Reid Hoffman challenges your thinking on AI, governance, and politics
The ERic RIES Show
Curated conversations
At the Long-Term Stock Exchange, we are dedicated to creating a world where businesses are empowered to achieve lasting impact and long-term prosperity.
To foster meaningful conversations, we curate conversations from an ecosystem of leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries.
The Eric Ries Show, a podcast produced by Founder and Chair of LTSE Services, Eric Ries, reflects our mission.
The show features thought-provoking conversations with world-class technologists, thought leaders, executives, and others who are working to create a new ecosystem of organizations committed to growth with purpose.
To foster meaningful conversations, we curate conversations from an ecosystem of leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries.
The Eric Ries Show, a podcast produced by Founder and Chair of LTSE Services, Eric Ries, reflects our mission.
The show features thought-provoking conversations with world-class technologists, thought leaders, executives, and others who are working to create a new ecosystem of organizations committed to growth with purpose.
Disclaimer: Information contained in this podcast was obtained in part from publicly available sources (including the Eric Ries Show) and not independently verified. The Long-Term Stock Exchange and its affiliated companies do not make any representations or warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of the information and do not sponsor, approve, or endorse any of the content herein, all of which is presented solely for informational and educational purposes. Nothing herein constitutes an offer to sell, a solicitation to buy any security, or a recommendation of any security or trading practice.
Some portions of the podcast may have been edited for the purpose of length or clarity.
From the Eric Ries Show:
From Bootstrapping to $400 Million – The Hustle Behind Hipcamp with Alyssa Ravasio
Listen on:
%201.svg)
%201.svg)
In this episode of The Eric Ries Show, I’m joined by Alyssa Ravasio, CEO and Founder of Hipcamp. Hipcamp is the platform that has revolutionized camping, with a mission to “get more people outside.” By making it easier for people to find camping on public lands—and then expanding to include private lands—Hipcamp significantly increased the supply of camping spots, making the outdoors more accessible to all.
In our conversation, Alyssa shares how her childhood fostered a deep love of nature, and how missed opportunities ultimately led her to become a founder. We dive into Hipcamp’s mission and discuss how staying true to it has been key to the company’s success. We talk about the following:
• How a rejection led Alyssa to create her own major, Digital Democracy
• The early experiences that shaped Alyssa’s respect for nature
• The problem Alyssa set out to solve when she started California Camping (now Hipcamp)
• Why Alyssa took a coding bootcamp and the early days of bootstrapping Hipcamp
• How Hipcamp expanded the supply of camping by opening up private lands
• Hipcamp’s many value-enforcing practices, including tying performance reviews to values
• The power of direct feedback, and why Hipcamp seeks diverse perspectives
• The practice of treating the business as an ecosystem
• And much more!
—
Brought to you by:
• Vanta – Automate compliance, manage risk, and prove trust—continuously. Save $1,000 today.
• Wilson Sonsini – Wilson Sonsini is the innovation economy’s law firm. Learn more.
