CruiseCup achieved gross revenue of $808,000 in 2025, and recorded sales of approximately $601,000 between January and September 2026.
Link to this point #1CNBC Make It
I'm A Teen Who Built A 'Can Cooler' Business — It Brings In $808,000/Year
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Overview
CruiseCup, founded by 19-year-old Mike Satterlee, is a business that sells innovative can coolers capable of holding two cans and allowing retrieval from either the top or bottom. It achieved sales of approximately $808,000 in 2025. Initially manufactured in a factory with over 160 3D printers, it later transitioned to Chinese-made stainless steel products for scalability.
Key points
To innovate traditional can coolers, a structure capable of holding two cans and allowing retrieval from both top and bottom was developed, and two utility patents are pending.
Link to this point #2Although initially manufactured 24/7 with over 160 3D printers, the company transitioned to Chinese-made stainless steel products in July 2026 for scalability.
Link to this point #3By utilizing AI (Artificial Intelligence), the automation of the print farm, email workflows, and customer support are streamlined, keeping the number of employees to a minimum.
Link to this point #4He has foregone college and works 80-85 hours a week, but doesn't mind as he enjoys the work, stating that his biggest regret is not transitioning to stainless steel products sooner.
Link to this point #5Posting a viral video on social media directly led to sales, confirming product-market fit.
Link to this point #6As he lives with his parents, he does not take a formal salary, reinvesting all profits back into product development and inventory purchases.
Link to this point #7Being unable to meet demand during the Christmas season and being forced to halt sales resulted in a significant opportunity loss.
Link to this point #8His future goal is to expand products into major retail chains, and he intends to focus solely on CruiseCup's growth instead of attending college.
Link to this point #9Put this knowledge to work.
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