Australia’s tech sector has rallied behind the annual Startup Muster survey to prevent it closing, with more than 22 organisations, including 10 universities and the federal government providing financial support to ensure its continues in 2026.
The backing came after founder Murray Hurps announced at Southstart that he’d been unable to secure funding to continue the annual startup health check he began in 2013.
Among those contributing are the City of Sydney, Stone and Chalk, the Canberra Innovation Network 1000 Women in AI and Pledge 1%.
Hurps said he was thrilled and humbled by the response to the potential loss of the survey, which is used by governments and industry as a key insight into the challenges, successes and sentiments of local startups and founders. More than 45 policy-focused documents have cited Startup Muster data in support of policy positions.
“Startups are where the future of our economy shows up first. With AI changing how companies are built, and governments changing the rules around them, we must make sure they are understood and their voice is heard,” he said.
“I’ve never seen a more notable case of national support for a startup initiative. Seeing the likes of CareSuper, ANU, Charles Darwin university, ARENA, NAIC, IP Australia and DISR lean in has not just made this work possible, but also made it clear we must get this right.”
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Hurps says the sector continues to build despite the challenges thrown at it. In unprecedented show of academic backing and collaboration, Professor Rowena Barrett of QUT, issued a statement urging support for Startup Muster’s future, that was co-signed by entrepreneurship program leaders at 21 universities around the country.
“Australia is a country of hardy startups, and also hardy startup supporters,” Hurps said.
“The 30+ university entrepreneurship programs working to improve graduate outcomes and impact despite cuts, the investors working to find local opportunities when LPs are calling to question their dealflow, the parts of government going above and beyond to keep innovation on the agenda, the local success stories working to support the next generation in Australia when they didn’t have that support themselves, and most of all – the current generation of startups that are working to create what actually matters. This survey exists for an ecosystem that deserves to be showcased.”
Questions wanted
The survey will be open across July and August, with the free national report published in November 2026, and further free deep dive reports to follow.
Hurps said that as they prepare for this year’s Startup Muster, he’s eager to hear what questions urgently need asking in 2024. Suggestions should be emailed info@startupmuster.com by June 15.
Startup Muster will once again have state-based coordinators to ensure opinions from across the nation are represented.
While AI is reshaping startups and work itself, the federal government’s proposed changes to tax and R&D support, are likely to front of mind for respondents this year.
Hurps said the survey, which has been downloaded by more than 1000 unique users across 186 Australian government departments, was always focused on “better data for better decisions” alongside its mission to measure and publish the progress, challenges and opportunities in the Australian startup ecosystem.
Startup Muster 2026 supporters are are
• The Australian Government and Department of Industry, Science and Resources (returning for a 5th time)
• Australian Renewable Energy Agency (2nd time)
• City of Sydney (3rd time)
• CareSuper (its first super fund supporter)
• Stone & Chalk (3rd time)
• National AI Centre (2nd time)
• IP Australia
• Pledge 1% (3rd time)
• Queensland University of Technology (3rd time)
• University of Newcastle (2nd time)
• University of NSW (2nd time)
• Australian National University
• University of Sydney
• Swinburne University of Technology
• University of Tasmania
• Charles Darwin University
• Flinders University
• Curtin University
• Baxter IP (3rd time)
• Gild Group (4th time)
• Canberra Innovation Network (2nd time)
• 1000 Women in AI
The national team is: Maxine Sherrin (NSW), Claire Gifford (VIC), Kate Montgomery (QLD), Danielle Seymour (SA), Nate Sturcke (WA), Taz Devadass (TAS), Petr Adámek (ACT), Emma Nesbitt (NT), with Murray Hurps (MD), Danielle Hurps (creative director), and Muhammad Jafer (CTO).
