Expand North Star, part of GITEX GLOBAL, concluded today at Dubai Harbour, marking the end of the world’s largest startup and investor event. The finale saw Korea’s AIM Intelligence win the Supernova Challenge 2.0, while Chile’s Chucao Technology Consultants and Ecuador’s Aerialoop secured second and third places respectively.

The competition showcased 10 groundbreaking innovations from across the world, with a total prize pool of US$300,000. The Supernova Challenge 2.0 drew global participation, reinforcing the UAE’s position as a leading hub for tech entrepreneurship.

The 10th edition of Expand North Star attracted 2,000 exhibiting startups and more than 1,200 investors, with assets under management exceeding US$1.1 trillion.

AIM Intelligence, an AI security company from Korea, was announced as the top winner, earning US$100,000. The company focuses on developing safe and reliable generative AI systems. Recognized by Meta, Anthropic, and leading accelerators, AIM Intelligence aims to set global standards for AI reliability and Physical AI Safety.

Haon Park, Co-Founder of AIM Intelligence, revealed that the win will accelerate the company’s global expansion. “We are honoured to receive this award. As an AI security company, we are solving frontier challenges and plan to expand into the Middle Eastern region,” Park stated.

• Second place: Chucao Technology Consultants (Chile) – US$50,000 for a patented nanometal injector enhancing mineral recovery.
• Third place: Aerialoop (Ecuador) – US$25,000 for developing Latin America’s largest drone network.

The event also hosted past Supernova Challenge winners from Brazil, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, the UAE, and the UK, celebrating a decade of innovation. These founders shared insights into how the equity-free funding supported their growth, enhanced trust, and helped secure global clients.

Crescent Enterprises announced a new AED 250 million investment programme to support home-grown ventures through its CE-Creates platform. CEO Badr Jafar said the initiative aims to make the UAE a global startup capital, empowering entrepreneurs to scale purpose-driven innovations.

Industry leaders reflected on the UAE’s growing reputation as a tech and innovation hub. Wio CEO Jayesh Patel reported that the supportive ecosystem enables startups to thrive, predicting strong growth for the next decade.

Presight revealed that its AI-Startup Accelerator, launched at Expand North Star, attracted over 120 global applicants, reaffirming the event’s role as a hub where ideas turn into deals.

Token Bay Capital’s Founder, Lucy Gazmararian, added that the event uniquely connects startups, investors, and regulators from around the world, making it a vital platform for global collaboration in technology and innovation.

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