A company that's building $30,000 tiny home hotels designed by former SpaceX and Tesla engineers now has 70 off-grid units — see inside

Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
  • Jupe is building $30,000 off-grid tiny home hotel rooms.
  • Its units can be flat packed and driven across the country on a flatbed truck. 
  • It now has 70 units deployed across the US and two major developments coming next year.
If you're impatiently waiting for your Cybertruck, why not scratch the itch with something a bit different: Camping off-grid inside a tiny home designed by someone who worked on Tesla's Cybertruck.
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
Off-grid glamping — a portmanteau of "glamorous" and "camping" — startup Jupe began building movable high-tech hotel rooms reminiscent of tiny homes in 2019.
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
And now, its units are available to book across the country, giving city dwellers the opportunity to unplug in nature.
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
The tiny homes were designed by Jupe's team, some of whom are former SpaceX and Tesla engineers …
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
… including an employee who previously worked on Tesla's Cybertruck and Cybertruck ATV.
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
"You can see some of the similarities," Jeff Wilson, Jupe's CEO, cofounder, and chief designer, told Insider. "It almost looks like a 'Cyber tent.'"
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
Wilson previously ran a failed modular home startup, lived in a dumpster, and was an IBM project manager.
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.

Source: Jupe, Insider

The tiny homes are made of laminated wood, an aluminum superstructure, and a weather resistant canvas.
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
These materials give the Jupes a 10-year lifespan, although the canvas will have to be replaced more frequently.
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
Inside, the 111-square-foot tiny homes have tall ceilings and basics like a queen bed, storage, and outlets.
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.

Source: Insider

Amenities like the lights, air conditioner, and heater can be controlled using an app, Wilson said.
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
But someday, the company wants to integrate Starlink into its units to control these features remotely.
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
Set up and delivery of the Jupe, which costs up to $30,000, is a breeze.
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
The tiny home and all of its furnishings can be flat packed, stacked on a flatbed truck via a forklift ...
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
... and driven from Jupe's Texas manufacturing site to anywhere around the country.
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
There's no need for any additional foundation or platform: The portable hotel rooms already have one built in.
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
And this foundation won't leave any permanent severe damage to the land.
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
Canvas tents aren't a new innovation in the glamping space.
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
But according to Wilson, the tiny home's foundation and flat pack capabilities set the Jupe apart from other competitors.
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
This foundation also serves as a storage box when the unit needs to be packed and moved to more seasonally advantageous sites.
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
Each unit takes about four hours and two people to build with an assembly process that is like a "sturdy Ikea piece built to move," Wilson said.
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
"[A] reason why we've got people from places like Apple, Tesla, and WeWork is because they see the true scalability of what we're building," Wilson said.
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
The team has already built around 175 units and is now manufacturing two a day.
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
And in the future, it wants to roll out additional builds like a kitchen, community room, and even a "Zoom room" ...
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
... creating what Wilson says will be a "remote work village on a truck."
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
But Jupe doesn't have its own glamping sites across the US.
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
Instead, it works with landowners and hospitality companies to establish new locations.
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
About 70 of the company's tiny homes are currently scattered in 15 sites from California to West Virginia.
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.

Source: Jupe

And early next year, Wilson says the company will roll out larger Jupe glamping properties in Mexico and Joshua Tree, California.
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
All the sites — which have additional amenities like bathrooms — can be booked on Airbnb or directly through Jupe.
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
Prices range from $85 a night in Molalla, Oregon …
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
… to $1,500 a night for six Jupe dwellings in Davenport, California, near Redwoods National Park.
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.

Source: Jupe

Despite its high price tag, the latter — which has additional amenities like a bar — has been the most popular location with a roughly 50% occupancy rate, according to Wilson.
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.

Source: Jupe

These Jupes may fit in well with the rest of the "unique stays" that have been dominating Airbnb, but providing a place for travelers to stay isn't the company's primary mission.
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
Instead, it has a lofty goal of providing shelter to people without homes around the world.
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
And it's now in discussion with what Wilson says is "one of the largest organizations that offers disaster relief" …
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
… although it could be years before Jupe begins deploying tiny homes for emergency use.
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
So for now, it will continue to focus on the popular and increasingly saturated short-term rental industry.
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
"There's something magical about being in the deepest parts of [nature] but still having some of the creature comforts that you would find back home or in a luxury hotel," Wilson said. "That's the vision for Jupe."
Jupe's off-grid tiny home hotel.
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