2. Shark Tank Video
To continue with story of Shaan Patel, his Shark Tank video and SAT Prep Classes. After three years at USC Shaan decided to take an absence leave to pursue MBA degree at Yale School of Management. His Yale roommates persuaded him to apply for Shark Tank. In his nine and half minutes long video pitch Shaan says that his company does not sell the dream, but delivers it to customers emphasizing that his SAT prep course was developed by a student who managed to get perfect SAT score.
At the time when he appeared at Shark Tank, Shaan had a few accomplishments in his resume – a perfect SAT record, three years at USC and one at Yale, and a growing company – largest test prep provider in Nevada, which recorded more than a million of dollars in sale. However, the Sharks saw this diversity as a disadvantage – Kevin O’Leary, who has had experience in the education business, told him that he couldn’t be “part-time entrepreneur”, Lori Greiner asked him whether he wanted to be a doctor or an entrepreneur, Robert Herjavec also questioned his dedication to entrepreneurship. In the interview for Forbes Shaan said he was equally passionate about test preparation, writing, teaching, entrepreneurship, medicine, and business.
“I am passionate about all of them, but one does not outweigh the others. Instead, I have focused my attention on these different interests of mine at different points in my career…. Throughout my life, I have spread my time and effort across different disciplines. You do not need to be boxed into a single title”, Shaan explained.
From the beginning, Shaan targeted Mark Cuban as the Shark he would most like to work with. He explains that he was full of confidence when he entered the show, believing that he could choose between multiple offers. After four of five investors pulled out, Patel felt that everything fell apart. He did not think that Cuban would offer him a deal, since he was the first Shark who expressed doubt about his entrepreneurship potential.
“While it wasn’t aired on the show, Cuban was actually the first Shark to tear me apart. ‘You’re 25 now,’ he said. ‘But what about when you’re 45? There’s going to be a new guy. And that guy is going to outwork you.'” Patel revealed.
Luckily for Shaan, Mark Cuban saw someone who had the “ability to combine brains, dedication, and an entrepreneurial spirit”. As said before, with Cuban involved, the company has grown. Patel’s partnership with the multi-billionaire extended beyond Prep Expert. Two of them, together with 16-year-old-entrepreneur Ian McCue wrote the book How Any Kid Can Start a Business. Patel is also the author of Self-Made Success: Ivy League Shark Tank Entrepreneur Reveals 48 Secret Strategies To Live Happier, Healthier, And Wealthier. The last two titles suggest that Shaan plans to extend his career into self-help field. Given his previous record, one can expect that the story of Shaan Patel, his Shark Tank video and SAT prep classes will have a sequel.
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