SBWC calls women in tech to benefit from Expand North Star 2023

The Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC) is encouraging female entrepreneurs in the UAE’s technology sector to leverage one of the most significant opportunities available to them each year. This opportunity connects women-led tech startups with the dynamic ecosystem opportunities in the UAE and worldwide.

To participate in the upcoming Expand North Star 2023 event, women-led startups are invited to submit their applications to SBWC before August 31st. Selected startups will have the chance to benefit from fully-sponsored participation in this event, which draws inspiration from GITEX Global, the world’s largest and top-rated tech event.

SBWC, a prominent organization based in Sharjah, has been actively promoting women’s full integration into the economy and empowering their ventures in non-traditional sectors such as technology and AI. In collaboration with the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, SBWC will select eight talented and impactful women founders to showcase their talent, ideas, and impact at the world’s largest event for startups and investors. The event will take place from October 15th to 18th at Dubai Harbour.

By being sponsored by SBWC, these startups will also automatically enter the Supernova Challenge Pitch Competition, the world’s biggest startup pitch competition. They will have the opportunity to compete with leading tech startups from around the world and potentially win cash prizes of up to US$200,000. The Supernova Challenge, organized in cooperation with the world’s third-largest fund for financing SMEs, celebrates groundbreaking innovations by ESG and sustainability startups and is the largest pitch competition in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.

Additionally, SBWC will continue its support for women entrepreneurs by serving as the official partner for the “Women in Tech” category for the sixth consecutive year. The council will sponsor a prize of up to US$10,000 for the best female-led startup.

Mariam Rashid Bin Al Shaikh, Director of SBWC, emphasized the uniqueness of Expand North Star as a platform that brings together ambitious startups with experienced global investors. SBWC’s previous participation in the event has opened doors of opportunity and success for several female-owned and led ventures across the UAE. She urged women driving change in the technology sector through their ideas and innovations to seize this provided opportunity.

The participation of the eight female-led startups in Expand North Star will grant them exposure to global companies, suppliers, and investors who are drawn to this particular event once a year. By engaging with these influential stakeholders, participants will explore meaningful partnership opportunities that can propel their projects to new heights of success.

Expand North Star, spanning four days, will showcase some of the world’s best startups from over 100 countries. It will attract 1000 venture capitalists seeking investment opportunities and offer a content program addressing the significant stories of 2023. The event will feature a wide range of topics, including generative AI startups and insights from over 50 unicorn founders on stage.