Big ideas don’t always arrive with loud announcements.
Sometimes, they grow quietly—from family moments, small observations, and lessons learned at home.
This is the story of Dave Ng, co-founder of Big Tiny, and how curiosity, resilience, and courage helped turn a simple idea into a business with more than 100 tiny houses across Australia.
At My Little Big Boss, we believe children learn best through real stories—stories that show entrepreneurship is not about being perfect, but about learning, adapting, and never giving up.
Growing Up with Curiosity
Dave grew up in Singapore with his parents and his younger brother. Like many families, mornings were busy—his parents heading out to work while the two brothers stayed behind together. Those early years were filled with simple joys: exploring their neighborhood, trying new foods, and spending time outdoors with friends.
Dave was naturally curious. He loved discovering new experiences and asking questions about how things worked. Even as a child, he enjoyed trying new activities—not because he knew the outcome, but because he wanted to see what might happen.
Those everyday adventures quietly shaped how Dave saw the world. He learned that curiosity opens doors, and that trying something new—even something small—can lead to bigger ideas later on.
Learning Resilience at Home
As Dave grew older, life at home became more challenging.
His father ran a precious metal recycling business, and when the business faced a downturn, Dave witnessed something many children never see up close: the reality of entrepreneurship during hard times.
Some nights, Dave would peek through a slightly opened door and see his father still working—papers spread across the table, calculations unfinished, determination written on his face. The days were long, and the pressure was real.
Yet, no matter how busy his father became, he was always there for Dave when guidance or reassurance was needed.
“Seeing my dad work late into the night taught me that setbacks are part of the journey,” Dave later reflected. “What matters is not giving up, even when things get hard.”
From his father, Dave learned an important lesson: resilience is not about avoiding challenges—it’s about facing them with persistence and hope.
Learning Business the Real Way
During his secondary school years, Dave began learning his father’s trade, spending time by his side and quietly absorbing how the business worked.
A few years after graduating, he officially joined the family business, where everyday lessons replaced textbooks and real experiences became his classroom. Working alongside his dad, Dave learned how to communicate with people, manage clients, stay calm under pressure, and adapt when things didn’t go according to plan. “Working with my dad taught me how to manage people and challenges in real situations,” Dave shared.
“It wasn’t always easy, but it helped me grow.” Even during those early years, Dave’s curiosity never faded—he was always observing, asking questions, and thinking about how things could be done better, planting the seeds for the entrepreneur he would one day become.
Early Ideas and Early Failures
While working for his father, Dave started experimenting with ideas of his own.
During a trip to Japan, he noticed the wide variety of vending machines and imagined a machine that could make fresh sandwiches on demand. Another time, he worked on an environmentally friendly solution for recycling electronic waste.
Some ideas showed promise.
Most didn’t succeed.
But Dave didn’t see these attempts as failures.
“I’ve always been curious about how things work,” he said. “Whenever I saw a problem, I couldn’t help but think about how it could be solved better.”
Each idea—successful or not—taught him something new. More importantly, it taught him not to fear failure.
The Coffee That Sparked a Big Idea
One ordinary day, during a casual coffee meetup with his friend Adrian, everything changed.
Adrian shared stories from a recent trip to Australia, where he stayed on a farm surrounded by beautiful land and open skies. While the scenery was stunning, the accommodation didn’t fully allow guests to enjoy nature in a comfortable, meaningful way.
That conversation lingered.
Together, Dave and Adrian asked a simple but powerful question:
Why doesn’t this exist yet?
“Australia has so much beautiful farmland,” Dave recalled.
“We felt there had to be a better way for people to stay close to nature.”
That moment marked the beginning of what would become Big Tiny.
Imagining Big Tiny
As Dave and Adrian talked more about their idea, they began to imagine tiny houses nestled among beautiful farmlands—places where travelers could slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with nature in a way traditional hotels often couldn’t offer.
Rather than rushing into action, they chose to pause and think carefully about how to bring their vision to life.
Together, they mapped out three clear steps: finding people with the right skills to support the journey, designing and building the tiny houses, and partnering with landowners across Australia who shared their belief in meaningful travel experiences.
Both in their mid-30s, they explored many housing options before deciding on tiny houses on wheels, a choice that offered flexibility, comfort, and a true sense of home for guests.
