Tech, Finance & Property
Message from Chas
Chas Gunaratne is an accomplished finance executive with over 15 years of experience spanning diverse industries, including specialised expertise in private real estate investments and funds management. Beginning his career at Ernst & Young (EY), Chas built a solid foundation in corporate finance and advisory before transitioning into private real estate investments more than five years ago. His deep domain knowledge and practical skills have helped drive significant efficiency and performance across complex property portfolios, with a focus on financial structuring, capital allocation, and maximising investor returns.
In parallel, Chas has spent the last five years working at the intersection of technology and venture capital. He has actively supported a growing tech ecosystem and VC fund, backing high-growth ventures in retail tech, fintech, and travel tech. His work has involved leveraging emerging technologies—including blockchain, AI, and IoT—to build infrastructure for the decentralised web. He advocates for a user-centric, open-source culture that empowers developers, startups, and enterprises to collaborate and shape a connected and decentralised future.
Chas partners closely with visionary entrepreneurs to disrupt traditional value chains and accelerate business outcomes. He provides strategic and financial guidance from early-stage ideation through to growth, helping ventures navigate complexity while scaling within a high-performance ecosystem.
Founder & Managing Partner https://www.accessioncapital.co.nz/
Background
Chas is an executive with 15+ years’ experience in Finance across a broad range of industries, with specialized experience in crypto, tech, property syndication, investment, and funds management.
His all-encompassing finance background also allows for greater efficiency in assessing potential targets and managing financial growth and investor returns.
Experience
Chas is a Consultant who began his career at Ernst & Young, before moving into crypto, tech, and property finance consulting a 5+ years ago. Accession Capital (http://www.accessioncapital.co.nz) has benefited greatly from Chas’ applied skills and experience in the crypto, tech, finance and property industry, especially around the application of key financial drivers to complex opportunities.
Skills/Areas of Expertise
– Tech start-up accounting, tax & advisory
– vCFO services to tech start-ups and ecosystems
– Crypto accounting & tax in New Zealand
– Property advisory
– Property syndication
– Property funds management
– Asset & facilities management
– Strategic modelling and growth management
– Property due diligence
– Financial modelling
– Financial structuring
– Development & project management
– Reporting & communication
Education & Qualifications
2006 – 2009 Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Accounting and Information Systems
2020 Certificate Level 4 in Property Services (Real Estate)
“To rely on rustics and not prepare is the greatest of crimes; to be prepared beforehand for any contingency is the greatest of Virtues…The General who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought…If you know your enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles — Sun Tzu”