Graduate Success Stories

From Corporate Executive to Successful Urban Farmer

After 15 years in corporate banking, I was searching for something more meaningful and sustainable. Jehosuduw Academy transformed that dream into reality.

The Journey Begins

I discovered Jehosuduw Academy while researching urban farming opportunities in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic had disrupted global food supply chains, revealing vulnerabilities in our food systems. I saw hydroponic farming as both a business opportunity and a way to contribute to local food security.

Starting with zero agricultural experience, I enrolled in the Hydroponic Fundamentals course in January 2021. The hands-on training approach immediately resonated with me. Rather than just theory, we were building systems, mixing nutrients, and solving real problems. The instructors brought decades of practical experience, sharing not just what works but why it works and how to troubleshoot when things go wrong.

Building the Foundation

After completing the fundamentals course, I immediately registered for Vertical Farming Systems and Commercial Production courses. Each course built on previous knowledge while introducing new concepts and techniques. The commercial production course proved especially valuable—it covered business planning, market analysis, and financial projections that would have taken years to learn through trial and error.

During training, I developed my business plan with instructor guidance. They helped me identify realistic production targets, estimate startup costs accurately, and develop marketing strategies. This planning phase prevented costly mistakes I see other new farmers make—overbuilding capacity, underestimating operating costs, or failing to secure customers before first harvest.

From Plan to Reality

I launched Urban Greens Kuching in June 2021 with a modest 100-square-meter facility in Tabuan Jaya. My initial investment totaled approximately RM 180,000, covering facility lease, system construction, environmental controls, and three months of operating capital. This aligned closely with projections from my business plan, though a few surprises still emerged.

The first three months tested everything I'd learned. Despite careful planning, challenges arose: pH swings in my NFT system, fungal issues from inadequate air circulation, and timing difficulties coordinating harvests with delivery schedules. Each problem sent me back to my course materials and often resulted in calls to academy instructors, who generously provided ongoing support even after graduation.

Finding Product-Market Fit

My initial crop selection focused on butter lettuce and oak leaf lettuce—safe choices with proven market demand. However, conversations with restaurant chefs revealed opportunities for specialty items they couldn't source locally: microgreens, edible flowers, and gourmet herbs like purple basil and lemon thyme.

Pivoting toward these premium items transformed my business economics. While lettuce generated RM 8-12 per kilogram, microgreens commanded RM 120-180 per kilogram. The faster turnover (7-14 days versus 35 days) meant I could produce multiple crops monthly from the same growing space. By month six, specialty crops represented 60% of my production and 75% of my revenue.

Scaling Operations

As demand grew, I expanded systematically. Rather than immediately maxing out my space, I added production capacity in 50-square-meter increments every three months. This approach let me refine systems and train new staff gradually, maintaining quality while growing. By late 2022, I'd expanded to 300 square meters across two facilities.

Today, Urban Greens Kuching supplies 25 restaurants and hotels in Kuching, plus three retail outlets. We produce approximately 500 kilograms weekly of assorted greens, herbs, and microgreens. Monthly revenue averages RM 45,000 with net margins around 35% after all expenses. These numbers exceed my projections from the original business plan—validation of both the business model and the training that made it possible.

Lessons Learned

Several factors proved critical to success. First, the comprehensive training from Jehosuduw prepared me for both the technical and business aspects of farming. Second, starting small and scaling gradually allowed learning without catastrophic failures. Third, focusing on high-value specialty crops rather than commodity items created better margins and competitive differentiation.

The ongoing support from the academy community also proved invaluable. Fellow graduates share insights, troubleshoot problems collaboratively, and even coordinate on large orders. This network effect amplifies the value of the initial training investment.

Looking Forward

I'm now planning a third facility focused entirely on microgreens and edible flowers, with projected opening in 2026. I've also begun mentoring new growers, sharing lessons from my journey. The transition from corporate banking to urban farming exceeded my expectations in every way—financial returns, personal satisfaction, and social impact all surpass what I left behind.

For anyone considering this path, my advice is simple: invest in proper training first. The knowledge and connections gained through Jehosuduw Academy compressed my learning curve from years to months. That head start makes all the difference between struggling and thriving in this competitive industry.

Empowering Families Through Home Hydroponics

As a teacher and mother of three, I wanted to combine education, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. Jehosuduw Academy showed me how.

My journey into hydroponics began from personal need. Living in an apartment with limited space, I wanted to grow fresh vegetables for my family but lacked a traditional garden. After discovering hydroponic growing, I became fascinated with the possibilities—imagine growing significant food in a small balcony space.

I enrolled in Jehosuduw's Hydroponic Fundamentals course in March 2020. The timing proved fortuitous—as pandemic lockdowns began, interest in home food production exploded. What started as a personal project quickly evolved into a business opportunity I hadn't anticipated.

Discovering the Business Model

During my training, I built a small NFT system for my apartment balcony. Friends and neighbors became intrigued, asking how they could do the same. I offered to help a few build similar systems, charging modest fees to cover materials and my time. Word spread quickly—within two months, I had a waiting list of families wanting home hydroponic systems.

