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The Shrimp Tank brings you interviews with some of the most successful business owners in the United States to learn the do’s and don’ts of starting and running a successful business. Then, the fun really starts when we bring in high school and college students to pitch their business ideas to the Shrimp Tank. We don’t fund any business, but we do teach kids how to turn their business ideas into a successful business.

 

 

 

Mike Blake is President of Arpeggio Advisors, a business appraisal and strategic advisory firm headquartered in Atlanta.  Mike appraises businesses, securities, and intellectual property to help clients maximize their returns on transactions and painlessly comply with tax and financial reporting requirements.  Mike has specialized expertise in appraising and advising emerging technology companies; patents, copyrights and trademarks; professional services firms; alternative energy companies; and aerospace companies.  Prior to starting his career as a business appraiser and strategic advisor, Mike raised capital and created international strategic partnerships for Israeli companies, and helped convert Russian companies convert part of their weapons of mass destruction design and production capabilities into civilian applications and privatized businesses.

 

Mike founded co-founded StartupLounge in 2007, a nonprofit that helps technology entrepreneurs on the journey from idea to venture to business, and helped technology entrepreneurs in Atlanta raise over $10 million (all pro bono).  Mike has also coached 6 companies to victory in various business plan competitions, helping them win a combined $300K in cash and over $2 million in services.  One of Mike’s teams went on to secure funding on ABC’s Shark Tank.  
Mike is a member of the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Top 40 Under 40 Class of 2009 and is a member of the Leadership Atlanta Class of 2014.  He plays keyboards and vocals for a classic rock band, Kickin Off the Coverz, and lives in Chamblee with his wife, Cordelia (a fellow entrepreneur) and two sons, Alex and Max.