An inventor who put computers in millions of homes. A hitmaker with an eye for what sticks.
Plant To Earn brings together John Hui, the eMachines co-founder who patented the unattended plant watering system, and Tommy “TBHits” Brown, the Grammy-nominated producer behind records for Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber.
John Hui
許立信 · Raised in Hong Kong · University at Buffalo · MBA, McMaster University
John Hui has spent four decades building personal technology for millions of homes. Raised in Hong Kong, he came to the United States in 1973 to study at the University at Buffalo and later earned an MBA from McMaster University in Canada.
He helped found the PC maker Everex in 1983. By 1995 he was president of monitor maker Korea Data Systems USA, which he used to help form eMachines in 1998, the company that made the affordable home computer mainstream. In 2004 he sold eMachines to Gateway for $266 million in cash and stock, becoming Gateway's second-largest shareholder, and in 2006 he offered $450 million to buy Gateway outright.
That same year he bought Packard Bell, selling it to Acer in 2008. In 2009 he bought Oregon display and projector maker InFocus through his company Image Holdings. He also served as Chief Strategy Officer of Foxconn Technology, the world's largest electronics manufacturer, and played a key role in Foxconn's acquisition of Sharp Corporation, finalized in 2016 and valued at about $3.5 billion.
Along the way he turned the same engineering instinct to the house plant. His patent, U.S. 7,644,537, “Unattended plant watering system,” describes a sealed reservoir that lets a plant owner leave live house plants unattended for days, weeks and even months. Plant To Earn is that idea brought up to date: a sensor that reads the plant, a battery-powered pump that waters only when it's needed, and a rewards program that pays you back for good care.
Four decades of building for the home
- 1973Moves to the U.S. to study at the University at Buffalo; later earns an MBA from McMaster University
- 1983Helps found PC maker Everex
- 1995President, Korea Data Systems USA
- 1998Co-founds eMachines, bringing affordable home PCs to the mass market
- 2004Sells eMachines to Gateway for $266 million in cash and stock, becoming Gateway's second-largest shareholder
- 2006Offers $450 million to acquire Gateway
- 2006Acquires Packard Bell (sold to Acer in 2008)
- 2006Files U.S. Patent 7,644,537, “Unattended plant watering system”
- 2009Acquires InFocus through Image Holdings
- 2010Patent 7,644,537 issued, later joined by divisional patents 7,810,278 and 7,823,326
- 2016As Foxconn's Chief Strategy Officer, helps close its ~$3.5 billion acquisition of Sharp
- TodayBrings unattended watering into the smart-home era with Plant To Earn
The patent behind the reservoir
“…allows a plant owner to leave live houseplants unattended for days, weeks, and even months at a time.”
US 7,644,537 B1, “Unattended plant watering system,” filed April 18, 2006, issued January 12, 2010. Related: US 7,810,278 B2, US 7,823,326 B2.
The patent describes a sealed reservoir with a closed top and an outlet at its base, so a partial vacuum holds the water until the plant needs it. Plant To Earn keeps that sealed reservoir and adds a four-sensor Core, a battery-powered pump and rewards for healthy plants.
How it works
Tommy “TBHits” Brown
Born Thomas Lee Brown, May 1, 1986, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · Producer, songwriter & rapper · Champagne Therapy Music Group
Tommy Brown, known professionally as TBHits, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper born Thomas Lee Brown on May 1, 1986, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Working across pop, R&B, hip-hop and trap, he is best known as one of Ariana Grande's closest collaborators, credited on six of her studio albums plus Christmas & Chill and the Charlie's Angels soundtrack, often writing alongside Victoria Monét.
Before music, he worked at Sears in Atlanta and handed out CDs of his songs. One reached rapper Gorilla Zoe, who invited him into the studio. Mentored early by Roy “Royalty” Hamilton and Rodney Jerkins, he joined Jerkins' Darkchild production team in 2008, where he met Monét and worked with Jennifer Lopez, Wyclef Jean and the Black Eyed Peas, producing “Just Can't Get Enough.”
He signed an independent publishing deal with Sony/ATV in 2012 and, based in Los Angeles, produced for Travis Scott, CeeLo Green, Nas, The Weeknd, T.I., Chris Brown and Teyana Taylor. In 2013 he met Ariana Grande at a writing session for Nick Jonas, and both he and Monét landed on her debut album. In 2019 he contributed five songs to Thank U, Next after weeks of writing with Grande, Monét and Tayla Parx.
In 2019 he launched the Champagne Therapy Music Group publishing imprint with Universal Music, which expanded to a global publishing deal in 2021, and in 2023 Champagne Therapy formed a joint venture with Position Music. His credits now span Justin Bieber's Justice, The Weeknd's Dawn FM, Blackpink, Twice, Seventeen, G-Dragon and Le Sserafim. In 2025 he appeared on Netflix's music docu-series Hitmakers.
