Cooking a meal can be gratifying, but there’s a reason why many call it a chore. It can leave a mess with all the ingredients and preparation. Prepdeck was invented to be the complete meal prep system to keep things tidy in the kitchen. Founder Alexander Eburne pitched on Shark Tank but couldn’t reach a deal. As of 2024, Prepdeck is worth $17 million.
Alexander Eburne’s Background
Alexander Eburne is a serial entrepreneur who is originally from Sydney, Australia. Not much is known about his educational background, but he came to Los Angeles over a decade ago. He started his entrepreneurial journey in 2000 founding a company called Zealous Works.
He quit the business after five years to become a consultant at TGBN Mergers & Acquisitions. Next, he was hired as a business development manager at Axis Telecommunications. This was his last job in Australia, as he left in 2007 to become the VP of Sales and Marketing at EcoSmart Fire.
In 2009, he served as CEO of Harbor Outdoor, an Australian outdoor furniture manufacturer. Eburne left in 2011 to return to EcoSmart Fire and took up his second CEO role.
Founding Prepdeck
When Alexander married his partner Christine, he frequently left the kitchen disheveled. His wife cleaned up after him, but everything changed when she got pregnant.
Christine didn’t want to spend time cleaning the kitchen, so it was up to her husband to take care of the mess. Alexander realized there was no tool that could help someone like him cook in a more organized way.
This sparked an idea and by early 2018, Prepdeck was born. Prepdeck is an organizing kit complete with ingredient containers, measuring tools, and other cooking utensils. He launched a crowdfunding campaign on IndieGoGo with hopes of raising $25,00 but ended up raising nearly $360,000. Within two years, he hit $7.2 million in sales.
Shark Tank Appearance
In 2021, Alexander Eburne was projecting $10 million in revenue. Still, he needed money for three things: more inventory, product development, and to hire more staff. Alexander appeared on season 13 of Shark Tank, seeking $750,000 for 7.5%.
The Australian entrepreneur’s sales really caught the attention of the Sharks. They quickly realized Alexander is a savvy businessman but the Sharks didn’t like the valuation and some weren’t familiar with the industry.
Kevin O’Leary was the only Shark to make an offer, he proposed a $750,000 loan with 9.5% interest and a 5% equity stake. Eburne tried to counter, but Kevin didn’t budge and a deal couldn’t be made. Cuban praised him for not taking the deal.
After Shark Tank
Prepdeck was already on the right path before Shark Tank so it’s no surprise the business is still thriving. They have since introduced new products such as container sets, prepping tools and designed a mini version of the Prepdeck.
In December 2023, Prepdeck entered a licensing deal with Dash, a large manufacturer and distributor of kitchen appliances, to further expand its reach outside the US. You can buy the product on Amazon and through bydash.com. The strategy of bundling the products together is helping maximize revenue.
Prepdeck is developing new products, including a pizza prep station for brick pizza oven owners, a grilling prep station for barbecue enthusiasts, and an explorer prep station for outdoor activities like picnics and camping.
The company has done over $18.5 million in lifetime sales and has grown 500% over the last 3 years. In May 2023, they raised $87,451 on WeFunder at a $17 million valuation. The founder is projecting the business will reach $30 million in revenue by 2025.
In addition to PrepDeck, Alexander Eburne is the founder and CEO of the TLNT Group, a recruitment firm specializing in connecting businesses with top-tier talent from Latin America and Mexico.
