NoPhone Device Solution Update | Shark Tank Season 7

Van Gould and Chris Sheldon were hanging out at a rooftop bar in New York City when they noticed something strange—no one was talking. Everyone was just staring at their phones. They realized they were doing the same thing, too. That’s when it hit them: phone addiction is real. So, they came up with the NoPhone—a fake phone made of plastic that doesn’t do anything. It’s just there to hold, so people can keep their hands busy and focus on what’s happening around them. Will this simple fix grab the sharks’ attention? Let’s find out in our NoPhone update and pitch recap.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview of what happened to NoPhone after Shark Tank.

Van and Chris entered Shark Tank Season 7, seeking $25,000 for 15% equity in their fake phone product. After their pitch, they left without a deal.

In terms of a NoPhone update, the company sold over 10,000 units through its website and Amazon, showing early traction despite not landing a deal. However, the company failed to secure major partnerships and eventually went out of business.

Shark	Result
Kevin O’Leary	No offer
Daymond John	No offer
Lori Greiner	No offer
Robert Herjavec	No offer
Mark Cuban	No offer

Shark Tank NoPhone Pitch

• 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

Van and Chris entered Shark Tank Season 7 on their phones, highlighting the constant presence that phones have in our lives.

They used shots of the sharks on their phones to make it even more apparent that we all spend a huge amount of time on our phones.

That’s why they created NoPhone, a fake phone. They introduced it as a simple way to deal with phone addiction.

The idea came from their own frustration with how often they and their friends checked their devices, even during face-to-face conversations.

It’s a plastic, phone-shaped object with no screen, battery, or apps. It doesn’t do anything. You just hold it.

They called it the “pet rock of the millennial generation.” It’s sold mostly as a gag gift.

They handed out samples to the sharks. One had a “selfie upgrade,” which was just a mirror. The moment earned a few laughs, but the sharks weren’t quite sure how to take it.

Lori Greiner asked about sales. Van said they had sold 3,100 units and made about $42,000.

The basic model sold for $12, and the mirror version sold for $18. Each one costs $2.95 to make.

They added that most sales came through their website, driven by media coverage and word of mouth.

Daymond John asked if they had approached gift stores like Spencer’s. They said no, since they both still had full-time jobs.

They admitted they weren’t sales experts.

Robert Herjavec asked if most buyers saw it as a gag. Van confirmed that was the case. He seemed amused but unsure if there was lasting potential.

Kevin O’Leary wasn’t impressed. He said the product had no real value and went out. Mark Cuban didn’t like the idea of patenting a block of plastic and went out.

Lori said the idea was funny but not investable and dropped out too. Robert liked the creativity but worried the market was too small.

Daymond said it might go viral like the pet rock, but he still passed on the offer.

The entrepreneurs left without a deal. Still, they stood by NoPhone and said the sharks missed out on something big.

Their confidence didn’t waver. They believed the conversation about phone addiction was just beginning.

Do you think the sharks really missed out on NoPhone? Keep reading this NoPhone update to find out.

Shark Tank NoPhone Update

Our NoPhone update found that after appearing on Shark Tank, Van and Chris kept going despite not getting a deal.

Over time, the company sold over 10,000 units. However, they were unable to sign any major licensing deals or retail partnerships.

Most sales came through their website and Amazon. In August 2024, our NoPhone update found that the website had gone offline.

As for the founders, their careers moved on. Van and Chris worked at the agency Anomaly from 2020 to 2021 and later became creative directors at Maximum Effort in 2021.

Today, NoPhone is no longer active as a growing business. It saw early success as a novelty product but faded as the team shifted to other ventures.

Unfortunately, this will be our final NoPhone update.

If you’d like to find out more about the other companies featured in Season 7 Episode 23, check out the rest of our company updates below.

• PrideBites Update
• TROBO Update
• Coolbox Update

Before you go, be sure to check out our list of all the Shark Tank Season 7 products.