Brian Cunningham’s entrepreneurial saga spans over 40 years, where he emerged as a physicist, venture-backed entrepreneur, and trusted advisor to numerous startups. His career commenced in 1960 as a Physicist at the Naval Ordinance Lab, contributing to anti-submarine mine firing mechanisms and satellite launches at NASA, Goddard.
In 1965, Cunningham co-founded Electronic Sales Associates (ESA), witnessing rapid growth to over $7M in annual revenues. This success paved the way for the foundation of Computer Entry Systems Corporation (CESC) in 1969, where he served as Chairman and CEO until 1989. Under his leadership, CESC achieved significant milestones, including exponential revenue growth, profitability, and market dominance within the Remittance Processing Industry.
Cunningham’s book, “Never Give Up,” published in 2009, provides a detailed account of his entrepreneurial journey along with actionable advice and strategies for struggling businesses.
Since 1991, Cunningham has been the Chief Executive of Entrepreneurial Advocates Inc., which speaks of his dedication to supporting entrepreneurs. He founded the Entrepreneurial Partnership of Greater Washington (EPGW), a non-profit organization teaching entrepreneurship and self-esteem courses to financially challenged inner-city residents.
In 2005, Cunningham assumed the role of CEO at WECCA, a startup committed to providing electricity through wave energy conversion to those lacking access globally. Additionally, Cunningham received an Honorary PhD from St. Francis University in 1994 for his entrepreneurial contributions to the homeless and the working poor.
Beyond boardrooms and business strategies, Cunningham is a devoted family man. He proudly embraces the roles of a father to 6, a grandfather to 25, and a great-grandfather to 5. To instill discipline and work ethic, Cunningham and his wife bought a farm where their children engaged in 4H animal-guided projects during their foundational years. This hands-on approach to parenting reflects his belief in the discipline and rewards of hard work, a philosophy that echoes in both his personal and professional life.
His family’s success attests to his values and mentorship, as he has managed to put 5 out of 6 of his children through college. They are now enjoying life as successful entrepreneurs, businessmen, MDs, non-profit founders for children with brain disorders, and HVAC engineers.
After reading Never Give Up, if you’re interested in a free one-on-one video consultation with Brian Cunningham, including, on a confidential basis, please share your revenue and profit projections for the next year and year 5 within your view of your business journey on the basis that “Happiness for you and me, as your mentor, will only occur when our mutual expectations can be achieved and this can only happen if I have an opportunity to determine if the experiences that I have enjoyed can be transferred to you in a timely manner to meet your mutual expectations.”
Please note that all consultations are subject to review and approval. We require a minimum notice of two weeks to schedule your session. Additionally, any requested materials must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the meeting; otherwise, the video meeting will be automatically canceled and rescheduled for a date two weeks after the requested materials have been received.