Thian Poh Chua

Dr Chua Thian Poh is the founder of Ho Bee Group and Ho Bee Land Limited. Ho Bee says he served as Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from 1999 until 2021 and was redesignated Executive Chairman in 2022. Ho Bee Land was founded in 1987 and listed on the Singapore Exchange mainboard in 1999.

Chua built his wealth in real estate after earlier entrepreneurial setbacks. Forbes reports that he left vocational school at 16, borrowed S$15,000 from his mother to start a business making hooks and spikes for logging companies, later traded commodities in Indonesia, and then used that capital to enter Singapore real estate in 1987. Ho Bee became known as the pioneer developer at Sentosa Cove, later expanding into Shanghai, London, Australia and other overseas markets.

His public and civic roles are substantial. Ho Bee and NTU list him as Singapore’s non-resident ambassador to the Maldives from 2015 to 2019, a member of the 2016 Constitutional Commission for the Review of Elected Presidency, and a member of the Council of Presidential Advisers from 2019 to 2024. He is also Honorary President of the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations and the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Chairman of the Board of Governors of Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan, Honorary Chairman of Ren Ci Hospital, and Board Chairman of Ho Bee Foundation.

Chua is also tied to private capital and entrepreneurship support. Forbes notes that he set up One Hill Capital, and One Hill describes itself as a Singapore single-family office founded in 2016 that manages direct investments, private equity, venture capital and liquid securities. Separately, his endowed NTU Entrepreneurship Education Fund supports scholarships, venture funding, a national Pinnacle Prize, and from 2026 a Chua Thian Poh-NTU Seed Fund for NTU-affiliated startups and spin-offs.

• One Hill Capital states that it seeks “consistent returns through disciplined processes and governance” and partnerships where stakeholders learn from each other and enhance capabilities.
• Chua’s own real estate philosophy is long-term, diversified and risk-aware. Forbes quotes him: “Spread the risk. Don’t rely on a single market. Diversify.”
• Ho Bee Land’s real estate focus is enduring residential and workspace assets across Singapore, Australia, China, the UK and Europe, including luxury residential, Grade A office, and biomedical sciences developments.
• Through NTU, his entrepreneurship support is focused on future founders, commercial readiness, validated business models, market differentiation and committed teams.
• The 2026 Chua Thian Poh Pinnacle Prize focuses on AI for Good and Smart Cities, with themes including sustainability, urban resilience and community wellbeing.