25/08/2026
Our very own Calida!👏 well done keep up the good work!
At just eight years old, Calida is already developing her own business! All just using creativity, problem-solving and 3D printing.
Her entrepreneurial journey began with a simple everyday problem. Put simply, she struggled to hold her phone while eating or watching something. Instead of accepting the inconvenience, she came up with a solution, 3D printed phone stands.
“I came up with an idea to make 3D printed phone stands,” Calida explains. Her stands are available in a variety of colours, including light blue, maroon, orange, pink, red, green and purple, with light blue being her favourite.
Customers can also request different sizes and custom designs. “If I give you an image of something, you can develop it into a cell phone stand?” I asked. “Yes,” she replied.
Calida's business extends well beyond phone stands. She has created toy keychain airplanes for children taking their first flight, small hockey sticks keychains for her coaches, toys and bookmarks.
Getting the business started required planning and experimentation - her first attempts were not always successful. “Everything I thought turned out great, but they wouldn't hold for too long,” she said. Some of the early phone stands would tip over when carrying the weight of a phone. Rather than giving up, Calida developed better designs and continued testing until she produced more stable stands.
One memorable attempt involved printing a dolphin as a birthday present for her cousin. When she returned from school, however, the finished print looked more like a shark, complete with what appeared to be teeth.
Asking what she enjoys about being a business owner, Calida gave a refreshingly honest answer: “..because then I get money [...] ..I see my business growing from this tiny business to the whole world knowing about it,” she said.
Calida also hopes her work can make a difference for children - her dream is for “every kid to have a toy.” With her creativity, willingness to learn from mistakes and determination to keep improving, this young entrepreneur may only be at the beginning of something much bigger.
Those interested can reach out to 083 937 7539
