Charles Fitzgerald
Charles Fitzgerald is an angel investor and Managing Director at Platformonomics. He was Platform Consiglieri at VMware, Vice President, Product Management at Mozy, and Vice President at pi Corporation. He was also General Manager, Platform Strategy at Microsoft. He served as a Board Member at Rec Room, Shippable and buuteeq™ Inc.
Independent report: Seattle’s JumpStart payroll tax penalizes senior hires and concentrates revenue in 10 largely tech firms, risking $50M loss if one large employer shifts 10,000 workers
An independent 127-page City of Seattle-commissioned study finds the city’s tax structure, notably the JumpStart payroll tax, disproportionately penalizes hiring senior high‑pay workers and concentrates revenue risk in a few large tech employers. Researchers warn that reliance on a small number of firms—10 companies account for three-quarters of the payroll tax on large employers—exposes Seattle to significant fiscal vulnerability if large employers relocate or stock‑based compensation fluctuates.
Following through in Cleveland: A GeekWire trip report, plus data center ‘theater’ and the SpaceX IPO
In February, Seattle angel investor Charles Fitzgerald warned the region not to become the next Cleveland, prompting Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb to join the podcast and make the case for his city's comeback. This week we close the loop: Fitzgerald and GeekWire co-founder John Cook call in from an abandoned Westinghouse factory in Cleveland, where days of meeting entrepreneurs, civic leaders, and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine left them struck by a city hustling and aligned around jobs in ways Seattle no longer is. Back home, we dig into Seattle's unanimous one-year moratorium on new large data centers, which Fitzgerald calls…
Seattle Ranks 4th in US Population Growth Amid Rising Tech Layoffs, Sparking Concern Among Industry Leaders
Seattle's tech industry remains a major economic force driving population growth, but rising tech layoffs and growing doubts among business leaders highlight emerging concerns about the city's long-term economic resilience and confidence.
By Charles
See all 5Charles Fitzgerald: Seattle Must Avoid Becoming Cleveland — Focus on Attracting People, Retaining Talent, and Making Room for New Businesses
Charles Fitzgerald argues Seattle should study Cleveland’s decline and comeback as a cautionary example, warning that Seattle’s prosperity isn’t guaranteed amid economic uncertainty and the shift toward AI. He urges the city to focus on attracting and retaining people and creating space for the next generation of business builders to preserve long-term prosperity.
Charles Fitzgerald warns Seattle to ‘Don’t be Cleveland’: prioritize attracting people and talent as tech shifts to AI
Charles Fitzgerald argues Seattle should study Cleveland’s decline and comeback as a warning: to avoid economic stagnation Seattle must focus on attracting and retaining people, growing talent, and creating space for new businesses as tech shifts toward AI.
Critics Say Gov. Bob Ferguson’s Economic Development Council Ignores Startups and AI Impact on Washington Economy
Governor Bob Ferguson's new Economic Development Council, criticized by Seattle angel investor Charles Fitzgerald, lacks representation from startups, venture capital, and fails to address AI's impact on Washington's economy. The council mainly includes older companies and governmental agencies, overlooking the state's evolving business climate.
Organizations
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Platformonomics Managing Director 2013–present · current
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Rec Room Board Member 2016–2019 · past
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Shippable Board Member 2015–2019 · past
Education
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The Johns Hopkins University Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Economics · 1985–1989
