Ben DaCosta
Ben DaCosta
Co-founder of Bendac Group
Ben DaCosta is a 24-year-old who – with his dad David Da Costa- founded Bendac, a Melksham-based company that specialises in providing LED solutions for use all over the world.
Part of the Bendac Group, the company is passionate about building a young, modern environment, offering perks such as a mindfulness app membership, a gym membership and even allowing dogs in the office.
Ben shared his business story so far with The Business Exchange’ s Nick Batten.
For more info: bendacgroup. tech
What is the backstory to Bendac? We formed the business about six years ago while I was still in my first year at Swansea University. We wanted to partner with a Chinese technology company in providing specialist LED displays.
We started to design and engineer display solutions initially for UK customers and then globally. One of the first contracts we won was Bristol Airport. We grew very quickly and in our first year of trading generated just under $ 1m of revenue. Since then, we’ ve delivered solutions in about twenty countries around the world and have gone from having no employees to having 25.
Tell us about the services and products you offer Our core business is producing LED screens. So, for example, at Chelsea Football Club we have provided all the big displays inside the stadium. We also design, engineer and install display technology for a wide range of verticals, inclusive of the aviation, retail and education sectors.
In addition, we recently installed a billboard in the King Fahad Road in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a display that is being used for advertising- the largest double-sided advertising display in the world.
Are you working with any significant clients at the moment? We are currently finishing off the Sophia Gardens ground in Cardiff for Glamorgan cricket club and we are doing a multimillion-dollar contract for an international Law Firm in the US.
But previously we’ ve delivered for Coca-Cola, Google and the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
How has the business fared over the past 18 months? We have probably doubled our business over the last 18 months, and I think the main reason for this was the complete dedication and belief of our employees throughout the whole lockdown and Covid situation.
Have you diversified your offering as a result of the pandemic? We decided to enhance our services. So, because of all the uncertainty caused by Covid, instead of just designing and then‘ contract manufacturing,’ we decided to recruit our own engineering team.
Where do you see the business in ten years? Over the next three to five years, we will probably grow the business to about $ 50m a year in revenue. We will then continue to provide enhanced new technology and new innovation to the market.
What is your company ethos? To always deliver above and beyond the customers’ expectations.
We believe in old-fashioned values where the customer is always right. Furthermore, our relationship with our employees is core to the business. We have agreed to give away 20 per cent of the equity of our business to the senior people in the company. This shows anyone joining the company that there’ s a future.
Ultimately, we want to become a‘ destination employer,’ and the only way you can do that is by engaging with your employees.
“… at Chelsea Football Club we have provided all the big displays inside the stadium. We also design, engineer and install display technology for a wide range of verticals, inclusive of the aviation, retail and education sectors.”
We are also committed to giving back to the community, so we donate 0.5 percent of our revenue to charity. @ BENDAC _ Group
bendac _ group
What advice would you give someone wanting to start a business? I would say to anyone and everyone who is starting out – if you have ambition, drive and a strong work ethic, then you can be a success.
Do you have plans to expand? We are building an XR broadcast studio [ virtual effects ] here in Melksham which will be the first in the South West. It will be up and running in October and could be used by companies like the BBC and Netflix.
BENDACGROUP
THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2021 21