About the I AM SHARK® Movement

What is I AM SHARK®?

I AM SHARK® is a movement created to recognize, prepare, and support Main Street business owners throughout the full life cycle of business ownership.

Many owners spend decades building businesses without adequate tools to understand their value, prepare for future opportunities, or preserve their legacy. I AM SHARK® changes that.

Why Was the Movement Created?

Many Main Street business owners lack the tools, knowledge, and support to understand the true value of what they've built.

Gerard Perillo, CEPA®, CBI, M&AMI, MBA/JD — with 817+ completed transactions and $575M+ in volume — created I AM SHARK® after witnessing firsthand how unprepared most owners are when the moment of transition arrives. The Movement exists to change that reality.

Who Is the Movement For?

I AM SHARK® serves Main Street business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, buyers, advisors, and the communities that depend on locally owned businesses.

• Main Street business owners ready to understand their value
• Next-generation entrepreneurs and successors
• Buyers seeking qualified, ready businesses
• Advisors serving the Main Street market
• Communities that depend on locally owned businesses

What Does SHARK Stand For?

SHARK is a five-step journey guiding business owners from awareness to legacy.

What Is a SHARKpreneur®?

A SHARKpreneur® is a business owner who embodies resilience, adaptability, responsibility, and continued forward movement.

The term honors the spirit of Main Street entrepreneurs — not aggression, but the relentless drive to build, protect, and pass forward something of lasting value.

What Is MAKO Score™?

MAKO Score™ is the valuation and business-readiness intelligence platform within the I AM SHARK® ecosystem.

It provides business owners with a professional valuation, industry benchmarking, lending analysis, and identity verification — creating a verified starting point for any ownership decision.

What Are Legacy Stories and The Clipboard Moment™?

Legacy Stories and The Clipboard Moment™ recognize the people, sacrifice, purpose, and stories behind Main Street businesses.

Every business owner has a story worth telling. The Clipboard Moment™ captures the pivotal moment when an owner realizes their chapter is changing. Legacy Stories preserves those moments for future generations.

Who Founded I AM SHARK®?

I AM SHARK® was founded by Gerard Perillo, CEPA®, CBI, M&AMI, MBA/JD.

Gerard Perillo brings 817+ completed transactions, $575M+ in volume, and decades of Main Street advisory experience to the Movement. His credentials include Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®), Certified Business Intermediary (CBI), and Merger & Acquisition Master Intermediary (M&AMI).