Billy Lam

Graduate, College of Science
Founder and COO, Farm66

“Every day, I feel like a chemistry student who has to do different experiments 24 hours a day.”

A 2008 chemistry graduate, Billy started his career as a management trainee at a food chain company, an experience that prepared him well for his farm business beginning in 2013.

“Vertical hydroponic farming was not widespread when I started my business. I took reference from Japan, the US, Europe and Taiwan, and Dr Alex Wong Chun-yuen, my supervisor in the Department of Chemistry, who gave me lots of advice and encouragement,” recalls Billy, who has transitioned into a “modern” farmer.

As Farm66’s Founder and COO, Billy describes his farm adventure as “starting the right thing at the right time”. From 2013 onwards, issues related to revitalising industrial buildings, the global food crisis and climate change have become hot topics. Techniques such as vertical hydroponic farming, i.e. when plants grown in vertical farms are fed using nutrient-infused water, are now considered sustainable and environmentally friendly business models. Farm66 has won numerous awards, such as the Grand Award in the Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund’s Jumpstarter 2017 competition, which was worth US$ 1 million, plus recognition from the Hong Kong Productivity Council, the Hong Kong Awards for Industries and the Hong Kong ICT Awards, to name a few.

In addition, Farm66 was awarded angel funding worth HK$1 million through CityUHK’s HK Tech 300 programme in 2021, yet more encouragement for Billy to plough ahead with his “farm”.

Given the expensive rental costs in Hong Kong, Billy plans to move the production line for Farm66 to the Greater Bay Area, while Hong Kong will remain the base for research and development.

This “farm” journey has never been easy or smooth. A bumpy road is always tough, and Billy loves challenges!

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