John Ong

Founder and urban mushroom farmer focused on gourmet varieties and local supply — John Ong founded Spore Gardens in 2022 to produce a range of gourmet mushrooms for restaurants and caterers, scaled operations to a larger Changi farm, and reported supplying about 1,000 kg per month and reaching break-even in early 2025. sporegardens+2

Engineering and technical background informs his approach — Ong transitioned from engineering roles (manufacturing/production and design engineering at Collins Aerospace) and a business development role at OTSAW into founding an agritech venture, bringing technical problem-solving experience to urban farming. cbinsights

Engaged with the agrifoodtech ecosystem and startup support — he participated in the GROW Ventures Studio accelerator and references using networks and programme resources to build his venture, indicating active engagement with sector accelerators and partners. gogrow+1

Motivated by local food security and innovation — his move into mushroom farming was prompted by COVID-era supply concerns and a belief that local production and innovation can address supply-chain vulnerabilities; he has advocated for streamlined administrative support to help farms focus on operations. straitstimes+1