market dominated by Chinese products.
We do not compromise on technological development or quality. We take pride in having maintained our quality standards even under constraints of funding and time.
As we prepared for product development and overseas expansion, achievements accumulated one by one. Following the Venture Company certification in 2024 and the Grand Prize at the Gyeonggi Province Pet Startup Contest, we were successively selected for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups’ Export Voucher and Logistics Voucher in 2026, accelerating the securing of overseas sales channels centered on the United States and Japan.
Next up after poop bags are walking gear… ‘Wanspapa for walks’
PetRise, which aims for 700 million won in sales this year, plans to expand its business scale to 1.5 billion won by 2027 and 6 billion won by 2028, and establish a global distribution network centered on the United States within the next three years. It has already established a U.S. subsidiary and is selling products on Amazon in the U.S. and Japan, and is expanding its sales regions and distribution channels through collaborations with buyers met at global trade shows, including SuperZoo.
In its overseas expansion, Wanspapa incorporates country-specific environmental standards and consumer demands into its products. While primarily supplying products using oxo-biodegradable materials domestically and recycled raw materials (GRS certified) overseas, the company maintains the features and quality that Wanspapa has emphasized from the beginning, such as charcoal odor reduction, an easy-open structure, and high-strength films.
The manufacturing technology and overseas market experience accumulated through poop bags will be extended to walking supplies and pet lifestyle products. Just as the inconvenience of poop bags was discovered while walking the dog Wan-du every day, the plan is to reflect the recurring problems pet owners face during outings and walks in the products, thereby expanding Wanspapa's scope beyond a single poop bag brand to become a brand that encompasses the entire walking experience.
“We started with just poop bags, but we plan to expand our business to walking supplies and pet lifestyle products. Our goal is to build a brand where consumers naturally think of ‘Wanspapa’ whenever they think of walking.”
'Wanspapa Earth Poop Bag' is a premium poop bag featuring Petrise's charcoal odor reduction technology and an Easy Open structure. Based on domestic manufacturing technology, it captures both durability and deodorizing effects, gaining popularity among pet owners both at home and abroad through word of mouth.
As the brand grows, we are also considering our social role for companion animals. We are preparing to support rescue dogs and collaborate in the veterinary sector, and in the long term, we aim to develop Wanspapa into Korea's leading pet brand that encompasses walks and daily life, extending beyond just poop bags.
We aim to become a company that promotes K-pet brands, embodying technology and quality, to the global market, rather than just a company that exports a single product.
A minor inconvenience discovered while walking a dog every day was perfected into a single product incorporating charcoal deodorizing technology and high-strength film, following 12 sample discards and a year of trial and error. Not content with just manufacturing domestically, the company established a U.S. subsidiary and entered the Amazon markets in the U.S. and Japan, while also expanding its market reach by meeting overseas buyers at global trade fairs.
The product line, which started with poop bags, is set to expand into walking supplies and pet lifestyle products. This is where CEO Kim envisions the future of Wanspapa. The goal is for Wanspapa to naturally come to mind when pet owners prepare for a walk, and for the brand to establish itself as a K-Pet brand chosen globally, built upon domestic manufacturing technology and quality. A single poop bag created to solve the inconveniences of walking dogs is now reaching the U.S. and Japanese markets. CEO Kim, who never overlooked even the smallest inconveniences, now turns his gaze toward the daily lives of pet owners around the world.
The Startup Ecosystem Reporter Corps is jointly operated by KAIA and Venture Square and records various stories from the startup scene.
출처: 12번의 샘플 폐기 끝에 찾은 답…펫라이즈 김도형 대표, 배변봉투로 세계 시장 두드린다
Moon Ji-hyung, Startup Specialist Reporter
September 1, 2026
Better Walks. Better Life.
Pet owners frequently experience the inconvenience of poop bags leaking after a walk or tearing easily while disposing of waste in a car or bag. Although it is a product used daily, it has not been easy to simultaneously address issues of odor, durability, ease of use, and environmental concerns.
