Impossible for a teenager. This isn't like your everyday "kid makes a software startup" stories. He had to source all the machines, go through all the obscure documentation, understand how to test his yield, etc. He built his own photolithography machine ffs. I can't imagine the dedication required to go through this and believe in yourself every step of the way.
Helps to have some money too. I could just about afford to get some PCBs made for some RF work but ain't no way I was getting mum and dad to buy me my own electron microscope (or move house to have space)