At Plant To Earn he brings the same instinct that shapes a hit record (restraint, texture and a strong hook) to the objects that sit beside your plants: every sensor cover, reservoir holder and custom piece passes through his studio before it ships.
From Sears in Atlanta to the Grammys
- 1986Born Thomas Lee Brown in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- 2008Joins Rodney Jerkins' Darkchild team; meets Victoria Monét
- 2010Black Eyed Peas, “Just Can't Get Enough” (The Beginning)
- 2012Signs with Sony/ATV Music Publishing; GOOD Music “Sin City” (Cruel Summer)
- 2013Meets Ariana Grande; produces for her debut, Yours Truly
- 2019Five songs on Thank U, Next; launches Champagne Therapy Music Group with Universal
- 2020Two Grammy nominations; ASCAP Pop awards for “7 Rings” and “Thank U, Next”
- 2021Universal partnership expands to a global publishing deal
- 2022Album of the Year nomination for Justice; four ASCAP Pop awards
- 2023Champagne Therapy joint venture with Position Music
- 2025Appears on Netflix's Hitmakers
Awards & nominations
- 202264th Annual Grammy Awards
Nominee — Album of the Year, Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe), Justin Bieber - 2022ASCAP Pop Music Awards
Award-winning songs: “34+35”, “Positions”, “POV” and “Holy” - 202062nd Annual Grammy Awards
Nominee — Record of the Year, “Thank U, Next”, Ariana Grande - 202062nd Annual Grammy Awards
Nominee — Album of the Year, Thank U, Next, Ariana Grande - 2020ASCAP Pop Music Awards
Award-winning songs: “7 Rings” and “Thank U, Next”
Also featured on Netflix's Hitmakers (2025).
Notable records
- Ariana Grande — Yours Truly, Christmas & Chill, Dangerous Woman, Sweetener, Thank U, Next (“7 Rings”, “Needy”), Positions
- Justin Bieber — Justice (“Holy”, “34+35”, “POV”)
- The Weeknd — “Is There Someone Else?” (Dawn FM), “I Can't Wait to Get There” (Hurry Up Tomorrow)
- Blackpink & Selena Gomez — “Ice Cream”
- Black Eyed Peas — “Just Can't Get Enough” (The Beginning)
- GOOD Music — “Sin City” (Cruel Summer)
- Jennifer Lopez — “Dinero”
- Normani — “1:59” (Dopamine)
- Meghan Trainor — Thank You
- Charlie's Angels (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
75+ artists across pop, R&B, hip-hop and K-pop
Credits reflect Tommy Brown's music production and songwriting work. Artist names are listed for biographical purposes and do not imply endorsement of Plant To Earn.
145 production & songwriting credits, 2010–2026
2026 · 3 credits
| Blackpink | “Fxxxboy” · Deadline |
|---|---|
| Luísa Sonza | “Tropical Paradise” · Brutal Paraíso |
| Meovv | “Revenge” · Bite Now |
2025 · 6 credits
| The Weeknd | “I Can't Wait to Get There” · Hurry Up Tomorrow |
|---|---|
| Mark feat. Haechan | “+82 Pressin'” · The Firstfruit |
| Le Sserafim | “Different” · Single |
| AllDay Project | “Wicked” · Single |
| Girlset | “Commas” · Single |
| 3Quency | “Top Down” · Single |
2024 · 6 credits
| Normani feat. Gunna | “1:59” · Dopamine |
|---|---|
| Normani | “Candy Paint” · Dopamine |
| WayV | “Give Me That” · Give Me That |
| G-Dragon | “Power” · Übermensch |
| Meovv | “Body” · Single |
| Izna | “Drip” · N/a |
2023 · 1 credit
| Luísa Sonza | “A Dona Aranha” · Escândalo Íntimo |
|---|
2022 · 5 credits
| The Weeknd | “Is There Someone Else?” · Dawn FM |
|---|---|
| The Weeknd | “Starry Eyes” · Dawn FM |
| Seventeen | “Don Quixote” · Face the Sun |
| Seventeen | “World” · Sector 17 |
| Reneé Rapp | “In the Kitchen” · Everything to Everyone |
2021 · 9 credits
| Ariana Grande | “Someone Like U (Interlude)” · Positions (Deluxe) |
|---|---|
| Ariana Grande | “Test Drive” · Positions (Deluxe) |
| Ariana Grande feat. Doja Cat & Megan Thee Stallion | “34+35 Remix” · Positions (Deluxe) |
| Ariana Grande | “Worst Behavior” · Positions (Deluxe) |
