Camper vans are made for more than just camping, they can also be alternative homes. Most providers sell them at a high price, but Boho Camper Vans is different. Co-founders Brett Ellenson, David Sodemann, and Sarina Gomez made a deal with Barbara Corcoran on Shark Tank in 2020. Since then, Boho Camper Vans has done over $10 million in lifetime sales and is worth $4 million.
The Founders
Brett Ellenson and David Sodemann are long-time buddies from Phoenix. David got a degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Brett didn’t go to college but worked as an apprentice tradesman.
David also studied landscape architecture with a minor in marketing at Arizona State University. Earlier in his career, he worked as a manager for companies like ALL IN Media House, Kindred Cannabis, and Giving Tree Dispensary.
Meanwhile, Ellenson started as a welder and machinist at Rolling Thunder LLC. After seven years at the firm, he became a regional director at Desert EDM.
Establishing Boho Camper Vans
While renting a camper van in Maui, Hawaii, David realized that he could do the same thing back home. So, he returned to Phoenix and started working with Brett to build a mobile home.
After two months, the van was complete with running water, storage systems, and other living necessities. When the guys weren’t using it, they made it available for rent. Not long after, it was being rented so often that they couldn’t use it themselves.
The two officially launched the business in 2018 by converting used cargo vans. They managed to sell 12 of them and kept five to rent out. In 2019, the company made $493,000 in sales before pitching on Shark Tank.
How Barbara Corcoran Won the Boho Deal
In 2020, Brett Ellenson and David Sodemann appeared on season 11 of Shark Tank, asking for $300,000 in exchange for 10% equity. A reasonable valuation given that the company already had decent sales.
All the investors were amazed at the startup’s performance. A Shark fight was already brewing, but things got more heated when the entrepreneurs mentioned their predicted sales in the coming years.
Four Sharks went into a bidding battle but some got greedy and wanted too much equity. Real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran met the founders’ initial offer, albeit half of the $300,000 was a line of credit. Kevin O’Leary tried to counter, but they went with Barbara.
Where Boho Camper Vans Is After Shark Tank
The deal with Barbara Corcoran officially closed and Boho is regarded as one of the more memorable Shark Tank pitches. Despite the rental side taking an early hit during the pandemic, the custom-build side benefited from the surge of interest in socially-distanced travel. Within 8 months of the episode airing, Boho did $1.4 million in sales plus another $1 million in pre-sales.
Steady Growth and a New Production Facility
The trajectory since has been steady. Lifetime sales have now surpassed $10 million, the team has grown to around 26 employees, and Boho operates out of a 25,000 sq ft indoor production facility in Tempe, Arizona.
David has publicly credited Barbara’s mentorship as the most valuable part of the deal: “The monetary investment was a nice cushion, but the best value we received from the show was having Barbara in our corner.”
The product itself has evolved significantly. In summer 2024, Boho launched their NextGen Series, built on Dodge RAM ProMaster vans with enhanced lithium battery systems, high-efficiency climate control, improved insulation, exterior storage, and increased water capacity. The chassis range has also expanded beyond used cargo vans to include Mercedes Sprinter, Ford Transit, and Ram ProMaster.
What Boho Camper Vans Cost
Pricing has shifted with the build complexity. Custom conversions now start at $39,000, with most clients investing $60,000–$80,000 (not including the base vehicle). Most builds take 5-6 weeks once the van is in production. Boho has also added camper van financing with terms up to 20 years, opening the market to buyers who previously couldn’t afford an outright purchase. Rentals continue to operate from Tempe at around $200 per night.
Press and Partnerships
Beyond the commercial side, Boho has donated camper vans to first responders and partnered with Roadtek as a SEMA 2024 demo vehicle. Press coverage has continued in Business Insider, Curbed, BuzzFeed, FOX 10 Phoenix, New Atlas, and CNBC, and reviews remain strongly positive across Facebook and Google.
