In recognition of Earth Day, we’ve been speaking to entrepreneurs who have used their education to make a difference. These individuals have created start-ups that solve a business problem in a sustainable way.

After graduating from the Asia School of Business in 2022 with an MBA, Chor Chee Hoe became the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Qarbotech, a biocompatible solution that increases the photosynthesis rate of leafy plants, shortening crop cycles and increasing plant growth.

He spoke to us about how his MBA helped him start this eco-friendly business.

Can you tell us a little bit about your business and what it does?

Qarbotech is a deep tech startup with a patented photosynthesis enhancement nanotechnology, which is an on-plant or in-soil solution that boosts agricultural productivity – increasing crop yields by up to 60 per cent. The company’s unique formulation contains biocompatible organic compounds with properties similar to chlorophyll, making it a game-changer for all farmers around the world. 

What inspired you to start this business and tackle this issue?

The population in Southeast Asia is estimated to grow by 12 percent, from 670 million in 2020 to 750 million by 2035. This population surge and climate volatility are expected to drive a 40 percent increase in food demand by 2050. Limited agricultural resources, widespread land degradation, and diminishing arable land caused by urbanisation and industrialization in the region threaten food production.

Qarbotech’s technology is essential for farmers to grow more with less arable land. Qarbotech’s technology has exciting potential to solve the global food security challenge of the world’s growing population, of which about 30% do not have food security. While food insecurity is a big issue to solve, I have a personal reason to co-found Qarbotech. 

When I learned about the research work of Qarbotech’s Chief Scientist, Prof Ir Dr Suraya Abdul Rashid, I was intrigued by how the technology could remove more carbon dioxide, one of the major greenhouse gasses through enhanced photosynthesis.

Growing up as an asthmatic child, I recognised the potential of Qarbotech’s technology to remove additional carbon dioxide from the air through plants and generate more oxygen for all of us to breathe. In the future, I aspire to use Qarbotech’s technology to transform more towns and cities with cleaner air quality. 

“From an aviator to an agri-technopreneur, Asia School of Business gave me access to experienced entrepreneurs and mentors. Finding the right mentor to help me in my entrepreneurship journey is one of the best values I gained from my business school experience.”

Chor Chee Hoe – Co-Founder and CEO of Qarbotech

How has your business school experience helped you become an entrepreneur?

The well-rounded exposure through business school, especially the Action Learning component of Asia School of Business, moulded me into a more confident individual who can apply my transferable skills in other industries. From an aviator to an agri-technopreneur, Asia School of Business gave me access to experienced entrepreneurs and mentors.

Finding the right mentor to help me in my entrepreneurship journey is one of the best values I gained from my business school experience. By participating in a business competition organised by Asia School of Business, I was privileged to be mentored by Adlin Yusman, the Managing Director of Endeavor Malaysia. He and his team at Endeavor Malaysia provided me with the insights I need to improve my business decisions and increase my chances of business success.

What challenges have you encountered while integrating sustainability into your business operations, and how have you overcome them?

Sustainability is at the core of Qarbotech because both Dr Suraya and I are engineers and we value sustainable processes. Therefore, in the production processes of our photosynthesis enhancers, we started by upcycling biowaste or agrowaste, into our photosynthesis enhancers products. This is the circular economy model that we adopted.

Besides that, in our pilot manufacturing plant, we also integrated sustainable cooling technologies to reduce the energy consumption of our plant, as well as impacts on the environment. It is imperative to design and build a sustainable pilot plant from day 1, even with higher costs, because we will benefit from the long-term gain. 

As a sustainable-focused entrepreneur, how do you navigate the balance between profitability and purpose?

Contrary to common misconceptions, incorporating sustainability practices into business operations can have substantial financial benefits. For instance, our raw materials are different types of biowaste or agrowaste, with more competitive costs than other chemical compounds or chemical derivatives out there.

Another example, we have chosen to use sustainable cooling technologies in our pilot manufacturing plant. The upfront cost is slightly higher than other means of cooling, however, we can reduce the energy consumption and enjoy more savings on our utility bills in the long run. In my opinion, there are more and more eco-friendly technologies in the market now, we can embrace renewable energy sources or adopt circular economy practices to minimise our environmental footprint. Profitability and purpose – we can have both of them!

Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for the future of your sustainable business?

Our short-term business plans include expanding our existing market in Malaysia and entering new markets in Southeast Asia and beyond. However, entry into these markets poses unique regulatory challenges due to the innovative nature of the technology. We aim to leverage our success in Malaysia and the data we’ve collected to obtain relevant regulatory approvals beyond Malaysia. Given the novelty of our technology and materials, it may take one to two years to complete the process. We aspire to scale our social impacts regionally by 2026. 

As a research-centric agritech startup, we aspire to improve our sustainable product offerings through extensive research and development. Besides food security and resilient agriculture, the technologies that we develop will play a pivotal role in enhancing various aspects of human life including utilising renewable energy and healthcare.

What advice would you give to other sustainable business founders?

My advice is to put aside time for yourself and your family. As a startup founder, work-life balance was like a myth. I used to fall into a routine of eating, sleeping, and breathing business. I didn’t even have much time to spend with my wife and my children.

One day, a startup founder that I looked up to reminded me of the importance of taking time for myself to avoid burnout. It doesn’t matter if I use it to rest, exercise, or spend it with my family. Taking time away from work can reset my mind and be sharp for work. When I’m charged up or refreshed after the time away from work, it’s often easier for me to stay focused on my tasks and execution.  

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