Want to get rid of an insect and avoid killing it? Enter Cup-a-Bug, the humane way to catch creepy crawlers in the house without having to lay your hands on them. Invented by Justin Huang, the product has gone viral online and he recently got a deal with Mark Cuban. After the show, Cup-a-Bug is worth an estimated $200,000.
Justin Huang’s Background
Huang is an arachnophobe, so he basically created the product for himself. Justin’s technical background is a big help as he graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from UC Irvine.
Justin owns a company called Solid Factory, which uses 3D printing to create cool products. They sell random products such as card trays, dice towers and battery dispensers. According to his LinkedIn profile, he has worked as a Mechanical Engineer at Astro Flight for over 13 years.
Cup-a-Bug’s Origin
Justin borrowed the idea from the old ‘cup and paper’ technique of catching insects. However, he designed it to be operated with one hand. Its mechanism is attached to a pole with a lever, so you don’t have to go anywhere near a bug.
The inventor launched a Kickstarter campaign during the product development stage in 2022. After various prototypes, over 700 pre-orders were shipped to customers. The Kickstarter campaign ended with 573 backers pledging over $28,800.
Sales for the no-kill bug catcher skyrocketed when it went viral on TikTok. Their first video got over 16 million views, but their most popular clip has more than 25 million. These videos were posted on Justin’s personal account, which is now his official company page.
After Shark Tank
Even though Cup-a-Bug already had a strong social media presence, the power of Shark Tank will give them a big viral boost. If Justin is able to keep up with orders, he should drive at least $100,000 in sales. You can buy their product on Cupabug.com, and official Amazon and Etsy stores.
The regular price is $49.99, but they are now selling them at a $10 discount with free shipping in the US. This deal is only available on their website, where they have a 5-star rating from six reviews. In case you weren’t in time for the free shipping deal and live near Irvine, California, you can contact their socials to ask for a local pickup. Your shipping costs will be refunded.
Currently, Cup-a-Bug only delivers to customers in the US. However, Justin has plans to reach a global audience. If he succeeds and makes it big, the company can become a well-known brand in the smart insect traps market, which is estimated to grow to $1.5 billion by 2030.
