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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For more on The O.H.I.O. Fund: check out & subscribe to future content @ www.theohiofund.com
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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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TJ Dembinski, Eagle Electronics: Onshoring America's Critical Technologies

The O.H.I.O. Fund Report's first episode features TJ Dembinski, co-founder and CEO of Eagle Electronics — dedicated to on-shoring America’s critical technology supply chain, starting with the IoT and automotive-grade cellular modules — and Jeffrey Stern, Principal at The O.H.I.O. Fund.

This conversation traces a fascinating arc — one that begins with the macro and geopolitical forces shaping global commerce and lands in a Northeast Ohio advanced micro-electronic manufacturing floor where Eagle Electronics is domestically building one of the most critical pieces of our digital infrastructure: the cellular module.

TJ's story, and the founding of Eagle, is deeply embedded in these broader structural shifts — from the decoupling of U.S. global supply chains to the bipartisan momentum around domestic manufacturing and reindustrialization, to the evolving national security concerns that now govern the production of connected technologies.

Before founding Eagle, TJ was a Partner at Drive Capital, where he spent over five years exploring and investing at the frontiers of emerging technologies — from AI to cybersecurity to advanced manufacturing. In our conversation, we explore how his vantage point as an investor informed his transition to becoming a founder, and how Eagle emerged from an intersection of powerful global tailwinds and one very specific customer need.

We also talk about the nuances of reshoring, what onshoring looks like in practice, what cellular modules are, and why Ohio — of all places — is emerging as the epicenter of America’s next industrial chapter. From partnerships to cutting-edge automation, from regulatory and security considerations to hard-earned insights about what it actually takes to build something physical at scale — TJ brings an insightful clarity to one of the most exciting, complex, and important entrepreneurial movements underway today and how Eagle Electronics is positioned to lead within it.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tj-dembinski/
https://www.eagleelectronics.com/

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For more on The O.H.I.O. Fund: check out & subscribe to future content @ www.theohiofund.com
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[00:00:00] Eagle Electronics
[00:01:17] Introducing TJ Dembinski
[00:02:57] The Macro Trends Shaping Eagle Electronics
[00:06:03] Transition from Investing to Entrepreneurship
[00:07:54] Eagle's Origin Story
[00:08:51] Advanced Manufacturing and Onshoring
[00:11:23] Political Drivers of Reindustrialization
[00:12:21] Defining Critical Technologies
[00:13:42] Why Ohio?
[00:16:02] What is Eagle Electronics?
[00:17:00] What is a Cellular Module?
[00:17:46] Setting Up U.S. Manufacturing
[00:18:59] Regulatory Environment
[00:21:22] Addressing Real vs. Perceived Risk
[00:23:11] Startup Life Cycle
[00:23:47] Eagle's Market Strategy and Vision
[00:26:25] Workforce & Talent for Manufacturing
[00:28:13] Market Timing and Competition
[00:30:01] Learnings as Investor and Founder
[00:32:00] Capital and Funding in Ohio
[00:34:34] Enabling Ohio's Manufacturing Ecosystem
[00:37:15] Building in Hardware vs. Software
[00:41:26] Fostering Nuance and International Collaboration
[00:42:30] Earned Wisdom and Entrepreneurial Journey
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