Charlie has spent more than 20 years in Perth’s tech and startup sector, firstly as a founder himself, through to exit, and more recently in media, advisory and investor roles.
Originally an Economics teacher from the UK, via Singapore, he landed in Perth in 1997 to do an MBA at UWA. Graduating as top student in 1999 he set up aussiehome.com, an online real estate business, running it for 10 years before selling to REIWA, whereupon Charlie and his team ran reiwa.com. In 2013, he moved to Business News to lead their digital transformation as CEO, and then worked for the federal government’s Accelerating Commercialisation program, funding pre-revenue startups and innovative businesses. He has worked in an advisory capacity for multiple tech and other businesses, from startups to not-for-profits to corporates and ASX-listed companies, is co-owner of Startup News and the Startup West podcast.
Charlie sits on the advisory board of WA Leaders and since 2022 has worked as Director Innovation in the WA state government (Department of Jobs Tourism Science and Innovation), running the New Industries Fund.

Charlie Gunningham

Founder & Principal

Biography

Charlie has spent more than 20 years in Perth’s tech and startup sector, firstly as a founder himself, through to exit, and more recently in media, advisory and investor roles.
 
Originally an Economics teacher from the UK, via Singapore, he landed in Perth in 1997 to do an MBA at UWA. Graduating as top student in 1999 he set up aussiehome.com, an online real estate business, running it for 10 years before selling to REIWA, whereupon Charlie and his team ran reiwa.com. In 2013, he moved to Business News to lead their digital transformation as CEO, and then worked for the federal government’s Accelerating Commercialisation program, funding pre-revenue startups and innovative businesses. He has worked in an advisory capacity for multiple tech and other businesses, from startups to not-for-profits to corporates and ASX-listed companies, is co-owner of Startup News and the Startup West podcast.
 
Charlie sits on the advisory board of WA Leaders and since 2022 has worked as Director Innovation in the WA state government (Department of Jobs Tourism Science and Innovation), running the New Industries Fund.

Chronology

Former academic from the UK, via Singapore.
Arrived in Perth, WA in 1997.
Pursued an MBA, graduating as top student from UWA Business School.
MBA Management lecturer for UWA in Perth, Singapore, Jakarta and Shanghai.
Co-founded and ran tech startup aussiehome.com for 10 years.
Secured successful acquisition of company to REIWA (in 2010), ran reiwa.com for 3 years.
Joined Business News as GM, then CEO; driving digital transformation, 4 years.
Selected to work full time on Australian Government's Accelerating Commercialisation (AC) program, 3 years.
Mentored on every notable tech startup accelerator or incubator program.
Angel investor and/or advisor to several WA-based tech startups.
Very well connected in Perth/WA from startups through to corporates.

Skills

Strategy100%
Advisor100%
Governance100%
Speaker100%

Contact Info