Channel 7 weather presenter Jane Bunn dumps crowd-funding plan for new venture

Popular weather presenter Jane Bunn was seeking donations for a “personal project” but quickly changed her mind.

Jane Bunn says she ‘thought better’ of the Go Fund me idea.

Channel 7 star Jane Bunn has back tracked from a Go Fund Me page she launched seeking $250,000 from the public to fund a private, online subscription-based weather service.

Bunn, who presents weather for 7 News in Melbourne and is one of Victoria’s highest profile and well-liked media identities, launched the Go Fund Me page earlier this month with the goal to attract a quarter of a million dollars for her Jane’s Weather business.

The page went live on May 1 with Bunn promoting it via her Instagram and Twitter.

“I am not good at asking for help, I think it might be an Australian thing,” she wrote before explaining her new business.

Jane Bunn’s appeal to raise $250,000 for her new weather forecasting business.

“I have a dream. To make sure the best weather information is getting through to as many people as possible.”

She went on to ask her social media followers if they would support her dream and included a link to the Go Fund Me page titled “Help Jane’s Weather buy data needed to help you” with the $250,000 target.

A further message on the call to action tile read: “Help us buy weather data to help you take advantage of the weather.”

It is believed 7 was unaware of the Go Fund Me campaign and social media call out by the normally risk averse and controversy free Bunn.

Jane Bunn’s appeal asked people to ‘help Jane’s Weather buy data needed to help you’. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Bunn registered Jane’s Weather as a company in April 2021 with herself as the sole director.

Jane’s Weather is a weather site curated by Bunn that promises to bring together the best weather data in one place in an easily readable and well-displayed form.

The site has a free component and sells a more comprehensive ‘‘premium” weather forecast for a monthly subscription of $10 or $100 for a yearly sign up.

The tweet and Instagram tile disappeared suddenly on the night they were posted as did the Go Fund Me page.

On Friday Bunn confirmed she had “thought better” of the Go Fund me call for financial support less than an hour after sending it live and had refunded all donations.

At the point at which she shut down the Go Fund Me about $300 had been pledged.

“I have been working on a personal project, Jane’s Weather, for over a year now and have explored numerous options to develop it into the next phase,” Bunn said in a statement.

“I momentarily considered a Go Fund Me page, but quickly thought better of it.

“The page was closed within half an hour and the small amount of donations were returned immediately.

“The project remains a passion of mine and I look forward to pursuing it into the future.”