← All episodes

Aug 12, 2025

Perfect SAT Score → Shark Tank Deal w/ Mark Cuban

Dr. Shaan Patel’s $100M Mission

Featuring Shaan Patel

Watch on YouTube Spotify Apple Podcasts

Show notes

What happens when you earn a perfect SAT score, write a book that gets rejected by 100 publishers, and then turn that failure into a multimillion-dollar company—with help from Mark Cuban?

In this episode of The Nick Standlea Show, I sit down with Dr. Shaan Patel—dermatologist, entrepreneur, author, and Shark Tank success story. We dive into how he bootstrapped a test prep empire, landed a deal with Mark Cuban, and is now helping students earn over $100M in scholarships.

Shaan and I may be competitors in the test prep world—but we're aligned on our mission to transform education and help students succeed in a rapidly changing world.

We cover:

* What it’s like working with Mark Cuban
* The future of college in an AI-dominated world
* Why standardized tests are making a comeback
* How to build focus, resilience, and deep learning habits
* His new mission: help students earn $1B in scholarships

Whether you’re a parent, student, educator, or entrepreneur—this episode is packed with insights, strategy, and purpose.

🎓 Learn more about Shaan’s work: https://prepexpert.com

📘 Check out his book with Mark Cuban: Kid Start-Up: 
https://www.amazon.com/Kid-Start-Up-How-Become-Entrepreneur/dp/1635764726

🎙 Subscribe for more bold thinkers and deep dives into learning, performance, and redefining success.

🔗 Support This Podcast by Checking Out Our Sponsor:
Test Prep Gurus: https://www.prepgurus.com
Instagram: @TestPrepGurus

Connect with The Nick Standlea Show:
YouTube: @TheNickStandleaShow
Podcast Website: https://nickshow.podbean.com/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nick-standlea-podcast/id1700331903
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0YqBBneFsKtQ6Y0ArP5CXJ
RSS Feed: https://feed.podbean.com/nickshow/feed.xml

Nick's Socials:
Instagram: @nickstandlea
X (Twitter): @nickstandlea
TikTok: @nickstandleashow
Facebook: @nickstandleapodcast

Ask questions, 
Don't accept the status quo, 
And be curious.

Mentioned in this episode

SAT prep by Dr. Shaan Patel

View on Amazon →

The gear behind the show

As an Amazon Associate, The Nick Standlea Show earns from qualifying purchases.

Shure SM7B Microphone

The broadcast dynamic mic behind the show's vocal sound.

View on Amazon →

RODECaster Pro II

All-in-one podcast production console for mixing and recording.

View on Amazon →

Aputure Amaran Studio Light

Soft, controllable lighting for the interview setup.

View on Amazon →

Cloudlifter CL-1

Inline preamp that gives the SM7B clean, quiet gain.

View on Amazon →

RODE PSA1+ Boom Arm

Studio boom arm that keeps the mic in frame and off the desk.

View on Amazon →

Sony Alpha Mirrorless Camera

The mirrorless camera body used to film episodes.

View on Amazon →

Sony MDR-7506 Headphones

The studio-standard monitoring headphones.

View on Amazon →

Elgato Stream Deck

Programmable control pad for running the show.

View on Amazon →
Watch the full episode on YouTube →

Share & spread the word

The Newsletter

Never miss an episode

New episodes plus the sharpest ideas from each conversation — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.