The Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy is preparing to host Expand North Star, the world’s largest gathering of startups and investors, at Dubai Harbour from October 15th to 18th, 2023. This flagship event aims to connect startups with investors, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders to explore growth opportunities in Dubai’s digital economy.
Expand North Star underscores the chamber’s commitment to supporting startups in Dubai by facilitating connections with venture capitalists and expanding the global tech community’s presence in the emirate. Organized by the Dubai World Trade Centre and hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, the event aligns with the Dubai Economic Agenda’s goal of transforming Dubai into a leading global digital economy.
The Dubai Economic Agenda, initiated by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, seeks to double Dubai’s economy’s size in the next decade and establish Dubai among the world’s top three cities. The digital economy plays a pivotal role in this agenda, with a target of contributing AED 100 billion annually through digital transformation projects. Expand North Star aims to help 30 startups achieve unicorn status (with a valuation of over US$1 billion) by 2033.
Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, expressed that Expand North Star will further propel Dubai’s transformation into a global digital hub. Last year’s North Star event resulted in the launch of approximately 150 startups in the UAE through signed deals during the exhibition, and this year’s event is expected to draw attention to startups in various sectors, including AI, climate technology, mobility, smart cities, and manufacturing.
Expand North Star anticipates hosting over 1,800 startup exhibitors from 100+ countries, with more than 1,000 investors managing over US$1 trillion in combined assets attending. The event commences on October 15th with the official opening and the CTO World Congress, providing insights from tech architects and data scientists.
The event will feature AI Monday, showcasing over 400 fast-growing AI startups, India Central, the largest gathering of Indian startups outside of India, as well as Asia Fast 100 and Africa Fast 100, bringing together 100 startups from each continent for conferences, networking, and pitch competitions.
Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President of Events Management at DWTC, emphasized the strong global tech and startup community’s interest in Expand North Star, highlighting its role in facilitating knowledge exchange and collaboration in the tech industry.
Expand North Star includes themed sub-events focusing on Fintech Surge, the Future Blockchain Summit, and Marketing Mania, catering to specific sectors within the tech ecosystem. It serves as a prime platform for investors from 70 countries to engage in deal-making, co-financing, and fundraising, providing opportunities for digital startups to secure funding and expand their operations.
Additionally, Expand North Star will introduce Emaratipreneur Inc., a networking and development platform exclusively for Emirati entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors. The event will feature an exhibition area for young innovators and startups, along with the Emaratipreneur Majlis for panel discussions on nurturing the next generation of startup successes from the UAE’s youth ecosystem.
This year’s event will conclude with the Supernova Challenge, a prestigious pitch competition offering a prize fund of US$200,000, adding to the event’s appeal and significance in the global tech and startup landscape.
