# Mark French

> Mark French is a New York entrepreneur, operator and investor whose career has moved through media, sports products, technology and beverages. He created NBC Everywhere, invented the NBA-endorsed Court Grip, became president of MISSION, helped develop The Players' Tribune, led X2 Performance and now serves as founder and CEO of SkyPop Protein Soda, the 2026 rebrand of Don't Quit's protein-soda business.

- **Role:** Founder and Chief Executive Officer at SkyPop Protein Soda
- **Organizations:** SkyPop Protein Soda, Don't Quit Sports Nutrition, X2 Performance, NLP Ventures, MISSION Athletecare, NBC Universal, The Players' Tribune, Healthy Together, Twenty, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, Ithaca College
- **Education:** High school, Avon Old Farms, Bachelor's degree in Communication and Media Studies, Ithaca College, Business of Entertainment, Media, and Sports executive program, Harvard Business School Executive Education
- **Known for:** Created and led NBC Everywhere, an out-of-home media network that placed NBC content in taxis, gas pumps and retail environments., Invented and patented Court Grip, a traction product approved for NBA use and developed with Dwyane Wade., Served as president of MISSION and helped launch Court Grip and more than 20 additional products, including the EnduraCool line.

## Career timeline

- **2007** — Named general manager of NBC Everywhere, the digital out-of-home network he created inside NBC Universal.
- **2010s** — Invented Court Grip with Dwyane Wade, then merged the business into MISSION Athletecare and became president.
- **2014** — Founded NLP Ventures as an investor and hands-on operating partner in consumer goods, sports, entertainment and technology.
- **2014** — Served on the founding board of advisors that helped launch The Players' Tribune.
- **2020** — Became CEO and a board director of X2 Performance after first serving on its board.
- **2023** — Led the strategic merger of X2 Performance with Don't Quit Sports Nutrition and became CEO of the combined platform.
- **2025** — Don't Quit introduced a four-flavor protein-soda line and announced national retail plans.
- **2026** — Rebranded the protein-soda business as SkyPop and expanded into major national retailers.

## Achievements

- Created and led NBC Everywhere, an out-of-home media network that placed NBC content in taxis, gas pumps and retail environments.
- Invented and patented Court Grip, a traction product approved for NBA use and developed with Dwyane Wade.
- Served as president of MISSION and helped launch Court Grip and more than 20 additional products, including the EnduraCool line.
- Helped develop and launch The Players' Tribune as a member of its founding board of advisors.
- Received three separate 40 Under 40 recognitions in different business sectors, according to published executive biographies.
- Received the Lowell B. Mason Award for volunteer service and mentorship.
- Was selected as one of 150 delegates for the Sport at the Service of Humanity initiative.
- Led X2 Performance before its strategic merger with Don't Quit Sports Nutrition.
- Oversaw the 2026 rebrand from Don't Quit protein soda to SkyPop and a rollout across major U.S. retailers.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — SkyPop announced a nationwide launch across Albertsons Companies banners, including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco and Shaw's.
- **2026-07** — French announced that CVS Pharmacy was launching SkyPop nationwide after retail expansion at Target, Walmart and Kroger.
- **2026-04** — French appeared at The Beverage Forum alongside Chris Pratt, Jocko Willink, Walmart executive Ryland Allen and investor Wayne Wu to discuss the protein category.
- **2026-01** — Don't Quit rebranded its protein-soda platform as SkyPop for a national retail rollout.

## Links

- Website: https://drinkskypop.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-french-
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markfrench1/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/mark-french
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-25