Kim Do-hyung, CEO of PetRise, discovered business potential in this small inconvenience. After listening to the voices of pet owners, discarding 12 samples, and going through a year of trial and error, he developed the 'Wanspapa Earth Poop Bag,' a waste bag incorporating charcoal deodorizing technology, high-strength film, and an Easy Open structure. The product, which originated in Korea, has entered Amazon in the U.S. and Japan, and PetRise is expanding its overseas distribution network by establishing a U.S. subsidiary and participating in SuperZoo, the world's largest pet exhibition, in 2026.
CEO Kim Do-hyung expresses his aspirations for global expansion while introducing 'Wanspapa,' a pet waste bag combining charcoal deodorizing technology with high-strength film. He perfected the product by addressing minor inconveniences encountered during dog walks, such as odors and tearing.
CEO Kim entered the poop bag business in 2024. While developing a pure soap paw cleanser for pets at Sungkyunkwan University’s College of Entrepreneurship and listening to the stories of pet owners, he learned that more people than expected were experiencing inconveniences with the use of poop bags, such as leaks, difficulty opening the bags, or tears easily.
“Among the various inconveniences, the most frequently mentioned issue was poop bags. There were problems with leaks, bags that were difficult to open, and tears easily, and the recurring guilt about the environment from throwing them away every day.”
As it is a product used daily, there were clearly areas that needed improvement. Development began with consideration not only for odor, ease of opening, and durability, but also for environmental issues, given that the product is discarded every day. After discarding 12 samples and conducting tests for a year, the 'Wanspapa Earth Poop Bag' was launched in 2025, featuring durability, deodorizing effects, and oxo-biodegradable materials. As word of mouth spread domestically, we also looked into overseas markets. Upon confirming that people in countries with many large dogs are more sensitive to odors because they often store used poop bags in their cars, we expanded our scope to develop an export product incorporating charcoal.
Tackled with charcoal instead of masking with scent… Pet waste bags enhanced with 30 years of film manufacturing technology
While many existing poop bags masked odors by adding scent, Wanspapa focused on reducing the smell itself.
We took a different approach. Instead of masking the smell, we reduced it by using hardwood charcoal.
Although the poop bag may look like a simple plastic bag, the design of the film itself was crucial, as it must reduce odor, resist tearing easily, and be comfortable to use with one hand during walks. We collaborated with a specialized company possessing over 30 years of film manufacturing expertise to conduct numerous tests, adjusting the film thickness, strength, tearability, and charcoal blending ratio. In particular, we devoted significant time to maintaining the film's strength and processability while incorporating the charcoal.
In internal tests, the ammonia adsorption rate was improved by approximately 20% compared to standard PE film. The use of a high-strength film reduces tearing issues during use, and the application of an Easy Open structure, which allows users to easily locate and open the bag opening, has enhanced user convenience. Rather than addressing odor, durability, and ease of opening separately, the product's quality has been improved by reducing the recurring inconveniences experienced during actual walks within a single unit.
CEO Kim’s previous experience also influenced the ability to develop the product with overseas markets in mind from the very beginning. After completing a healthcare MBA, he worked at a biotech firm managing the Canadian and Singaporean markets, where he analyzed overseas consumers and markets. This experience was combined with the inconveniences he personally experienced while walking his dog, Wandoo, every day, and these insights were reflected not only in Wanspapa’s product development but also in its overseas expansion strategy.
To Amazon in the US and Japan… K-Pet, which started with poop bags
From the beginning, CEO Kim's vision for the market was not limited to the domestic market. He believed that there were many domestic pet products with quality and technological prowess that were not sufficiently known to overseas consumers; consequently, Wanspapa decided to compete in the global market as a K-Pet brand that leverages Korean manufacturing technology and quality, rather than stopping at selling just a single product like poop bags.
“There are many excellent domestic products, but there are also many brands that are not yet sufficiently known in the global market. Rather than simply exporting products, I want to introduce South Korea’s K-Pet brands to the world.”
Currently, PetRise has established a U.S. subsidiary and is selling Wanspapa on Amazon in the U.S. and Japan. It is also participating in SuperZoo, the world's largest pet exhibition, in 2026 to expand its contact points with global buyers. Overseas markets are showing interest in the product's functionality and quality, including odor reduction technology utilizing charcoal, an Easy Open structure, and high-strength film. Based on this, the company is expanding its sales channels and distribution networks, primarily in the U.S. and Japan.