—
Where to find Alyssa Ravasio:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssa-ravasio-23114717/
• X: https://x.com/alyraz
—
Where to find Eric:
• Newsletter:https://ericries.carrd.co/
• Podcast:https://ericriesshow.com/
• YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@theericriesshow
—
In This Episode We Cover:
(00:00) Intro
(02:28) Alyssa’s entrepreneurship journey
(03:40) Alyssa’s outdoorsy upbringing that fueled her desire to democratize outdoor access
(06:30) How film school rejection led Alyssa to design her own major at UCLA
(10:20) Alyssa’s philosophy of using technology for good
(13:40) Learnings from Alyssa’s first two startups
(16:05) How Alyssa prioritizes Hipcamp’s mission with her employees
(19:20) Hipcamp’s hiring process
(20:24) How California Camping became Hipcamp
(21:47) The initial idea behind California Camping
(24:52) How Alyssa dealt with naysayers in the early days of building Hipcamp
(28:00) How solving a customer’s problem on Twitter drew Alyssa’s first investor
(31:22) The early days of bootstrapping Hipcamp
(36:40) The power of a shared vision
(38:07) Overcoming scarcity in outdoor spaces by adding private lands
(42:15) Why the business model of Hipcamp is a win-win for all
(47:10) Systems and cultural practices that keep Hipcamp aligned with its mission and values
(54:15) A case for bringing teams together in nature
(56:50) The current state of Hipcamp
(59:42) How Hipcamp might scale impact with a fund in the future
(1:03:15) The practice of treating the business like an ecosystem
(1:10:14) Why a positive-impact business is also good business
(1:12:41) Alyssa’s thoughts on AI and how Hipcamp plans on utilizing it
(1:17:03) Lightning round
—
Referenced
- Hipcamp: https://www.hipcamp.com/en-US
- Francis Ford Coppola: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000338/
- The Godfather: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068646/
- Arab Spring: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_Spring
- Bryce Roberts on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/atbryce/
- Tim O’Reilly on X: https://x.com/timoreilly
- OATV: http://oatv.com/
- Ben Horowitz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/behorowitz/
- Matt Mullenweg’s website: https://ma.tt/
- The Oracle Of Silicon Valley Shares How to Create More Value Than You Capture | Tim O’Reilly: https://www.ericriesshow.com/tim-oreilly/
- Newbook: https://developers.newbook.cloud/rest.php
- Introducing Project Monarch: A Letter from Hipcamp Ecologist Charles Post: https://www.hipcamp.com/journal/company-news/introducing-project-monarch-a-letter-from-hipcamp-ecologist-charles-post
- Packet switching: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Packet_switching
- Whole Earth Catalog: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whole_Earth_Catalog
- Stewart Brand on X: https://x.com/stewartbrand
- Elinor Ostrom: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/economic-sciences/2009/ostrom/facts/
- E.O. Wilson: https://eowilsonfoundation.org/about-us/e-o-wilson/
- The Extinction Crisis: https://eowilsonfoundation.org/what-is-the-half-earth-project/the-extinction-crisis/
- Hipcamp CEO Alyssa Ravasio Speaks at ‘Our Shared Future,’ a Celebration of Half-Earth Day 2022: https://www.hipcamp.com/journal/camping/alyssa-ravasio-our-shared-future-half-earth-day
- 30x30 California: https://www.californianature.ca.gov/
- 6 tips for coping with climate anxiety: https://www.colorado.edu/health/blog/climate-anxiety
—
Production and marketing by https://penname.co/.
Eric may be an investor in the companies discussed.
Show Notes
In this episode of The Eric Ries Show, I’m joined by Alyssa Ravasio, CEO and Founder of Hipcamp. Hipcamp is the platform that has revolutionized camping, with a mission to “get more people outside.” By making it easier for people to find camping on public lands—and then expanding to include private lands—Hipcamp significantly increased the supply of camping spots, making the outdoors more accessible to all.
In our conversation, Alyssa shares how her childhood fostered a deep love of nature, and how missed opportunities ultimately led her to become a founder. We dive into Hipcamp’s mission and discuss how staying true to it has been key to the company’s success. We talk about the following:
• How a rejection led Alyssa to create her own major, Digital Democracy
• The early experiences that shaped Alyssa’s respect for nature
• The problem Alyssa set out to solve when she started California Camping (now Hipcamp)
• Why Alyssa took a coding bootcamp and the early days of bootstrapping Hipcamp
• How Hipcamp expanded the supply of camping by opening up private lands
• Hipcamp’s many value-enforcing practices, including tying performance reviews to values
• The power of direct feedback, and why Hipcamp seeks diverse perspectives
• The practice of treating the business as an ecosystem
• And much more!
—
Brought to you by:
• Vanta – Automate compliance, manage risk, and prove trust—continuously. Save $1,000 today.
• Wilson Sonsini – Wilson Sonsini is the innovation economy’s law firm. Learn more.
