Prime Highlights:
- Expand North Star 2025, part of GITEX GLOBAL’s 10th edition, opened in Dubai with participation from over 2,000 startups and 1,200 investors representing 180 countries.
- The event supports Dubai’s vision to generate 30,000 new jobs by 2030 and build at least 10 unicorns by 2031.
Key Facts:
- Global venture capital funding reached $368 billion in 2024, driven by growth in AI and digital sectors.
- Investors with combined assets of over $1.1 trillion are attending the event, showcasing strong global interest in startup innovation.
Background
Expand North Star 2025, one of the world’s largest startup and investor gatherings, opened in Dubai on October 12 as part of GITEX GLOBAL’s 10th edition. Organised by the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the event has drawn more than 2,000 startups and 1,200 investors from 180 countries, showcasing Dubai’s growing importance in global technology and innovation.
This year, Brazil is the official country partner, while Ecuador and Chile are taking part for the first time. The four-day event, which runs until October 15, features startups working in artificial intelligence, education, healthcare, and fintech. It comes at a time when global venture capital investment reached $368 billion in 2024, reflecting strong growth in digital and AI-driven industries.
On the opening day, DWTC signed new agreements with Presight, 28 Digital, ApexBrasil, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia. The goals of these partnerships are to enhance innovation, corporate collaboration, and digitalization in various industries.
Ecuador has its debut with 20 startups and 22 companies specializing in AI and medical technology, and Chile has 12 companies and organized the Chile-Dubai Innovation Summit to promote technological and export cooperation.
Investors managing over $1.1 trillion in assets attended the event, showing its global power to connect startups with funding.
Through Expand North Star, Dubai aims to create 30,000 new jobs by 2030 and develop at least 10 unicorns by 2031, strengthening its vision of becoming a global hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital growth.
