Some business ideas sound like jokes. A cup that holds two beer cans and looks like a military ammo reload is one of them. It made about $808,000 in its first year.
This is the story of CruiseCup, a small brand run by a teenager, with an odd product, a viral post, and a warehouse full of 3D printers.
What is CruiseCup?
CruiseCup is a brand of 3D-printed can coolers run by Mike Satterlee, who is 19 according to BGR. Other reports say 18. Its best-known product is a two-can holder with a “tactical reload” look, and one outlet describes it as ejecting the old can when you slot in a new one. The brand sells through its own website and TikTok Shop.
The design is meant to be funny, with the look of military gear and the job of keeping your drinks cold.
How it started
Satterlee began in his parents’ basement and later moved to a rented warehouse as orders grew. He was not new to selling things online. Before CruiseCup he ran a shop selling charms for Crocs shoes, which BGR says brought in about $250,000 in 2024.
CruiseCup launched in 2025. The turning point was a viral Instagram post in August 2025, according to Makers101. The brand sold about $100,000 in that month alone.
The numbers
- $808,000 in gross revenue in 2025, according to documents CNBC Make It reviewed. That is revenue, not profit, and Satterlee has not shared his profit.
- 160 3D printers, mostly Bambu Lab A1 machines, in a warehouse that costs $3,600 a month.
- 72,372 units sold across all 50 US states as of October 2026, according to the company’s own website. That figure is self-reported.
The problem with going viral
A viral hit created a new problem: making enough cups. After the August 2025 spike, Satterlee estimated that his 60 printers at the time would need about six weeks to fill the orders. He kept buying machines, but printers fail and break, and he said that makes it hard to keep up.
According to Makers101, he has said the print farm can make at most about 400 cups a day. To get around the limit, CruiseCup added a stainless steel double cooler made by an outside manufacturer, while the printers keep making the plastic line.
Timeline
What stands out
- The product is simple and a little silly, which made it easy to share.
- The founder had already run a small online shop, so he knew how to sell before this hit.
- A viral post brought sales, but making enough product became the hard part.
- The $808,000 is revenue, so how much he kept after printers, rent, and materials is unknown.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns CruiseCup?
Mike Satterlee, a teenager who runs the brand from New York state.
How much did CruiseCup make?
CNBC reported about $808,000 in gross revenue in 2025. Profit has not been shared.
How are the cups made?
Most are 3D-printed on a farm of about 160 printers. A stainless steel version is made by an outside manufacturer.
Is the 72,372 units figure reliable?
It comes from the company’s own website, so it is a claim and not an independent figure.
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Sources
- 19-Year-Old Makes $800K a Year in His Parents’ Basement With a 3D Printer (BGR)
- CruiseCup Brought In $808,000 With a Bambu Lab A1 Print Farm, and It Still Couldn’t Keep Up (Makers101)
- 3D Printing, Private Lending: The Most Creative Ways People Made Money in 2025 (Yahoo Finance)
Keep reading
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- Can You Start an AI Agency With Zero Skills? A Reality Check
- From $400K to $32M? What TikTok Shop’s Micro-Brands Teach Small Businesses
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