muru-D
{{Lowercase title}}
{{Short description|Australian startup accelerator}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Undisclosed paid|date=January 2018}}
{{COI|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox company
| name = muru-D
| logo = File:Muru-D logo.svg
| industry = startup accelerator
| founders = {{Unbulleted list|Mick Liubinskas|Annie Parker}}
| foundation =2013
| hq_location_city = Melbourne
| hq_location_country = Australia
| parent = Telstra
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.muru-d.com/}}
}}
muru-D is the incubation hub{{cite web |title=muru-D |url=https://www.telstra.com.au/business-enterprise/muru-d |website=Telstra |access-date=3 April 2025}} of Australian telecommunications company Telstra. To date, over 44 startups have been through its startup accelerator program, with 42 still in operation.{{cite web|last1=Mason |first1=Max|title=Telstra's muru-D accelerator is pushing start-ups to think global|url=http://www.smh.com.au/business/innovation/telstras-murud-accelerator-is-pushing-startups-to-think-global-20160607-gpe1ii.html|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=9 June 2016 |accessdate=29 June 2017}}
muru-D, stylised with a lowercase 'm', is derived from the Sydney Aboriginal Eora word ‘Muru’, meaning ‘path’, and 'D' standing for digital: ‘path to digital.'{{Cite web|url=https://www.telstra.com.au/aboutus/community-environment/community-programs/indigenous-australians|title=Telstra - Indigenous Australians - Community & Environment|website=www.telstra.com.au|language=en|access-date=2017-07-01}}
History
muru-D was founded by Annie Parker and Mick Liubinkas in October 2013 after Telstra recognised that it needed to be more involved in the tech startup scene.{{cite web|last1=Cochrane |first1=Nate|title=Telstra hits the start-up road|url=http://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/business-it/telstra-hits-the-startup-road-20131022-hv26l.html|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=22 October 2013 |accessdate=29 June 2017}} It was officially opened by former Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull.
In 2015, muru-D expanded operations to Singapore due to its "fast-developing start-up ecosystem, pro-business policies and access to local capital."{{cite web|last1=Redrup |first1=Yolanda|title=Telstra launches muru-D start-up accelerator in Singapore|url=http://www.afr.com/technology/telstra-launches-murud-startup-accelerator-in-singapore-20150429-1mvzuh|website=The Australian Financial Review|date=29 April 2015 |accessdate=29 June 2017}}
At the end of 2016, Annie Parker left muru-D and was replaced by ex-Salesforce executive, Julie Trell.{{cite web|last1=Redrup |first1=Yolanda|title=Telstra's muru-D loses co-founder|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/technology/telstras-murud-loses-cofounder/news-story/fbbf267457873953e029ffda8a8eaec6|website=The Australian|date=21 November 2016 |accessdate=29 June 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Pash |first1=Chris|title=Julie Trell is the new head of Telstra's muru-D|url=https://www.businessinsider.com.au/julie-trell-is-the-new-head-of-telstras-muru-d-2017-2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214014211/http://www.businessinsider.com.au/julie-trell-is-the-new-head-of-telstras-muru-d-2017-2|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 February 2017|website=Business Insider Australia|accessdate=29 June 2017}}
In 2017, muru-D altered its funding model to be more founder friendly and attract later-stage startups.{{cite web|last1=Connolly |first1=Byron|title=Muru-D alters funding model to attract more mature firms|url=https://www.cio.com.au/article/614093/muru-d-alters-funding-model-attract-more-mature-firms/|website=CIO|accessdate=29 June 2017}} It also launched its new IoT themed space in Melbourne, based at Telstra's Gurrowa Labs.{{cite web|last1=Redrup |first1=Yolanda|title=Telstra launches IoT lab and expands muru-D to Melbourne|url=http://www.afr.com/technology/telstra-launches-iot-lab-and-expands-murud-to-melbourne-20170502-gvx43x|website=The Australian Financial Review|date=2 May 2017 |accessdate=29 June 2017}}