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Murray Hurps

Director of Entrepreneurship at University of Technology Sydney (UTS)

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Murray Hurps

About Murray Hurps

Murray Hurps is managing director of Startup Muster, the survey of Australia's startup ecosystem that he founded, which is running again in 2026. In 2018 he was appointed to the new role of Director of Entrepreneurship at the University of Technology Sydney, where UTS Startups had supported 1,000 startups by late 2022.

He was chief executive of Fishburners from 2014 to 2017, growing it from 100 desks to 750 across Sydney, Brisbane and Shanghai. He also founded FUELD, Westpac's data-focused accelerator, and Ad Muncher, an ad-blocking product that grew over 14 years to a peak of 100 million active users.

On Day One he has told the story of Startup Muster and discussed the barriers holding back growth in Australia's startup ecosystem.

In conversation.

3 episodes

Start hereStartup Muster – Featuring Murray Hurps & Maria MacNamaraHe tells the founding story of Startup Muster, the national survey he is running again in 2026.

Documentary: The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem

The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem - Part 3

With Michael Batko, Wayne Gerard, Petr Adámek, Peter Devine, Rohit Bhargava, Terry Hilsberg, Peter Bradd, Zrinka Tokic, Rachael Neumann, Zoe Piper, Susan Oliver, Silvia Pfeiffer, Rachel Yang, Yolanda Redrup, Peta Ellis, Sarah Pearson, Niki Scevak, Colin Kinner, Mark Pesce, Colette Grgic, Ian Gardiner, Lauren Capelin, Matt Barrie, Melissa Widner, Cameron Adams, Georgie Turner, Baden U'Ren, Evan Thornley, Alan Noble, Kate Jones, Kate Cornick, James Alexander, Dharmica Mistry, Emily Rich, Lars Rasmussen

Go straight to the good bits.

Key moments from Murray Hurps discusses the barriers to growth in the startup ecosystem.

  1. 0:29Meet Murray Hurps
  2. 1:04Murray's Role at UTS Startups
  3. 1:31Cost of Living and Entrepreneurship
  4. 2:28Murray's Early Startup Experience
  5. 3:14Discovering Fishburners
  6. 4:05Growth of the Startup Ecosystem
  7. 5:20Catalysts for Startup Growth
  8. 6:49Current State of the Ecosystem
  9. 8:21Future Opportunities in Entrepreneurship
  10. 8:30Expansion of Fishburners and Other Spaces

In their own words.

“The best impediment to a great life is a good life, and us as a country have been quite comfortable where we are.”
Murray Hurps — Murray Hurps discusses the barriers to growth in the startup ecosystemThe History of the Australian Startup Ecosystem - Interview Series · 15 March 2022
“For the first time in human history, you can address every customer in the world, service every customer in the world, from a laptop in Sydney as a 16 year old.”
Murray Hurps — Startup Muster – Featuring Murray Hurps & Maria MacNamaraWelcome to Day One with Adam Spencer · 12 August 2019

The path so far.

  1. Now

    Director of Entrepreneurship · University of Technology Sydney (UTS)

  2. 2014–2017 · Startup

    CEO · Fishburners

  3. Earlier

    Program Director · FUELD (Westpac)

  4. Earlier

    Founder · Startup Muster

  5. Earlier · Startup

    Founder · Ad Muncher

Sources: aicd.com.au

University of Technology Sydney (UTS) on Day One

The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is a public university with its city campus in Ultimo, on the southern edge of Sydney's central business district.

1 person · 3 episodes
University of Technology Sydney (UTS)

Across the network.

Spot something wrong? Suggest a correctionUpdated 29 October 2026

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