Remote Vans: Building The Best Adventure Vans in America With Tony Alexander & Daryn Hillhouse

The O.H.I.O. Fund Report's second episode features Tony Alexander and Daryn Hillhouse, co-founders of Remote Vans — a Cincinnati-based company redefining the premium adventure van category by blending high-quality craftsmanship with the technology and design required for the modern lifestyle — and Jeffrey Stern, Principal at The O.H.I.O. Fund.

Their journey captures a classic entrepreneurial arc—from piecing together their first custom van in a brewery garage at the height of the pandemic to scaling operations at their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Cincinnati, where Remote Vans is now producing meticulously designed, technologically advanced camper vans at scale, and is also where our conversation took place.

Through it, we explore their entrepreneurial lessons, transitioning from custom builds to dealer-focused manufacturing at scale, the commitment to innovation and quality that permeates their brand, the power of community, the nuances of building an automotive company in Ohio and leading in an industry shaped by evolving consumer preferences, and the enduring appeal of adventure.

Tony and Daryn give an awesome account and reflection of Remote Vans and provide a compelling example of Ohio’s entrepreneurial spirit, manufacturing might, and the adventure lifestyle.

https://remotevans.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-alexander-676785118/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/darynhillhouse/

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Chapters
00:00:00 – Remote Vans
00:00:58 – Episode Intro & Remote Vans Origin Story
00:03:18 – The Classic Startup Journey
00:04:48 – How Tony & Daryn Met
00:08:07 – Pandemic Pivot to Van Building
00:11:43 – Navigating the Entrepreneurial Journey
00:14:07 – Evolving the Business Model
00:16:28 – Defining the North Star
00:18:22 – The Adventure Van Market
00:22:10 – Remote Vans’ Brand & Lifestyle
00:25:28 – Scaling Craftsmanship
00:30:38 – Entrepreneurial Lessons Learned
00:34:41 – Future Chapters
00:40:30 – Measuring Success
00:41:39 – Building Industry in Ohio
00:46:51 – Ambitious Manufacturing
00:47:10 – Ohio Adventures: Hidden Gems
00:48:31 – Closing & How to Connect

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