—
Where to find Alyssa Ravasio:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssa-ravasio-23114717/
• X: https://x.com/alyraz
—
Where to find Eric:
• Newsletter:https://ericries.carrd.co/
• Podcast:https://ericriesshow.com/
• YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@theericriesshow
—
In This Episode We Cover:
(00:00) Intro
(02:28) Alyssa’s entrepreneurship journey
(03:40) Alyssa’s outdoorsy upbringing that fueled her desire to democratize outdoor access
(06:30) How film school rejection led Alyssa to design her own major at UCLA
(10:20) Alyssa’s philosophy of using technology for good
(13:40) Learnings from Alyssa’s first two startups
(16:05) How Alyssa prioritizes Hipcamp’s mission with her employees
(19:20) Hipcamp’s hiring process
(20:24) How California Camping became Hipcamp
(21:47) The initial idea behind California Camping
(24:52) How Alyssa dealt with naysayers in the early days of building Hipcamp
(28:00) How solving a customer’s problem on Twitter drew Alyssa’s first investor
(31:22) The early days of bootstrapping Hipcamp
(36:40) The power of a shared vision
(38:07) Overcoming scarcity in outdoor spaces by adding private lands
(42:15) Why the business model of Hipcamp is a win-win for all
(47:10) Systems and cultural practices that keep Hipcamp aligned with its mission and values
(54:15) A case for bringing teams together in nature
(56:50) The current state of Hipcamp
(59:42) How Hipcamp might scale impact with a fund in the future
(1:03:15) The practice of treating the business like an ecosystem
(1:10:14) Why a positive-impact business is also good business
(1:12:41) Alyssa’s thoughts on AI and how Hipcamp plans on utilizing it
(1:17:03) Lightning round
—
Referenced
- Hipcamp: https://www.hipcamp.com/en-US
- Francis Ford Coppola: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000338/
- The Godfather: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068646/
- Arab Spring: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_Spring
- Bryce Roberts on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/atbryce/
- Tim O’Reilly on X: https://x.com/timoreilly
- OATV: http://oatv.com/
- Ben Horowitz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/behorowitz/
- Matt Mullenweg’s website: https://ma.tt/
- The Oracle Of Silicon Valley Shares How to Create More Value Than You Capture | Tim O’Reilly: https://www.ericriesshow.com/tim-oreilly/
- Newbook: https://developers.newbook.cloud/rest.php
- Introducing Project Monarch: A Letter from Hipcamp Ecologist Charles Post: https://www.hipcamp.com/journal/company-news/introducing-project-monarch-a-letter-from-hipcamp-ecologist-charles-post
- Packet switching: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Packet_switching
- Whole Earth Catalog: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whole_Earth_Catalog
- Stewart Brand on X: https://x.com/stewartbrand
- Elinor Ostrom: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/economic-sciences/2009/ostrom/facts/
- E.O. Wilson: https://eowilsonfoundation.org/about-us/e-o-wilson/
- The Extinction Crisis: https://eowilsonfoundation.org/what-is-the-half-earth-project/the-extinction-crisis/
- Hipcamp CEO Alyssa Ravasio Speaks at ‘Our Shared Future,’ a Celebration of Half-Earth Day 2022: https://www.hipcamp.com/journal/camping/alyssa-ravasio-our-shared-future-half-earth-day
- 30x30 California: https://www.californianature.ca.gov/
- 6 tips for coping with climate anxiety: https://www.colorado.edu/health/blog/climate-anxiety
—
Production and marketing by https://penname.co/.
Eric may be an investor in the companies discussed.
Disclaimer
The information is provided for informational and educational purposes only, and nothing contained herein should be construed as investment advice, either on behalf of a particular security or an overall investment strategy. Information about the company is provided by the company, or comes from the companies’ public filings and is not independently verified by LTSE. Neither LTSE nor any of its affiliates makes any recommendation to buy or sell any security or any representation about the financial condition of any company. Statements regarding LTSE-listed companies are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investors should undertake their own due diligence and carefully evaluate companies before investing. Advice from a securities professional is strongly advised.
Curated Conversations
