Serial entrepreneur David Murray-Hundley talks to Siliconrepublic.com at the Dublin Web Summit about his latest venture Property Page, which he says will wing its way to Ireland in the near future, as well as his constant quest to find the next big thing in technology.
Murray-Hundley wrote his first successful game concept on the BBC Micro for Superior Software at the age of 11. He went on to bag himself a degree in artificial intelligence and has since tackled start-ups including Intelisys, Commerce One, Adaro, Dione, UtilityOne, Property Page and Mydrinksin. In 1999, he built the biggest market site platform worldwide for BT and D Telecom.
Auto industry marketplace Covisint formed an agreement that gave founders Ford Motor and General Motors a hefty stake in Commerce One worth about US$1.26bn. Murray-Hundley carried out the first-ever internet automotive exchange for the industry at the Geneva Motor Show that year.
In 2000, SAP and Commerce One linked up to develop an integrated web-based supply chain management and procurement. Murray-Hundley was part of the team that developed SAP supply chain and market set off the back of the Commerce One market site.
In 2003, it all came apart for Murray-Hundley and he became seriously ill after being declared bankrupt.
But like a phoenix from the ashes he returned to form after he discovered a knack for resolving difficult IT problems for organisations.
In 2008, he helped on the turn around of several NHS Trusts’ IT systems. In 2009, he launched Adaro Red – a specialist social enterprise healthcare consultancy, supporting NHS customers with the practical and strategic advice needed in order to take best advantage of the opportunities available within the newly restructured NHS.
Murray-Hundley launched his own private equity firm Pario Ventures, which is actively involved in both first-round and second-round investments in the technology space as well as using the team’s experience in the sector for buyouts of large, asset-rich and complex businesses that are under-performing or in need of a change of direction.
The fund is known for its ‘super’ angel investments approach for tech start-ups worldwide and has since its launch in 2010 invested more than stg£34m in equity and complex transactions.
Murray-Hundley also turned around Psand – a company that provides businesses with web-based CMS solutions to enhance and compliment their business needs.
In 2011, Murray-Hundley was also appointed adviser to Ferrari and Prada.
His latest venture Property Page is a Facebook app that allows users to search properties, arrange viewings and request valuations. Users can like and share properties, exposing your instructions and brand to tens of thousands of Facebook users, increasing traffic and building your social networking presence.
In the course of our interview he revealed his concerns that the current rude health of the technology sector may not last and reminds him of the buoyant lead-up to the dot.com crash of 2000.
