NoPhone on ‘Shark Tank’: Interview With Owners

NoPhone entered the Shark Tank to debut a fake phone (a piece of rectangular-shaped plastic) that is meant to aid in curing society’s addiction to looking at their phones. We interviewed owners Van Gould and Chris Sheldon about their simple, yet innovate product.

“When people think the NoPhone is a joke, we ask them to hold it and look into the eyes of another human being. It feels really good to have no phone. We have shipped over 4,500 NoPhones worldwide,” Gould said. “We will be here selling fake phones for as long as people are addicted to real phones. And if people get addicted to hand soap, we’ll consider selling fake hand soap,” Sheldon added.

Here’s what else the New York-based entrepreneurs told us about…

Buy a NoPhone here.

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How the Idea For the Company Came About

Gould:

We were at a rooftop bar where everyone was on their phones, including us. We wondered if people would be able to look into each other’s eyes if they were holding a fake phone instead of a real phone. That’s when the idea for the NoPhone was born. The NoPhone is a security blanket for people who use their phones too much. A simulated smartphone, to cure phone addiction

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Experience With Kickstarter

Sheldon:

Kickstarter is the reason why the largest fake phone company in the world exists today. Over 900 generous souls pledged $18,316 to make NoPhone a reality and that is something we’ll never forget. Once we surpass one-million dollars in sales, a monument will be constructed in their names.

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Buy a NoPhone here.

Positive Feedback From Customers

Sheldon:

People love the NoPhone. One customer, Monica P, told us, “I stopped taking pictures of my food. Thanks NoPhone!” Another customer, Craig G, told us, “I haven’t drunk texted my ex-boyfriend in over a week.” And Andra J told us, “It’s not a phone.” Andra is right. The NoPhone is not a phone, making it the perfect replacement for a phone.

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Entering the ‘Tank’

Gould:

The Shark Tank audition was right down the street from NoPhone headquarters, my 400-square-foot apartment on the Upper West Side. We waited in a huge line in the bitter cold for the chance to pitch our fake phone company. We were thrilled and terrified when we found out we could get a chance to go into the Tank. We are very proud to be the first fake phone company on Shark Tank.

Buy a NoPhone here.

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