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
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
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
And now, its units are available to book across the country, giving city dwellers the opportunity to unplug in nature.
Jupe
The tiny homes were designed by Jupe's team, some of whom are former SpaceX and Tesla engineers …
Jupe
… including an employee who previously worked on Tesla's Cybertruck and Cybertruck ATV.
Jupe
"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
Wilson previously ran a failed modular home startup, lived in a dumpster, and was an IBM project manager.
Amenities like the lights, air conditioner, and heater can be controlled using an app, Wilson said.
Jupe
But someday, the company wants to integrate Starlink into its units to control these features remotely.
Jupe
Set up and delivery of the Jupe, which costs up to $30,000, is a breeze.
Jupe
The tiny home and all of its furnishings can be flat packed, stacked on a flatbed truck via a forklift ...
Jupe
... and driven from Jupe's Texas manufacturing site to anywhere around the country.
Jupe
There's no need for any additional foundation or platform: The portable hotel rooms already have one built in.
Jupe
And this foundation won't leave any permanent severe damage to the land.
Jupe
Canvas tents aren't a new innovation in the glamping space.
Jupe
But according to Wilson, the tiny home's foundation and flat pack capabilities set the Jupe apart from other competitors.
Jupe
This foundation also serves as a storage box when the unit needs to be packed and moved to more seasonally advantageous sites.
Jupe
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
"[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
The team has already built around 175 units and is now manufacturing two a day.
Jupe
And in the future, it wants to roll out additional builds like a kitchen, community room, and even a "Zoom room" ...
Jupe
... creating what Wilson says will be a "remote work village on a truck."
Jupe
But Jupe doesn't have its own glamping sites across the US.
Jupe
Instead, it works with landowners and hospitality companies to establish new locations.
Jupe
About 70 of the company's tiny homes are currently scattered in 15 sites from California to West Virginia.
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.
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
Instead, it has a lofty goal of providing shelter to people without homes around the world.
Jupe
And it's now in discussion with what Wilson says is "one of the largest organizations that offers disaster relief" …
Jupe
… although it could be years before Jupe begins deploying tiny homes for emergency use.
Jupe
So for now, it will continue to focus on the popular and increasingly saturated short-term rental industry.
Jupe
"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."
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