Expand North Star 2025 by GITEX GLOBAL opened today in spectacular fashion, marking its 10th anniversary as the world’s biggest startup and investor connector. Organized by the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, the four-day event (October 12–15) at Dubai Harbour welcomes more than 2,000 startups and 1,200 investors from 180 countries, including new participants from Ecuador and Chile, and Brazil as the official Country Partner.
Driving the Next Wave of Global Digital Growth
As the centerpiece of the global innovation calendar, Expand North Star 2025 connects visionary founders, global investors, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to shape the future of technology. With global venture capital investment reaching US$368 billion in 2024, the event serves as a critical hub for scaling businesses, forging partnerships, and driving inclusive growth across emerging AI-powered economies.
The UAE’s Vision: Becoming the Global Startup Capital
Since its debut in 2016, Expand North Star has grown into a magnet for collaboration and capital, enabling over 8,000 founders to scale their ventures. This year, the event gathers disruptive startups and investors managing more than US$1.1 trillion in assets, spanning sectors like AI, climate tech, deep tech, digital health, and fintech.
The 2025 edition aligns with the UAE’s ambitious initiative, “The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World”, which aims to create 30,000 new jobs by 2030 and at least 10 unicorns—companies valued at over US$1 billion—by 2031.
His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, highlighted during his keynote:
“We began investing in AI as early as 2008, long before it became mainstream. Against all odds, the UAE has emerged as a key global player. Our goal isn’t only to succeed but to learn continuously, listen carefully, and implement meaningful change.”
Tech Leaders Weigh in on the Future of Innovation
In a session titled “Scaling a Digital Future: How Emerging Tech Will Redraw the Startup Map of the Next Decade”, Hatem Dowidar, Global CEO of e&, emphasized the importance of responsible innovation and AI governance:
“We must ensure AI is governed properly to protect data integrity and privacy. Within our ecosystem, we’ve built a full AI governance framework that safeguards anonymity and consumer trust.”
Presight’s AI-Startup Accelerator: Turning Vision into Real Business
Among the UAE’s standout participants is Presight, a G42 company and the region’s largest data analytics enterprise. One year after its launch, the Presight AI-Startup Accelerator unveiled its first cohort of startups with market-ready AI prototypes.
As the UAE’s first dedicated AI accelerator established by a publicly listed tech firm, the program offers early-stage startups access to world-class infrastructure, mentorship, and commercial pathways.
Thomas Pramotedham, CEO of Presight, explained:
“Unlike traditional accelerators, we’re building a global platform for real business opportunities. Abu Dhabi and the UAE have become the AI capital of the world—where technology meets innovation.”
Presight also signed a strategic partnership with the UAE Cybersecurity Council during the event, reinforcing its commitment to secure, responsible AI development.
Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity for the UAE Government, noted:
“Cybersecurity is embedded in everything we do. Our national digital transformation remains human-centric, empowering entrepreneurs who strengthen our critical infrastructure and national resilience.”
Brazil: Building Bridges of Innovation with the UAE
Making history as the event’s first official Country Partner, ApexBrasil leads Brazil’s participation with 55 startups and innovation hubs across two pavilions, showcasing advancements in AI, fintech, and sustainability.
Tatiana Riera, Executive Director of ApexBrasil Dubai, said:
“We’re here to connect Brazil’s thriving innovation ecosystem—home to over 20,000 startups—with the world. Dubai is the gateway for this collaboration, where we co-create the future.”
Unicorns, Investors, and Global Partnerships
This year’s edition features the largest-ever unicorn showcase, with more than 40 billion-dollar companies including:
- PsiQuantum (USA) – building the world’s first fault-tolerant quantum system (valued at US$68B)
- talabat (Kuwait) – MENA’s leading food delivery platform (US$8.5B)
- Andalusia Labs (UAE) – digital asset risk leader, reaching unicorn status in just 11 months
- Carousell (Singapore) – one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing e-commerce unicorns
Major investors in attendance include JP Morgan, Daiwa Capital Management, Eurazeo, Samsung Ventures, Qatar National Bank, SBI Ventures, and Octopus Energy Generation, representing a combined US$1.1 trillion in managed assets.
Strategic Global Alliances Fueling Growth
On the opening day, Dubai World Trade Centre signed multiple international partnership agreements with leading global entities, including ApexBrasil, Bresset, 28 Digital, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia. These collaborations reaffirm Dubai’s position as a global innovation hub and launchpad for over 8,000 founders worldwide.
As part of Dubai’s wider innovation agenda, GITEX GLOBAL and Expand North Star aim to generate 30,000 tech jobs by 2030 and create 10 new unicorns by 2031, solidifying the UAE’s role as a world leader in the digital economy.
Expand North Star 2025: Where Innovation Meets Opportunity
From AI-driven breakthroughs to next-generation startups, Expand North Star 2025 continues to redefine the future of global entrepreneurship—where visionary founders, bold investors, and pioneering technologies converge to shape tomorrow’s digital landscape.
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