| Ariana Grande | “Main Thing” · Positions (Deluxe) |
| Zara Larsson | “What Happens Here” · Poster Girl |
| Demi Lovato feat. Ariana Grande | “Met Him Last Night” · Dancing with the Devil… the Art of Starting Over |
| Twice | “Scientist” · Formula of Love: O+T=<3 |
| Mabel | “Take It Home” · Pokémon 25: The Album |
2020 · 19 credits
| Megan Thee Stallion | “Rich” · Suga |
|---|---|
| Monsta X | “You Can't Hold My Heart” · All About Luv |
| Blackpink with Selena Gomez | “Ice Cream” · The Album |
| Blackpink with Cardi B | “Bet You Wanna” · The Album |
| Justin Bieber with Chance the Rapper | “Holy” · Justice |
| Ariana Grande | “Positions” · Positions |
| Ariana Grande | “34+35” · Positions |
| Ariana Grande | “Shut Up” · Positions |
| Ariana Grande with Doja Cat | “Motive” · Positions |
| Ariana Grande | “Just Like Magic” · Positions |
| Ariana Grande with The Weeknd | “Off the Table” · Positions |
| Ariana Grande | “Six Thirty” · Positions |
| Ariana Grande feat. Ty Dolla $ign | “Safety Net” · Positions |
| Ariana Grande | “My Hair” · Positions |
| Ariana Grande | “Nasty” · Positions |
| Ariana Grande | “West Side” · Positions |
| Ariana Grande | “Love Language” · Positions |
| Ariana Grande | “Obvious” · Positions |
| Ariana Grande | “POV” · Positions |
2019 · 9 credits
| Ariana Grande | “7 Rings” · Thank U, Next |
|---|---|
| Ariana Grande | “Needy” · Thank U, Next |
| Ariana Grande | “NASA” · Thank U, Next |
| Ariana Grande | “Make Up” · Thank U, Next |
| Ariana Grande & Social House | “Boyfriend” · Everything Changed… |
| Ariana Grande & Victoria Monét | “Got Her Own” · Charlie's Angels (soundtrack) |
| Stanaj | “Love Me” · Single |
| Juice Wrld | “Make Believe” · Death Race for Love |
| DaniLeigh | “Usually” · My Present |
2018 · 11 credits
| Ariana Grande | “Better Off” · Sweetener |
|---|---|
| Ariana Grande | “Goodnight n Go” · Sweetener |
| Ariana Grande | “Pete Davidson” · Sweetener |
| T.I. feat. Teyana Taylor | “You” · Dime Trap |
| Jennifer Lopez feat. DJ Khaled & Cardi B | “Dinero” · Single |
| Victoria Monét | “Freak” · Life After Love, Pt. 1 |
| Macy Gray | “Sugar Daddy” · Ruby |
| Macy Gray | “Witness” · Ruby |
| Macy Gray | “Just Like Jenny” · Ruby |
| Macy Gray | “White Man” · Ruby |
| Ariana Grande | “Thank U, Next” · Thank U, Next |
2017 · 7 credits
| Fifth Harmony | “Bridges” · Fifth Harmony |
|---|---|
| Chris Brown | “Rock Your Body” · Heartbreak on a Full Moon |
| Alex Aiono & T-Pain | “One at a Time” · Single |
| Njomza | “Poison” · Sad for You |
| Njomza | “Someone Like Me” · Sad for You |
| Njomza | “Perfect Fit” · Sad for You |
| T-Pain | “Who Died” · Oblivion |
2016 · 17 credits
| TWENTY88 | “Memories Faded” · TWENTY88 |
|---|---|
| Martina Stoessel & Jorge Blanco | “Yo te amo a ti / I Want You” · Tini |
| Ariana Grande | “Moonlight” · Dangerous Woman |
| Ariana Grande | “Be Alright” · Dangerous Woman |
| Ariana Grande feat. Lil Wayne | “Let Me Love You” · Dangerous Woman |
| Ariana Grande feat. Macy Gray | “Leave Me Lonely” · Dangerous Woman |
| Ariana Grande | “I Don't Care” · Dangerous Woman |
| Ariana Grande | “Knew Better / Forever Boy” · Dangerous Woman |
| Ariana Grande | “Step On Up” · Dangerous Woman |
| T.I. | “Take Da Wheel” · Us or Else: Letter to the System |
| Big Sean | “Get My Shit Together” · Single |
| DJ Khaled feat. Meghan Trainor, Wiz Khalifa & Wale | “Forgive Me Father” · Major Key |
| Meghan Trainor | “Better” · Thank You |
| Pia Mia | “No Pressure” · Single |
| Eric Bellinger | “Night Bag” · Choose Up Season |
| Eric Bellinger | “No Way” · Choose Up Season |
| Fifth Harmony | “No Way” · 7/27 |
2015 · 19 credits
| Fifth Harmony | “Everlasting Love” · Reflection |
|---|---|