I formalized GreenHome Solutions in June 2020, focusing on turnkey hydroponic systems for urban homes. My systems are specifically designed for non-technical users: pre-assembled, easy to maintain, and supported with clear instructions and ongoing consultation. Prices range from RM 800 for basic countertop herb gardens to RM 4,500 for comprehensive balcony systems growing 30-40 plants.

Educational Component

Many customers wanted more than just systems—they wanted knowledge. This led me to develop weekend workshops teaching families hydroponic basics. These 4-hour sessions cover system setup, plant selection, nutrient management, and troubleshooting. Participants build a small system to take home, providing hands-on experience that ensures success.

The workshops serve dual purposes: they generate additional revenue (RM 200 per participant) and create educated customers who succeed with their systems and refer others. My customer retention and referral rates far exceed typical home-growing products because customers feel confident and supported.

Impact Beyond Business

The most rewarding aspect isn't revenue—it's watching families transform their relationship with food. Children excited to harvest lettuce they planted, parents proud of reducing their environmental footprint, seniors rediscovering gardening adapted to their physical abilities—these stories fuel my passion.

I've installed systems in 15 local schools, partnering with teachers to integrate hydroponics into science curricula. Students learn biology, chemistry, and environmental science through hands-on growing projects. Several students have told me these experiences inspired career interests in agriculture and sustainability—exactly the kind of long-term impact I hoped to achieve.

Business Growth and Sustainability

GreenHome Solutions now generates approximately RM 28,000 monthly from system sales, workshops, and maintenance contracts. I employ two part-time assistants for installations and have partnered with three hardware stores that display and sell my systems.

The business remains intentionally modest—I still teach part-time, balancing entrepreneurship with my passion for education. This hybrid approach provides income stability while pursuing meaningful work that aligns with my values around education, sustainability, and community building.

Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

You don't need to build a massive commercial operation to create meaningful impact and income. Home growing systems represent a huge untapped market as urban populations seek sustainable, local food options. The key is making hydroponics accessible and supporting customers throughout their journey.

Jehosuduw's training gave me technical confidence and business fundamentals to serve customers professionally. Without that foundation, I would have struggled to troubleshoot customer problems or design reliable systems. Proper training isn't optional—it's the difference between a hobby and a viable business.

Building Sarawak's Largest Independent Hydroponic Farm

From family agricultural background to cutting-edge controlled environment agriculture—how training accelerated three generations of farming evolution.

My family has farmed in Sarawak for three generations, primarily growing vegetables using traditional soil methods. While these techniques sustained us, profitability remained challenging—weather unpredictability, pest pressures, and market volatility made consistent income difficult. I knew technology could transform our operations, but lacked knowledge of how to implement it.

In 2019, I discovered Jehosuduw Academy and enrolled in their complete program: Hydroponic Fundamentals, Vertical Farming Systems, and Commercial Production courses. This comprehensive training provided both technical skills and business knowledge needed to modernize our family farm fundamentally.

Transformation Timeline

Key Success Factors

Technical Excellence: The training from Jehosuduw provided deep understanding of hydroponic principles. This knowledge enabled troubleshooting problems independently and optimizing systems for our specific conditions and crops.

Business Discipline: The Commercial Production course taught financial management, pricing strategy, and market analysis. We track every cost meticulously and use data to drive decisions about crop selection, pricing, and expansion timing.

Quality Focus: Rather than competing on price against larger producers, we compete on quality and consistency. Our produce reaches retailers within 24 hours of harvest—impossible for imported products. This freshness commands premium pricing and customer loyalty.

Innovation Mindset: We continuously experiment with new varieties, growing techniques, and technologies. Our organic microgreens line—launched in 2023—now represents 30% of revenue despite occupying only 15% of growing space.

Challenges Overcome

The journey wasn't without difficulties. Our first summer nearly destroyed crops when cooling systems proved inadequate for extreme temperatures. We lost approximately RM 15,000 in damaged produce while engineering better climate control. This painful lesson taught the importance of over-engineering critical systems.

Labor management presented unexpected challenges. Hiring staff with no hydroponic experience required developing comprehensive training programs. We now run internal apprenticeships where new employees spend two weeks learning each aspect of operations before taking on independent responsibilities.

Market education also took effort. Many retailers initially resisted premium pricing despite superior quality. We invested in in-store demonstrations, provided samples to produce managers, and created point-of-sale materials explaining hydroponic benefits. Over time, product quality sold itself as customers repeatedly chose our produce.

Impact and Future Vision

Fresh Harvest Farms now produces approximately 3,500 kilograms monthly of various lettuces, herbs, and microgreens. We employ 12 full-time staff, contributing to local employment and economic development. Several employees have expressed interest in eventually starting their own farms—a prospect I enthusiastically support.

Looking ahead, we're exploring export opportunities to Singapore and Brunei where demand for premium, locally-grown produce exceeds supply. We're also developing a consultancy division helping traditional farmers transition to hydroponic methods, sharing knowledge gained through our journey.

None of this would have been possible without the foundation provided by Jehosuduw Academy. The technical training, business education, and ongoing mentorship compressed what might have taken a decade to learn independently into 18 months of focused growth. For anyone serious about modern agriculture, this investment in education delivers returns that compound for years.