Exploring Life & Business with TJ Rivers of Venturhaus

Today we’d like to introduce you to TJ Rivers.

Hi TJ, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up as a millennial, my family always had a van: first, it was our 1978 VW bus, then the 1980s era VW Vanagon, and eventually a Honda Odyssey. These vans were always the centerpiece of vacations. I lived in the small central valley town of Davis, California, where we were in the middle of nowhere, but driving distance to everywhere! Frequently passing through San Diego on the way to Baja, Mexico, it became an idyllic place in my youth. Fast forward a decade and I’m 19 years old and driving my parents’ minivan across the country from Ohio to San Diego to live out that idyllic dream.

While studying digital media at a community college in San Diego, I picked up a job at a local climbing gym. My title was “maintenance,” but we did everything from building furniture to working on the roof. A front desk employee had recently bought a van. She knew I was handy and asked if I could help with her van build. That led to the buildout of our family’s Odyssey into the ‘Silver Whale’ campervan, going out on thousands of miles of migrations all over the west. Five years later, I’m graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design from the Metropolitan State University of Denver. While in school, I continued to build vans, applying what I was learning about product design to this unique niche. All of this has culminated into Venturhaus, a custom van conversion company with an emphasis on user-centered design complimenting timeless aesthetics.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Of course, every road has its bumps, which might be uncomfortable in the moment. Using these bumps as learning experiences enables Venturhaus to constantly improve our product through an iterative approach to design. We embrace prototyping and testing until we are absolutely satisfied with the results.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We specialize in off-grid campervan conversions. Known for our background in product design, we approach the van as a vessel for adventure. The van must work with the client, perfectly complimenting their experience while staying unobtrusive. We are set apart by our emphasis on sustainable materials and a rigorous standard of fit and finish, all highly individualized to the client’s needs and budget. We design and build a product to be bought for life.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Community is so important. Talk to people that inspire you, seek authentic connection, be kind and the rest will follow. As part of a final degree requirement, I had to find an internship. I reached out to a few of my favorite furniture designers through Instagram. I ended up landing an excellent opportunity with Michael Beitz, who also happens to have a feature in Voyage Denver.

Contact Info:

• Email: tj@venturhaus.com
• Website: www.venturhaus.com
• Instagram: venturhaus