Chalkless

Chalkless is a grip-enhancing product for athletes that works by absorbing the oils on your skin instead of coating your hands in messy chalk. Founders David Pope, who goes by Greg, and James Pidhurney built it for sports where grip is everything, from golf and tennis to lifting and climbing, offering cleaner, longer-lasting traction without the dust and residue of traditional chalk. The pitch centered on real grip-performance gains demonstrated live.

The founders entered Season 16 asking for 400,000 dollars for 4 percent and demonstrated their technology, citing a sizable improvement in grip. Kevin O'Leary and Rashaun Williams teamed up and closed at 400,000 dollars for 4 percent, with a per-unit royalty that pays the sharks back over time before dropping to a smaller perpetual rate. The founders held their valuation and accepted the joint two-shark deal at the original equity.

Chalkless stood out by reframing grip as a clean, science-based product rather than a bag of dust. The live demonstration made the benefit obvious, and the focus on absorbing skin oils gave it a clear story versus chalk. Pairing O'Leary with Rashaun Williams brought both deal-making experience and connections, useful for a brand trying to win adoption across many different professional and amateur sports communities.

Since the show, Chalkless has used its exposure to push for adoption across a range of sports, with the brand citing interest and use spanning communities like golf, tennis, basketball, football, pickleball, and CrossFit. It also broadened its product offering, adding accessories such as a dispenser and a dispenser stand to make the product easier to use in gyms and on courts and courses.

As of 2026 Chalkless is still operating and selling through its own website. The brand continues to position itself as a cleaner, more convenient alternative to chalk for grip-dependent activities, leaning on athlete and community adoption to grow. With its Shark Tank backing and expanded lineup, it remains focused on the broad market of athletes who want reliable grip without the mess that traditional chalk leaves behind.