UTS Startups moves to Tech Central with desk discounts for staff and students

UTS Startups is moving into Sydney’s growing Tech Central precinct and has desk discounts for UTS students and staff who want to be closer to Atlassian’s wooden skyscraper.

Murray Hurps, UTS Director of Entrepreneurship, officially announced the new space this week, talking up what he earnestly believes is “the world’s best early-stage startup incubator” in the heart of Sydney’s innovation district.

“Every part of the fitout has been designed to maximise the number of good conversations you’ll have – you’re not just here for a desk,” he said.

“Even the entry system has been designed to seat you around the most helpful people for your startup, and help you find anything you’re looking for around UTS.”

Hurps said the new UTS Startups cost structure is also designed to incentivise involvement with the university’s community to create a flywheel of ideas and connections.

“Every single cent of desk fees will be spent on supporting startups and their teams, not on our space costs, so you’re paying to create a new level of vibrant and helpful community around your startup,” he said.

“There are free casual desks for members who have been a UTS student or staff member in the last 12 months. $100 discount for members who were students or staff longer than 12 months ago. And best of all, $50 off for each hour you spend contributing to UTS Startups programming.”

For the non-UTS community, dedicated and casual desks start at $500 and $250 respectively.

Hurps has been running UTS’s entrepreneurship program since 2018 where he landed after leaving Fishburners less an a year earlier. His first order of business was to open UTS Startups — a program that has since helped support over 1,500 startups.

Seats in the new UTS Startup space come with access to the uni’s entrepreneurship programs along with help getting in touch with UTS students and researchers, plus facilities and public event spaces.

“It’s beautiful. It’s bright, welcoming, surrounded by amazing restaurants, 160,000 students and 150 research centres,” Hurps said of the new location.

“Windows along the entire length of the space provide an inspiring view of not just the Atlassian building, but the entire growing Tech Central precinct.”

The new UTS Startups incubator opens in June. You can join the waitlist at startups.uts.edu.au.