Draft:Prep Expert
Prep Expert is an American education company that provides preparation services for standardized tests, primarily the SAT and ACT. The company was founded by physician and entrepreneur Shaan Patel in 2011 under the name 2400 Expert.[1][2][3]
 | |
| Formerly | 2400 Expert |
|---|---|
| Type | Privately held company |
| Industry | Education |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Founder | Shaan Patel |
| Services | Test preparation, tutoring and college admissions consulting |
| Website | Prep Expert |
History
[edit]Shaan Patel founded the company in 2011 while pursuing his medical education. The original business, 2400 Expert, focused on preparation for the SAT when the examination was scored on a 2400-point scale.[4][5]
The company initially offered instructional materials and live preparation courses. After publishers declined to publish Patel's preparation material, he developed the material into an online course. The company subsequently expanded its course offerings to include online and in-person instruction.[6][7]
Following changes to the SAT scoring system from a 2400-point scale to a 1600-point scale, the company changed its name from 2400 Expert to Prep Expert. It later expanded its offerings beyond SAT preparation to include the ACT and other standardized examinations.[8][9]
Shark Tank
[edit]In 2016, Patel appeared on the ABC reality television program Shark Tank to present 2400 Expert. The appearance resulted in an investment agreement with entrepreneur Mark Cuban. Contemporary coverage reported that Cuban agreed to invest $250,000 in exchange for a 20 percent stake in the company.[10][11]
Products and services
[edit]Prep Expert has provided preparation programs for standardized examinations, including:[12][13]
- SAT preparation courses
- ACT preparation courses
- Online and live instruction
- Private academic tutoring
- College admissions consulting
- Self-paced instructional materials
Expansion
[edit]Following its appearance on Shark Tank, the company expanded its course offerings and geographic reach. In addition to SAT preparation, it introduced ACT and other examination-preparation programs and developed online courses. The company operates under Patel Educational Services, Inc. and is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.[14][15]
Founder
[edit]Prep Expert was founded by Shaan Patel, an American physician and entrepreneur. Patel attended the University of Southern California and later earned an MD from the Yale School of Medicine and an MBA from the Yale School of Management. He developed the original 2400 Expert course based on his experience preparing for the SAT.[16][17]
References
[edit]- ↑ Blum, Sofia (2021-11-18). "'Shark Tank'-winning CEO: What my 3 favorite books taught me about money and success". CNBC. Archived from the original on 2026-09-20. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ Patel, Shaan (2020-01-22). "Interview With Prep Expert Founder Shaan Patel". www.uschamber.com. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/this-shark-tank-startup-wants-to-help-you-crush-gmat-get-into-a-top-b-school.html
- ↑ Patel, Shaan (2020-06-16). "How I turned my side hustle into a business that's made $20 million—and got Mark Cuban to invest". CNBC. Archived from the original on 2021-02-19. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ www.bizjournals.com https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2018/08/15/a-perfect-sat-score-led-this-entrepreneur-to-start.html. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ Kim, Eugene. "This perfect SAT scorer got rejected by the Ivy Leagues, but got on 'Shark Tank' and is now backed by Mark Cuban". Business Insider. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ "2400 Expert Shark Tank Update – Shark Tank Season 7". Shark Tank Blog. 2016-01-20. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ Shulman, Robyn D. "Shark Tank Prep Course Winner Launches Another Startup: 10 New Courses For Entrepreneurs". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2026-09-18. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ "Prep Expert". Mark Cuban Companies. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ https://finance.yahoo.com/news/followed-mark-cuban-genius-advice-160009117.html
- ↑ "Shark Tank Case Study: The online course that's grown to a $20M Prep Expert". Business Podcast for Startups. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ "Prep Expert". Mark Cuban Companies. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ Shulman, Robyn D. "Shark Tank Prep Course Winner Launches Another Startup: 10 New Courses For Entrepreneurs". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2026-09-18. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ "Prep Expert Advances Its Mission to Help Students Earn $1 Billion in Scholarships". Block Island Times. 2026-09-07. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ Expert, Prep (2026-09-01). "Prep Expert Crosses 100,000 Students Milestone". SignalNews Tampa. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ Strauss, Valerie (2016-02-29). "Taking the new SAT: Five tips from an expert who won a 'Shark Tank' deal for test prep". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ "Prep Expert | A Shark Tank Company". Prep Expert. Retrieved 2026-09-29.