From PhD to Van Life CEO: The Vansmith Story - RVE 408
The RV Entrepreneur
RV LIFE
4.8 • 544 Ratings
🗓️ 21 August 2025
⏱️ 56 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
From pupil dilation research to designing custom campervans, Roberto's journey is anything but ordinary! On this episode of The RV Entrepreneur, hear how Roberto, co-founder of Vansmith, went from academia (yes, he has a PhD!) to the wild world of entrepreneurship, including co-founding Oru Kayak and the story behind its Shark Tank success. Then, discover the origins of Vansmith, the challenges of building a business amidst a pandemic, including overcoming a shop break-in and supply chain chaos, and the importance of investing in employees. Roberto shares his approach to creating raving fans, insights into the changing demands of the camper van market, and whether a custom build is the right choice for you. Plus, find out where he sees the industry going and the biggest mistakes he's learned from (including a Metaverse van token!).
Connect & Learn More:
https://www.instagram.com/the_vansmith/
Resources:
Navigating the Growth Phase on the Entrepreneurial Highway with Robert & Tosha Lackey of Bison | RVE 327
https://therventrepreneur.com/rve327/
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THE RV ENTREPRENEUR
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | I believe I'm the luckiest person alive, but I also don't think luck is passive. |
| 0:04.2 | I think you have to be actively lucky. |
| 0:05.4 | So you have to be aware that luck comes by, willing to jump on it, and then able to accomplish it, right? |
| 0:10.9 | Welcome to the RV Entrepreneur podcast, the weekly show for nomads, work campers, |
| 0:16.2 | RVers, and entrepreneurs looking to earn a living or build a business while enjoying the RV lifestyle. |
| 0:21.9 | This week's host is Glenn Willard. |
| 0:24.7 | Let's settle in and enjoy the RV Entrepreneur podcast brought to you by RV Life. |
| 0:30.9 | Welcome to the RV Entrepreneur podcast. |
| 0:33.9 | I'm Glenn Willard, your host this week. |
| 0:35.6 | And today we have an incredible story of resilience, |
| 0:38.6 | innovation, and the call of the open road. |
| 0:41.8 | Our guests grew up farming and ranching in Colorado, a foundation that gave him the tools |
| 0:46.8 | and tenacity to build a business on the forefront of a booming industry, custom campervans. |
| 0:53.7 | We'll delve into his unique journey exploring how supply chain hurdles were overcome, |
| 0:58.7 | how customer preferences shifted, and how he helped build a thriving business |
| 1:03.1 | that ultimately led to a successful exit. |
| 1:06.4 | Get ready to hear about the highs and the lows that defined one entrepreneur's ride in the custom camper van industry. |
| 1:13.7 | Let's welcome Roberto Gutierrez, co-founder of Van Smith. |
| 1:18.9 | Hello, Roberto, and welcome to the show. |
| 1:21.7 | Thank you, sir. |
| 1:22.4 | How are you doing? |
| 1:23.0 | I'm fantastic. |
... |
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