| Fifth Harmony | “We Know” · Reflection |
| Machine Gun Kelly feat. Victoria Monét | “A Little More” · General Admission |
| Machine Gun Kelly | “Therapy” · General Admission |
| Ariana Grande | “Intro” · Christmas & Chill |
| Ariana Grande | “Wit It This Christmas” · Christmas & Chill |
| Ariana Grande | “December” · Christmas & Chill |
| Ariana Grande | “Not Just on Christmas” · Christmas & Chill |
| Ariana Grande | “True Love” · Christmas & Chill |
| Ariana Grande | “Winter Things” · Christmas & Chill |
| Victoria Monét | “More of You” · Nightmares & Lullabies – Act 2 |
| Victoria Monét | “Will I Do” · Nightmares & Lullabies – Act 2 |
| Victoria Monét | “Good Time x Trouble” · Nightmares & Lullabies – Act 2 |
| Victoria Monét | “See the Light” · Nightmares & Lullabies – Act 2 |
| Victoria Monét | “Cupid” · Nightmares & Lullabies – Act 2 |
| Victoria Monét | “90's Babies” · Nightmares & Lullabies – Act 2 |
| Victoria Monét | “High Love” · Nightmares & Lullabies – Act 2 |
| Eric Bellinger | “Maybe Never” · Cuffing Season |
| Tommy Brown | “Trippin on Me” · Single |
2014 · 16 credits
| Victoria Monét | “Never Be Lonely” · Nightmares & Lullabies – Act 1 |
|---|---|
| Victoria Monét | “Made in China” · Nightmares & Lullabies – Act 1 |
| Victoria Monét | “We Are People” · Nightmares & Lullabies – Act 1 |
| Victoria Monét | “Backyard” · Nightmares & Lullabies – Act 1 |
| Victoria Monét | “For the Trill” · Nightmares & Lullabies – Act 1 |
| Victoria Monét | “Save Me” · Single |
| Victoria Monét | “Would You Wait” · Single |
| Ariana Grande | “Intro” · My Everything |
| Ariana Grande | “My Everything” · My Everything |
| Ariana Grande | “Only 1” · My Everything |
| Ariana Grande | “Cadillac Song” · My Everything |
| Grand Hustle w/ Shad da God, Travis Scott, Spodee & T.I. | “Ya Digg” · G.D.O.D. II |
| T.I. feat. Skylar Grey | “New National Anthem” · Paperwork |
| T.I. | “Stay” · Paperwork |
| B.o.B with Victoria Monét | “Lean On Me” · No Genre 2 |
| Chris Brown feat. Jhené Aiko | “Drunk Texting” · X |
2013 · 10 credits
| 2 Chainz | “36” · B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time |
|---|---|
| Victoria Monét | “Malice in Wonderland” · Single |
| Coco Jones | “Déjà Vu” · Made Of |
| Ariana Grande | “Honeymoon Avenue” · Yours Truly |
| Ariana Grande | “Daydreamin'” · Yours Truly |
| Chrisette Michele | “Visual Love” · Better |
| Nas feat. Victoria Monét | “You Wouldn't Understand” · Life Is Good |
| Grand Hustle w/ Travis Scott, B.o.B & T.I. | “Animal” · G.D.O.D. |
| Eric Bellinger | “Find My Love” · In the Meantime |
| Eric Bellinger | “Come Over” · In the Meantime |
2012 · 5 credits
| Xai | “Write It on a Wall” · Single |
|---|---|
| GOOD Music | “Sin City” · Cruel Summer |
| T.I. | “Introduction” · Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head |
| T.I. feat. Victoria Monét | “Live On Tonight” · Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head |
| Meek Mill | “Who You're Around” · Dreams and Nightmares |
2011 · 1 credit
| Jasmine V | “Just a Friend” · Single |
|---|
2010 · 1 credit
| Black Eyed Peas | “Just Can't Get Enough” · The Beginning |
|---|
Plants shouldn't depend on your calendar.
Every trip, every busy week, another plant lost. John Hui solved the watering half of that problem with a sealed reservoir. Plant To Earn finishes the job: a Core that reads sunlight, moisture, nutrients and soil temperature, a quiet battery-powered pump that waters only when the soil asks for it, and Plant To Earn Rewards, which turns every healthy-plant day into SAP tokens toward discounts in our ecosystem.
Then Tommy made the hardware disappear. Sensor covers and jug holders turn the system into décor, and our custom studio turns your own photos into one-of-one pieces.
