Today we’d like to introduce you to Denis Maksimov.

Hi Denis, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.

I’ve always been passionate about adventure and creating extraordinary experiences. Before Tiny Planet, my background was in the event industry, where I built stages—an entirely different world from van conversions. Sofia, my wife and co-founder, studied design in Rome, Italy. We combined our skills and set our sights on the ultimate dream: crafting luxurious, off-road vans that bring a five-star feeling to the great outdoors.

In 2021, we moved from Europe to Los Angeles and built our very first van in a friend’s garage. It was a crash course in everything from carpentry to electrical work—challenging but incredibly rewarding. We poured all our savings into it, and when a video tour of that van went viral, we suddenly had people reaching out, wanting the same build. That’s when we realized we had something special.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. We invested nearly every resource we had, borrowing money from friends and family to fund our vision. Our first year was especially tough—vans weren’t selling as quickly, and we hit a critical point where we couldn’t cover payroll or shop rent. Plus, Sofia and I had no formal construction background, so we had to learn on the fly, often through trial and error. Despite all that, we believed in our product’s potential. We doubled down on marketing, refined our designs, and pushed through the slow season. Eventually, our efforts paid off; we sold our initial inventory and built a loyal customer base. Looking back, those challenges taught us resilience, resourcefulness, and the importance of never giving up on what you truly believe in.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Tiny Planet?

At Tiny Planet, we specialize in creating luxurious, off-road adventure vans that cater to those seeking ultimate comfort and freedom on the road. We’re known for our innovative designs, including features like heated floors, hot showers, induction cooktops, and custom-built interiors, all while maintaining rugged off-road capabilities. Our vans aren’t just vehicles—they’re homes on wheels, designed to provide a five-star experience in the great outdoors. What sets us apart is our hands-on approach and commitment to quality. We’re most proud of our ability to marry sophisticated design with ruggedness, creating vans that are not only beautiful and comfortable but also equipped to handle the toughest adventures. Our commitment to using the latest technologies and materials, coupled with continuous learning and adaptation, ensures that we’re always one step ahead. At Tiny Planet, it’s not just about building vans—it’s about building freedom, adventure, and a lifestyle. We’re here to help people live with more flexibility, more connection to nature, and more time with the people they love.
Our mission is to enhance the overall enjoyment of life by providing an unparalleled travel experience. We believe in offering our clients the ultimate freedom and flexibility to explore new places, indulge in their passions, uncover the unexpected, spend quality time with loved ones, immerse themselves in the beauty of nature, and cultivate mindfulness through travel.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?

There are a few ways to work with, collaborate with, or support us here at Tiny Planet:

1. Order a Custom Van: We love working one-on-one with clients to design and build their dream off-road luxury van. If you’re ready for the van life, or you have a specific vision in mind, get in touch. We’ll discuss your needs, budget, and travel style to create a fully personalized build.
2. Share Your Expertise: We’re always exploring new technologies, design ideas, and sustainable solutions. If you’re an engineer, designer, or innovator with ideas that align with our vision, we’d love to hear from you. Collaborating with like-minded experts helps us continually raise the bar.
3. Follow Us & Spread the Word: One of the easiest ways to support us is by following our journey on social media, sharing our posts, or telling friends and family about us. Word of mouth is incredibly powerful, and it helps us reach more people who might be dreaming of the nomadic lifestyle.

Pricing:

• $150.000 – average van conversion (service)
• $250.000 – average ready camper van

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tinyplanet.group
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinyplanet.group/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tinyplanet.group
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/tinyplanetgroup