Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Denis Maksimov. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Denis, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

For me, Tiny Planet’s mission is more than just a business goal—it’s a way of life. I’ve always believed that life is meant to be lived fully, and that means embracing every opportunity to explore the world and experience new things. Traveling with Sofia, my wife and co-founder of Tiny Planet, and our little one has taught me the importance of flexibility and freedom. Before our baby was born, Sofia and I spent almost a year living in our van, embracing the nomadic lifestyle and discovering the joy of life on the road. We love the thrill of the unknown, moving from place to place every few months, and soon, we’re planning to take on our biggest adventure yet—a trip around the world in a van.

Tiny Planet’s mission is deeply personal because it’s a reflection of how we choose to live. We want others to feel the same excitement and joy that we do when we set out on the road, knowing that no matter where we end up, we have a comfortable, luxurious space that feels like home. It’s about more than just traveling—it’s about creating moments that matter, connecting with nature, and spending quality time with the people you love. That’s why this mission is so meaningful to me. It’s about helping others live a life full of adventure and meaning, just like we do.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Denis, and together with my wife Sofia, I co-founded Tiny Planet. Our journey began in 2021 when we came to the USA from Europe with a dream to create exceptional travel experiences. We built our first van in the garage of a friend in Los Angeles, spending 2.5 months designing and perfecting it. This van had everything for a comfortable road trip—a hot indoor shower, a comfortable toilet, induction cooktop, and more. It garnered so much praise during our travels that we decided to share it with a wider audience.

Our travels were limited by a 180-day visa, so we returned to Europe and sold the van. However, a video tour of the van we posted on YouTube went viral, garnering nearly a million views. This attention led to our first official project: building the same van for a customer in Texas, marking the start of Tiny Planet. We soon moved to the USA permanently and opened our first shop.

At Tiny Planet, we specialize in van conversions for pursuing bliss. Our voguish interiors are inspired by American landscapes and European aesthetics, creating high-end quality and sophisticated layouts designed for those seeking unrivaled travel experiences in natural surroundings. We use the latest technologies to ensure our designs are not only cutting-edge but also provide the utmost comfort and efficiency.

Our vans are equipped with features such as heated floors, a hot shower, a comfortable toilet, 12V AC, a powerful 12V electrical system with solar panels, off-road exterior upgrades, and a fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, 12V fridge, induction cooktop, air fryer, and other amenities. This comprehensive suite of features ensures that every aspect of your journey is covered, whether you’re exploring remote areas or enjoying a luxurious stay.

Our approach is unique in several ways. We were pioneers in inventing the sliding toilet feature, which has since been adopted by other companies. We take immense pride in our attention to detail, meticulously crafting every element of our vans and offering customers the opportunity to make minor customizations. This ensures that each van is unique and perfectly tailored to their needs.

What truly sets us apart is our commitment to sophisticated, thoughtful design. Having lived in a van full-time, we know firsthand what works and what doesn’t. We avoid adding features that merely look good but serve no practical purpose. Our vans are built with both elegance and functionality in mind, ensuring that every aspect is designed to enhance the travel experience.

Additionally, we focus on creating off-road vehicles with luxury interiors. Unlike many competitors who build industrial-looking vans, we ensure that our vehicles provide the comfort and feel of a five-star hotel even in remote locations. This blend of rugged capability and luxurious comfort, combined with the latest technologies, sets Tiny Planet apart from others in the industry.

We are most proud of our ability to blend luxury with practicality, offering clients a unique and comfortable travel experience that truly reflects our values and lifestyle.

Do you have any stories of times when you almost missed payroll or any other near death experiences for your business?

The first year of Tiny Planet was incredibly challenging. We invested nearly a million dollars, borrowed from friends and family, to build our production capabilities. This financial commitment was a significant risk, and there were moments when it felt like everything was on the line.

We reached a critical point where we didn’t have enough money to pay our team or cover the shop rent. Faced with the prospect of incurring even more debt, it was a deeply frightening experience. Adding to the difficulty, our vans, despite their high quality and innovative features, were not selling as expected. This was during the late fall season, a time when the van conversion industry typically experiences a slowdown.

However, we firmly believed in our product and refused to give up. We doubled down on our efforts, investing in marketing and going all-in to turn things around. We continued to work tirelessly, making every effort to get our product in front of potential clients.

Our persistence and dedication eventually paid off. We started to see results from our marketing efforts, and demand for our vans began to grow. We sold all the stock we had and began to build a line of customers eager to work with us.

These challenges were some of the toughest moments we’ve faced, but they reinforced our belief in the value of what we do. They taught us the importance of resilience, faith in our vision, and the power of hard work. We’re incredibly proud of how far we’ve come and grateful for the support that helped us through those difficult times.

Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.

At Tiny Planet, we proudly manufacture our own products. Our journey began with no prior construction experience, but we learned through hands-on experimentation. Sofia’s background in design from her studies at university in Rome, Italy, and my extensive knowledge about building stages in the event industry provided a strong foundation. We developed our own van construction methods, which are specialized compared to traditional building.

Initially, we brought in construction professionals but realized that van building requires unique skills. We focused on training our team and expanded to include engineers, builders, and designers. This collaboration has been crucial for maintaining high standards and integrating advanced technologies.

Key lessons include the importance of thorough product knowledge, continuous learning, and working with experts. Our approach has evolved from DIY to a well-coordinated team effort, allowing us to deliver high-quality, innovative products consistently.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tinyplanet.group
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinyplanet.group/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tinyplanet.group
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tinyplanetgroup
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxKohVkWY17pAJ8qCa1PmcQ
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@tinyplanet.group