Aside from the GITEX GLOBAL held at the Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC), Expand North Star, the world’s largest gathering of startups and investors, also kicks off its opening day on Sunday, October 13 at the Dubai Harbour, UAE.
Expand North Star 2024 boasts a massive footprint, featuring over 1,800 exhibiting startups and more than 1,200 investors with a collective USD 1 trillion in assets under management (AUM).
This year also witnesses the largest international participation ever, with over 100 countries represented, including the Philippines whereas GCash’s PasaJob made it to the semi-finals of the Supernova Challenge 2.0.
Notably, Europe takes center stage with over 1,000 SMEs and 450 startups from 35 European nations. Industry leaders like Dr. Sebastian Schäfer, CEO of House of Finance & Tech Berlin, emphasized the need for cross-continental collaboration to unlock the vast “untapped potential” within the European digital space.
The all-new ‘NS Scaleups’ program connects late-stage startups with strategic partners, venture capitalists, and clients, fostering collaboration and propelling business growth. The event also welcomes a record-breaking 59 leading unicorns with a combined valuation of a staggering USD 400 billion.
Sustainability is a hot topic at Expand North Star. Renowned venture capitalist Sean O’Sullivan, founder of SOSV, the world’s most active climate tech investor, addressed the urgent need for climate-focused solutions.
He highlighted the immense opportunities for startups to tackle sustainability challenges and achieve profitability. Dedicated sessions like “Climate Tech Unicorns: Valuation, Volatility, and Venture Capital” delve deeper into this critical area.
Expand North Star doesn’t stop at startups. The event offers a glimpse into the future with industry-defining events like GITEX Impact, Fintech Surge, Future Blockchain Summit, and Marketing Mania.
The inaugural Tech Transfer 3.0 brings together leading research institutions with tech experts to showcase the journey of innovation from concept to real-world application.
The event also recognizes the importance of engaging the UAE’s youth. GITEX YouthX Unipreneur provides a platform for young minds with YouthX Talks and an Educators Innovation Pitch.
Expand North Star runs concurrently with GITEX GLOBAL 2024 from October 13 – 16, solidifying Dubai’s position as a global leader in the tech and startup ecosystem.
Stay tuned for more cutting-edge technologies to witness here in Dubai!
