Why Prep Expert Became One of Mark Cuban’s Most Successful Shark Tank Investments

By Dr. Shaan Patel, CEO & Founder of Prep Expert

When I first walked into the Shark Tank in 2016 with a whiteboard, a dream, and a company I started from my dorm room, I didn’t know what to expect. I was nervous. I was pitching a test prep company in a space dominated by giants. And I was asking for a $250,000 investment in exchange for 10% equity in a company called Prep Expert.

What happened next changed my life.

Mark Cuban saw something in the company—and in me—and made the deal. Today, nearly a decade later, Prep Expert isn’t just thriving. It’s one of Cuban’s most profitable Shark Tank investments.

Here’s why.

From SAT 2400 to Shark Tank Success

Prep Expert started because of a personal breakthrough.

As a high school student, I raised my SAT score from average to a perfect 2400 (back when the test was scored out of 2400). That score helped me earn over $500,000 in scholarships and get into prestigious programs like Yale, USC, and later, an MD/MBA dual degree.

But the bigger takeaway was this: standardized testing is a learnable skill—not a mystery. And no one was teaching it the way students needed.

So I built a curriculum based on strategy, psychology, and proven repetition. Students began raising their scores by hundreds of points. Parents started recommending it to others. And within a few years, we had a national footprint.

That’s what I brought to the Tank.

Why Mark Cuban Invested in Prep Expert

In his own words, Cuban saw Prep Expert as more than just a business—it was a scalable solution to a national challenge.

Every year, millions of students take the SAT and ACT. Their scores impact college admissions, scholarships, and future earning potential. Yet most test prep is expensive, outdated, or ineffective.

What Cuban appreciated about Prep Expert was that:

• We had real results—hundreds of testimonials and data-backed score increases
• We were profitable, even as a young startup
• We were tackling a problem that affects nearly every college-bound student in America

And more than anything, we had a mission: to make elite test prep accessible, affordable, and outcome-driven.

The Results: Tens of Millions in Revenue and 100,000+ Students Served

Since our Shark Tank deal closed, Prep Expert has grown from a niche online course to a national leader in SAT and ACT preparation.

We’ve now helped over 100,000 students raise their test scores and gain admission to top universities like Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, and MIT.

But even more importantly:

• Our students have earned over $100 million in scholarships
• Families from all income levels can access our courses with payment plans and low-cost books
• We’ve expanded into private tutoring, college admissions consulting, and financial aid coaching

And yes—Mark Cuban’s investment has paid off. According to Nasdaq and USA Today, Prep Expert is one of his four most lucrative Shark Tank deals.

That’s not just a win for him. It’s a win for students and families who now have a smarter, more strategic path to college success.

Why Prep Expert Stands Out in the Test Prep Industry

There are a few reasons we’ve been able to outperform companies with more funding and brand recognition:

1. We Focus on Strategy Over Memorization

Most test prep companies review concepts and hope for the best. At Prep Expert, we teach the test—pattern recognition, time management, and tactics that maximize performance.

2. Our Instructors Are Top 1% Scorers

Every instructor has scored in the top 1% on the test they teach—and they’re trained in the exact curriculum I used to get a perfect score.

3. We Make It Affordable

From Shark Tank-backed courses to Amazon bestsellers, we’ve created options for every budget. We believe that test prep shouldn’t be limited to wealthy families.

4. We Deliver Real ROI

In an era where college costs are skyrocketing, the best financial move a student can make is to increase their SAT/ACT score. One point can mean the difference between a $5,000 scholarship and a $50,000 one.

Lessons From Shark Tank That I Still Use Today

Partnering with Mark Cuban wasn’t just about capital—it was about mentorship.

Here are a few things I’ve learned from him that still guide my decisions:

• Solve real problems. The best businesses fix something painful or expensive.
• Track the numbers. Growth is great, but profitability matters more.
• Build for scale. A good product can survive. A great system can grow.
• Stay lean. Even with success, keep costs tight and focus on margin.

These lessons helped us survive downturns, expand through recessions, and stay ahead in a space where many others have failed.

Final Thoughts

When I started Prep Expert, I wasn’t thinking about Shark Tank, Nasdaq write-ups, or national headlines. I was thinking about students—students like me—who needed a better way to prepare for their futures.

Now, almost a decade later, I’m proud that we’ve become not just a successful company, but a mission-driven one.

We’ve proven that students don’t have to be born brilliant. They just need the right tools, mindset, and support. And with Mark Cuban’s backing, we’ve built something that’s changed tens of thousands of lives—and counting.

And we’re just getting started.

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Dr. Shaan Patel is the founder of Prep Expert, a Shark Tank-winning education company that helps students improve test scores, earn scholarships, and gain admission to top colleges. He scored a perfect SAT, holds an MD/MBA, and is passionate about making high-quality test prep accessible to all.