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Shark Tank success: Cello reinvented with 3D printing

Alfred Goodrich, lead inventor and CEO, and Elijah Lee, a Yale biomedical engineering senior and co-founder of Forte3D, are doing something remarkable: rethinking a 300-year-old instrument -- the cello -- by blending engineering, 3D printing, and modern materials.

Forte3D's innovative cello design uses carbon fiber panels and 3D-printed components to create an instrument that can withstand travel and temperature changes while producing rich, resonant sound. [Photo courtesy of Yale Engineering/Forte3D]

 

 

 

 

A vision of accessibility
For centuries, the cello has remained largely unchanged -- as have its limitations. Traditional wooden instruments are expensive, often costing $5,000 or more, and their size and fragility make them difficult to own, travel with, or even practice consistently. In high school, Alfred Goodrich, Yale Engineering senior Elijah Lee's orchestra director, posed a challenge that merged Elijah's two passions: could he combine his early 3D-printing experiments with his love of music to help create a cello that was durable, affordable, and accessible to anyone who wanted to play? That question became the spark.

Today, that idea has evolved into a cello that's caught the attention of world-renowned musicians -- including Yo-Yo Ma and The Piano Guys -- who were among the first to play and praise the innovative design of Forte3D, the company the Yale biomedical engineer co-founded.

Yale Engineering senior Elijah Lee is pictured with one of the 3D-printed cellos. [Photo courtesy of Yale Engineering/Forte3D]

 

 

 

 

Forte3D's instrument uses carbon fiber and polymer materials, built around a patented design engineered from the ground up. Rather than replicating a wooden cello, they reimagined its structure: the top and back are flat carbon-fiber panels, while the ribs, neck, and scroll are 3D printed. Traditional components such as the sound post, fingerboard, and bridge preserve tonal authenticity.

The result is a robust instrument that can withstand travel, temperature swings, and daily use -- all while still producing a rich, resonant sound. Through rapid CAD design and prototyping, the team can tweak shape, thickness, and material to tune the sound -- with consistency impossible with carved wood.

"Because we're using our own designs ... we can really dial in the acoustics," Elijah explained. Forte3D even offers custom-printed designs on their cellos and now violins, letting each instrument reflect the personality and artistry of its player.

From prototype to the Tank
In Alfred's house, Alfred and Elijah built a custom-sized 3D printer capable of printing cellos and now violins -- a formidable engineering challenge due to the printer's size and the high-performance materials involved.

Six years of iteration led to a pivotal moment: In November 2025, the Forte3D team appeared on the nationally syndicated show Shark Tank. They walked in asking for $250,000 for 10% equity. They walked out with an offer from Lori Greiner -- $250,000 for 16% equity -- and national validation for an instrument they'd built from scratch.

The project reflects a core Yale Engineering mindset: "Iterate fast, refine often."

"The number one skill from Yale Engineering that served us most was the ability to iterate rapidly ... to take your best shot, use that information, improve, and try again," Elijah said.

They estimate the cello went through hundreds of iterations before reaching its final form.

Forte3D also offers custom-printed designs on their cellos and now violins. [Photo courtesy of Yale Engineering/Forte3D]

 

 

Looking back, Elijah recalls that first moment the instrument truly sang the way they imagined it -- a slow crescendo of relief and exhilaration.

"It was gradual, but when we assembled the first fully realized cello, I thought, 'Okay, wow, we really have something here.' That moment made it all worth it," Elijah said.

A bigger mission
With the Shark Tank offer secured and demand surging, Forte3D is scaling up. The company has already launched a 3D-printed violin and is exploring viola designs as well as designs for smaller instruments for students. Yet the vision extends beyond the professional stage. They hope to bring high-quality, rugged string instruments to schools, students, and musicians who can't afford or don't have access to traditional instruments.

VIDEO: Steven Sharp Nelson: Piano Guys testimonial for Forte3D 3D-printed cello.

Beyond the technical triumphs and national spotlight, Alfred and Elijah see Forte3D as a vehicle for broader change. "Music shouldn't be confined by price or fragile wood," Elijah reflects. For him, the cello is more than an instrument. It's a bridge -- a connection between craft, technology, and human creativity.

"A student in a rural school, a touring professional, or a budding musician anywhere in the world could hold one and feel the same richness, the same resonance, the same possibility. If we can put instruments in the hands of more people, spark curiosity, and make music accessible to everyone, then we've really built something that can change the way the world hears music."

To learn more about Forte3D's innovative instruments, visit forte3d.com. Instrument prices are more than for inexpensive "beginner" instruments, but the sound quality and durability are much higher. A Forte3D violin is currently on special offer for the sale price of $1,495. The company says it typically takes two weeks to fill an instrument order.

Source: Yale University Engineering

Published December 2025

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