Cleanint

Products designed to keep out germs

Cleanint CEO Tuan Dam came up with the idea for the Cleanpen while picking up food at a restaurant in March 2009. While waiting to pay for his order, the man in front of him walked out of the bathroom and signed for his food, he said.

Concerned that he had to use the same pen, Dam searched for a way to prevent the spread of germs on common items such as pens.

In November 2009, Dam launched the Cleanpen, a penholder that is mountable to surfaces such as whiteboards, tables or computer monitors. Inside the holder, the pen is cleaned by a sponge filled with benzalkonium chloride, which is typically used as a disinfectant in operating rooms.

He later expanded his product line to include disinfecting products for credit card terminal styluses and stethoscopes.