Nophone: What happened to nophone after shark tank

The NoPhone, a low-tech device, is in a class of its own considering Shark Tank's well-known reputation for showcasing cutting-edge technology to millions of viewers. Is there no need for this phone in real life? Or does this odd device, which is set to be vetted as a Shark Tank product, actually address a significant need in the twenty-first century? Let's delve into the Nophone, it's creators and what they're upto after their stint at Shark Tank.

What is the NoPhone?

• Entrepreneurs: Van Gould and Chris Sheldon
• Business: Fake phone that helps with device addiction
• Ask: $25,000 for 15% equity
• Result: No deal
• Shark: None

In the renowned ABC reality series Shark Tank, two young business owners Van Gould and Chris Sheldon promoted the Nophone. The NoPhone device was unveiled as a solution for those who use their smartphones compulsively. The creators pitched it as the fix for anyone with an addiction to their smartphones.

No-Phones are unable to perform the functions of a typical phone because they lack call functionality, a lens, a screen, audio, or even Internet access. An improvement that stays with the No-Phone and is utilized as an attachment to help you see yourself once you use it is a selfie mirror.

The entire thing is essentially a flat slab of solid, black plastic that has been formed into the shape of a smartphone. Moreover, the developers of this gadget offer bundles for customers depending on whatever occasion they're purchasing the product. Their Kickstarter sites demonstrate that the No-Phone offers a technology-free substitute to regular hand-to-phone interaction that empowers you to engage with the outside world.

Now that we know a bit about NoPhone and their offerings, let's get right into their Shark Tank pitch.

NoPhone and their Shark Tank Pitch

Two New York City creatives from Barton F. Graf, Chris Sheldon and Van Gould, are the creators of the NoPhone. They presented the NoPhone and its two iterations on Shark Tank.

Gould and Sheldon sold an astonishing 3100 NoPhones before pitching the product on Shark Tank. 3,100 sales have been made for a total of $42,000. While the selfie version costs $18, the normal no phone option is $12. Through their online store, they promote it for sales. They also successfully campaigned on Kickstarter in 2014, exceeding their goal by more than four times.

The NoPhone is not intended for use with anything, does not come with a warranty, and cannot be returned. The creators wanted to make the NoPhone a modern-day pet rock that keeps owners away from their smartphones.

Gould and Sheldon stated in their audition video that the overarching limitation with society these days is that folks are using their phones needlessly and not paying enough attention to one another. They reported seeing customers constantly looking down at their smartphones in playgrounds and eateries. They claimed that they were also guilty for that too.

The scenario of Gould and Sheldon conversing in a pub is briefly seen in the video. They were engaged in a conversation when Sheldon's phone started to ring. He reached down to respond and cut them off. Gould claimed that was the moment he understood just how serious of a predicament they were facing.

NoPhone's Shark Tank Appearance

Chris Sheldon and Van Gould entered the Tank in season 7 episode 28, Van Gould and Chris Sheldon present the NoPhone while appearing to be completely engrossed on their phones. As they introduced themselves to the sharks, they did not glance up.

Van explained that they were searching for $25,000 in exchange for 15% equity in their business, NoPhone, while still glancing down at their phone. Both of the business owners looked up only when they claimed to have a remedy for the issue of phone addiction. They stated that it's a pretend phone for folks who are dependent on genuine phones.

According to Chris, all you need to do is pick it up and keep it. He claimed that it has no warranty, no returns, and was not made for any specific purpose. It's just the preferred rock of the millennial consumers.

Chris and Van started handing out product samples. Van gave Robert his custom smartphone that has a mirror-like selfie camera. The founders were questioned by Lori over the quantity of phones they sold. Van told her that they have supplied 3100 gadgets since November of last year.

At the beginning some of the Sharks were intrigued by the high profit margins. But eventually all of them bowed out of investing in the product stating that it brings no real value to people's lives and Mark Cuban stated that patenting a piece of plastic was a foolish endeavor. The designers of NoPhone were adamant about the device's value to younger generations. The two creators contend that NoPhone is not at all useless, despite the fact that the Sharks felt it had very little use.

The creators of the NoPhone left the show disappointed but with strong belief that their product would eventually enjoy success.

NoPhone after their Shark Tank Appearance

A post on the Forbes website called it a fake smartphone company that made its Shark Tank debut. In addition, the business is still expanding, and its webpage includes a number of excellent testimonials from prominent sources. This phone, according to Time Magazine, simulates your favorite recreational item to help you gradually part ways with it.

On the website, the NoPhone Air, which is merely a plastic box with nothing inside, is now offered for $5! Several buyers of the phone also state that it is a great practical joke gift for your loved ones and friends. We believe that the creators kept selling the item after the episode aired, not just on their website but also on Amazon.

But as of 2022, the item is no longer offered on Amazon. What we could discern indicated that they may have removed it from the website sometime during 2018, yet it briefly reappeared in 2021. The NoPhone is nevertheless still offered on their official website. The NoPhone is still in business although its main website now only has figures in European currency rather than dollars.

Additionally, they appear to give free shipping on all of their orders. You may look it up here if you're interested.

What are Chris and Van doing these days? After NoPhone, evidently, the latter started working as an Associate Creative Director at Anomaly from January 2020 to November 2021. As of November 2021, he has been the Creative Director at Maximum Effort, a Ryan Reynolds-cofounded film production studio and digital marketing firm with offices in New York. Chris on the other hand is also a Creative Director at Maximum Effort with his old partner today.

Are the entrepreneurs likely to return to the tank anytime soon? Most likely not, given that the product has struggled both within and outside of their appearance on the show. The NoPhone was not well accepted by the sharks, Can and Chris seem more than content with their current positions at Maximum Effort. We currently don't have any idea as to what profits and sales the company made at the end of the day as they still offer the product. But we have very little information on how many products have been sold in the past few years. Some websites state that the company has a networth of 15 million dollars but there isn't much proof to back up those figures.

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