This 19-Year-Old Makes $800K A Year In His Parents' Basement With A 3D Printer

Using a 3D printer to start a small business is a novel, but not new, concept. Anyone who's gone to a convention or street fair recently has surely seen several tables filled with 3D prints for sale, and online shops offer similar trinkets. However, a business rooted in 3D prints that generates hundreds of thousands of dollars per year isn't one to look past. 19-year-old Mike Satterlee accomplished this feat with his business that, of all places, was headquartered in his parents' basement before moving to a warehouse once things got big enough. Such an accomplishment could convince some prospective buyers that 3D printers are still worth purchasing in 2026.

Satterlee runs CruiseCup, a brand of 3D-printed, hard-shell coozies which are apparently directed toward military personnel and firearm aficionados, per their "tactical" naming conventions and bullet-like designs. CruiseCup launched in 2025, and, according to its official website, has sold over 72,372 units, as of October 2026, throughout all 50 U.S. states. CNBC reported the company generated $808,000 in gross revenue both through its website and TikTok Shop in its first year of operation.

Its product selection includes the Tactical Reload Can Holder, a container crafted to hold two 12-ounce cans that is particularly shaped to be compatible with Coors. Other unique items include the Shotgun Shell Tactical Reload Can Holder, another two-can holder which, as its name suggests, is molded and colored like a shotgun shell. CruiseCup also now offers stainless steel holders both in single and double varieties. Glowing reviews of these products show that Satterlee's 3D-printed designs are actually reliable, unlike some other products. "Love the product!" one reviewer wrote. "I think the idea is great. Functionality wise I've had zero issues."

Running a 3D print business with as high a demand as Mike Satterlee's eventually required a massive fleet and much more space to run them in. Per CNBC Make It, Satterlee employs 160 printers in a New York-based warehouse he rents for $3,600 monthly. He initially brought together the necessary funds for the space with his former 3D print business, Solefully, which accumulated approximately $250,000 in 2024 producing and selling Croc charms. Satterlee showcased a small portion of his printing corps in a February 2026 TikTok post, in which they appeared in the background while he tested out a CruiseCup product.

Satterlee told Entrepreneur in a January 2026 interview that the Bambu Lab A1 is his preferred 3D printer brand for bringing his buzz-worthy products to life. The high demand generated by his aggressive social media strategy necessitates other, higher-end printers, as well, though most of his can holders are made with A1s. "That's why I have to have so many printers," Satterlee said. "If a video goes viral and you only have a couple of 3D printers, it will take you months to fulfill all of those orders." His business' quick takeoff indicates he'll likely need even more printers to keep up with its virality.