Alumnus Kwasu Sampson: Inventor of Cash Cannon

Story By
Cindy Stewart | Mechanical Engineering Dept.

Kwasi Sampson
Kwasi Sampson

The Cash Cannon: you may have seen it on MTV. You may have seen T-Pain or R. Kelly use it. You may have seen it in a car commercial. Wherever you’ve seen this device-a device from which you can launch money, confetti, flyers, and other paper products-alumnus Kwasi Sampson is the reason. Sampson began work on the idea in 2008. He graduated from Mechanical Engineering in 2002.

Following graduation, Sampson was one of the star sales people at EarthLink - he ranked sixth after only three months of working there. He eventually worked at Bell South, then Georgia Power, where he worked for a year as an AutoCAD designer. Using AutoCAD, Sampson mapped power line systems so that technicians could have up-to-date information when installing power lines.

After his time at Georgia Power, Sampson worked at Snapper in McDonough, Georgia, where he learned more about 3D design. In addition, he learned a bit about the business side of creating a product, including how to sell a product and how to change its design so that it’s less costly. This was the first time Sampson designed a product and also watched it be produced. He continued design with the company Storage Product Groups in 2009, where he designed both shelving and mobile shelving for customers. Sampson then designed a product for Kroger, a company that bought 1.4 million dollars worth of his creation.

Sampson had been thinking about the Cash Cannon since 2008, but it wasn’t until years later that the initial prototype for his product was born. The sellable version quickly followed, and quickly sold out. Today, Sampson hopes the sales continue before moving into retail. Currently bringing in over $100,000 in sales, the Cash Cannon’s appearance on MTV has been a highlight for Sampson, as he’s thrilled that it’s getting exposure, which indeed helps sales. On seeing the Cash Cannon not only on MTV but now in a commercial for PC Financial, Sampson notes, “When you make commercials or produce something, someone is thinking of how to use the Cash Cannon.”

Just as important as the Cash Cannon’s continuing sales and exposure is what goes into its creation and promotion. Through working on the Cash Cannon, Sampson has gained more experience with manufacturing, logistics, and online sales. He’s learned more about what goes into the physical product itself, including how rubber, molds, and eventually electrical controlling (he’d like to create a remote-controlled Cash Cannon) are all a part of its creation. Of course, his base of knowledge from the College of Engineering has contributed as well.

“Learning to work with groups of people in the Senior Design project helped me out,” Sampson states. He adds that the 3D design, mechanical systems, and physics courses provided him with know-how he has used in creating the Cash Cannon.

As the Cash Cannon continues to sell, Sampson shares his advice on working toward success, “Make sure whatever you’re doing, you’re passionate about it.”

Indeed, Sampson shows passion for creating the Cash Cannon, and watching its appeal grow day by day. For him, the joy is ultimately in “seeing someone using what you’ve developed, and enjoy using it.”

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