Kim Do-hyung, CEO of Petrise, explains the global market competitiveness of the self-developed premium pet waste bag brand 'Wanspapa'. Based on 30 years of manufacturing expertise, they have implemented charcoal odor reduction and easy-open technology in a market dominated by Chinese products.
We do not compromise on technological development or quality. We take pride in having maintained our quality standards even under constraints of funding and time.
As we prepared for product development and overseas expansion, achievements accumulated one by one. Following the Venture Company certification in 2024 and the Grand Prize at the Gyeonggi Province Pet Startup Contest, we were successively selected for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups’ Export Voucher and Logistics Voucher in 2026, accelerating the securing of overseas sales channels centered on the United States and Japan.
Next up after poop bags are walking gear… ‘Wanspapa for walks’
PetRise, which aims for 700 million won in sales this year, plans to expand its business scale to 1.5 billion won by 2027 and 6 billion won by 2028, and establish a global distribution network centered on the United States within the next three years. It has already established a U.S. subsidiary and is selling products on Amazon in the U.S. and Japan, and is expanding its sales regions and distribution channels through collaborations with buyers met at global trade shows, including SuperZoo.
In its overseas expansion, Wanspapa incorporates country-specific environmental standards and consumer demands into its products. While primarily supplying products using oxo-biodegradable materials domestically and recycled raw materials (GRS certified) overseas, the company maintains the features and quality that Wanspapa has emphasized from the beginning, such as charcoal odor reduction, an easy-open structure, and high-strength films.
The manufacturing technology and overseas market experience accumulated through poop bags will be extended to walking supplies and pet lifestyle products. Just as the inconvenience of poop bags was discovered while walking the dog Wan-du every day, the plan is to reflect the recurring problems pet owners face during outings and walks in the products, thereby expanding Wanspapa's scope beyond a single poop bag brand to become a brand that encompasses the entire walking experience.
“We started with just poop bags, but we plan to expand our business to walking supplies and pet lifestyle products. Our goal is to build a brand where consumers naturally think of ‘Wanspapa’ whenever they think of walking.”
'Wanspapa Earth Poop Bag' is a premium poop bag featuring Petrise's charcoal odor reduction technology and an Easy Open structure. Based on domestic manufacturing technology, it captures both durability and deodorizing effects, gaining popularity among pet owners both at home and abroad through word of mouth.
As the brand grows, we are also considering our social role for companion animals. We are preparing to support rescue dogs and collaborate in the veterinary sector, and in the long term, we aim to develop Wanspapa into Korea's leading pet brand that encompasses walks and daily life, extending beyond just poop bags.
We aim to become a company that promotes K-pet brands, embodying technology and quality, to the global market, rather than just a company that exports a single product.
A minor inconvenience discovered while walking a dog every day was perfected into a single product incorporating charcoal deodorizing technology and high-strength film, following 12 sample discards and a year of trial and error. Not content with just manufacturing domestically, the company established a U.S. subsidiary and entered the Amazon markets in the U.S. and Japan, while also expanding its market reach by meeting overseas buyers at global trade fairs.
The product line, which started with poop bags, is set to expand into walking supplies and pet lifestyle products. This is where CEO Kim envisions the future of Wanspapa. The goal is for Wanspapa to naturally come to mind when pet owners prepare for a walk, and for the brand to establish itself as a K-Pet brand chosen globally, built upon domestic manufacturing technology and quality. A single poop bag created to solve the inconveniences of walking dogs is now reaching the U.S. and Japanese markets. CEO Kim, who never overlooked even the smallest inconveniences, now turns his gaze toward the daily lives of pet owners around the world.
The Startup Ecosystem Reporter Corps is jointly operated by KAIA and Venture Square and records various stories from the startup scene.
출처: 12번의 샘플 폐기 끝에 찾은 답…펫라이즈 김도형 대표, 배변봉투로 세계 시장 두드린다
Moon Ji-hyung, Startup Specialist Reporter
September 1, 2026