Then came a bold decision—one that required courage and trust. Dave and Adrian chose to commit to Big Tiny full-time, even before securing funding, believing deeply enough in their vision to take the leap together.
Building Without Knowing Everything
Dave and Adrian had no experience building houses when they began, and the early days of Big Tiny were filled with uncertainty. When the large wall panels for their very first tiny house arrived, the task ahead suddenly felt overwhelming—the pieces were heavy, unfamiliar, and far more intimidating than they had imagined.
Dave felt unsure of himself, but he was never alone. Adrian stood beside him, offering clear direction, steady encouragement, and calm leadership through each challenge.
“There were moments when I had no idea what I was doing,” Dave admitted, “but having Adrian beside me made all the difference. We learned everything step by step.”
That trust and partnership, built during uncertain moments, soon became one of Big Tiny’s greatest strengths.
Growing Tiny… and Growing Big
Once production began, Big Tiny slowly started to take shape—then grew faster than Dave and Adrian had ever imagined. What began with just one tiny house soon turned into steady progress, and before they knew it, the business was expanding across Australia.
Over time, Big Tiny grew to include more than 100 tiny houses spread across four states, along with a growing community of land partners and guests who believed in the same vision. It was an exciting season filled with pride and possibility—but with growth also came new challenges, reminding Dave and Adrian that every step forward brings fresh
Knocking on Doors and Hearing “No”
Securing land was one of the hardest parts of Dave and Adrian’s journey. They knocked on countless doors and made many cold calls to landowners, often hearing “no” or meeting hesitation along the way. While the rejections were challenging, they understood something crucial—landowners were not just partners, but a reflection of the Big Tiny brand itself. This meant taking the time to choose partners carefully and build relationships rooted in trust and respect. Slowly, through patience and persistence, those relationships began to grow.
Learning to Serve and Lead
As guests began staying in the tiny houses, a new set of lessons quietly unfolded for Dave. He learned how important it was to meet guest needs, manage expectations, and build tiny houses quickly enough to keep up with growing demand.
Through it all, Dave came to understand that leadership isn’t something you master overnight—it’s a skill that grows with time and experience. “Running a business isn’t just about the idea—it’s about people,” he shared. “Learning how to listen, respect different opinions, and work together is something I still practice every day.”
Even now, Dave continues to lead with empathy, knowing that caring for people is just as important as building a great business.
Challenges Never Truly End
Like all businesses, Big Tiny faced challenges at every stage of its journey. There were times when growth happened faster than expected, moments when progress felt slow, and situations where the right decision wasn’t always clear.
During those uncertain times, Dave often looked back to the lessons he learned at home—especially the resilience he saw in his father and the importance of continuing even when things felt difficult. Those reminders helped him persevere, understanding that challenges are not signs to stop, but chances to learn and grow.
Dreaming Bigger Than Tiny
Today, Dave, Adrian, and the entire Big Tiny team continue to dream of growing beyond what they first imagined—expanding across Australia and, one day, into other countries as well. Looking back, Dave believes their journey has always been guided by two key qualities: resilience and the courage to dream big.
“Even though ‘tiny’ is in our name, our dreams were always big,” he reflected.
Big Tiny’s story shows that when a business is built with care, patience, and courage, it can grow far beyond its original size and become something truly meaningful.
Learn More About Big Tiny
Big Tiny is an Australia-based accommodation brand offering thoughtfully designed tiny houses placed in nature-rich locations. Co-founded by Dave Ng and Adrian, the brand creates meaningful travel experiences that connect people with nature, community, and slower living.
Built on curiosity, collaboration, and resilience, Big Tiny shows how purpose-driven businesses can grow while staying true to their values.
Big Tiny Business Details:
Curious to experience Big Tiny for yourself? You can explore their tiny house stays and learn more on their official website: https://www.bigtiny.com.sg/
Visit them at their official business address: Blk 704 Ang Mo Kio Central Ave 8 #01-2559, Singapore 560704.
Discover 100 Inspirational Entrepreneurship Success Stories
Dave’s journey is one of many featured in My Little Big Boss’ 100 Inspirational Entrepreneurship Success Stories—created to inspire kids to explore ideas, understand real businesses, and believe in their potential.
