SINGAPORE – It was November 2024, and Mr Leong Xuhui was manning a stall at a pasar malam near Khatib MRT, selling his signature loaded potatoes, when he accidentally spilled sauce on a customer.

Her blouse was expensive, and the Ngee Ann Polytechic (NP) business student was duly horrified.

The now 20-year-old had just set up his start-up Spudzilla, and that was one of his first pop-up stalls.

“I felt apologetic and offered her a tissue. I wished it never happened”, he said.

Mr Leong, who has recently graduated from NP, said the experience taught him to be more mindful, especially since that customer turned out to be a social media influencer.

Thankfully, she gave him a good review on a TikTok video regardless.

Since Mr Leong started his business in November 2024, Spudzilla has been setting up pop-up stalls at various pasar malams around Singapore, to the tune of 20 to 25 stalls a year.

Spudzilla recently had a stall at Jurong West Block 501 till May 3, and is currently running a stall near Woodlands MRT till May 10. 

Recently, the company also set up a stall at a temporary bazaar within Ngee Ann Polytechnic – the place where its founder got his idea from. 

Mr Leong’s love of potatoes took root when he tried his friend’s mother’s baked potatoes in secondary school. Back then, not many businesses sold potatoes as a main dish, and he was inspired to set up a food business using potatoes as the main ingredient. 

In 2024, he took part in NP’s Be Your Own Boss competition. This initiative supports new start-ups in the school, and gives winners a space in the school to set up their stall for two years, as well as a $5,000 grant from ...