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.

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.

Jupe

Source: Jupe, Insider

The tiny homes are made of laminated wood, an aluminum superstructure, and a weather resistant canvas.

Jupe

These materials give the Jupes a 10-year lifespan, although the canvas will have to be replaced more frequently.

Jupe

Inside, the 111-square-foot tiny homes have tall ceilings and basics like a queen bed, storage, and outlets.

Jupe

Source: Insider

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.

Jupe

Source: Jupe

And early next year, Wilson says the company will roll out larger Jupe glamping properties in Mexico and Joshua Tree, California.

Jupe

All the sites — which have additional amenities like bathrooms — can be booked on Airbnb or directly through Jupe.

Jupe

Prices range from $85 a night in Molalla, Oregon …

Jupe

… to $1,500 a night for six Jupe dwellings in Davenport, California, near Redwoods National Park.

Jupe

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

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

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."

Jupe