Expand North Star 2024 will take place at Dubai Harbour, a prominent global startup event running alongside GITEX Global. This year’s edition is set to break records, featuring 70,000+ attendees, 1,800+ exhibiting startups, 1,200+ investors, and 450 speakers across 17 conference tracks. With a 25% increase in startup participation compared to last year, it marks a significant growth in the event’s influence on the global startup ecosystem.
Key Features and Initiatives:
Global Participation and Exhibiting Startups: Over 2,000 startups from more than 100 countries will participate, marking a 25% increase from the previous year. Notable international startup showcases include:
- South Korea (100 startups)
- Brazil (60 startups)
- Ethiopia (12 startups via JICA)
- Europe (250 startups), led by major organizations such as GTAI and Berlin Partner (Germany), London and Partners (UK), Enterprise Ireland (Ireland), and Italian Trade Agency (Italy).
Focus on Advanced Technologies: The event emphasizes future technologies including AI, blockchain, biotech, quantum computing, and manufacturing. New programs align with key themes in AI, media and creativity, climate tech, energy, fintech, and deeptech.
Conference Tracks & Stages: Expand North Star 2024 features 17 conference tracks across 9 stages. Notable tracks focus on AI, blockchain, Web 3, and climate tech, with newly introduced sessions such as GITEX Impact, which spotlights sustainability and ESG innovations. Key speakers include:
- Sean O’Sullivan, Founder & Managing Partner, SOSV
- Anahita Crawford, Sr. Director, DEI, Arm, USA
- Aldo Romani, Head of Sustainable Finance, European Investment Bank
- Sir Martin Sorell, Founder, S4 Capital
- Neil Patel, Co-Founder, NP Digital
Supernova Challenge Pitch Competition: The highly anticipated Supernova Challenge returns, offering a prize of $200,000. This competition provides a launchpad for startups to gain recognition and funding by presenting their innovations through intense rounds of pitching.
Corporate Arena & Tech Transfer 3.0: The Corporate Arena is a new platform facilitating strategic collaborations between enterprises, investors, and startups. It includes notable participants such as Citi Ventures, Santander Ventures, and Salesforce Ventures. The Tech Transfer 3.0 initiative connects research institutions with the tech industry, accelerating innovation from concept to commercialization.
NS Scaleup Programme & GITEX YouthX Unipreneur: The NS Scaleup Programme provides a dedicated space for over 100 scaleups, offering tools to accelerate their growth. The GITEX YouthX Unipreneur program, launched in 2021, empowers young entrepreneurs through a focused initiative that celebrates youth innovation.
New Partnerships and Pitch Competitions: Expand North Star 2024 features exciting partnerships with Sonar + D, 1BN Summit, and Startup Genome, co-hosting the Startup Ecosystem Leadership Forum. Startups can also participate in additional pitch competitions hosted by leading companies like Bridgestone, 1tank, and DMCC in collaboration with AGCC.
Opportunities for Investors:
Investor Sunday & Global Investor Summit: Investor Sunday on October 13th kicks off discussions on key investment sectors, including AI, blockchain, fintech, gaming, and ESG capital. The Global Investor Summit—exclusive to investors—will bring together some of the world’s largest funds, totaling $1 trillion in assets under management (AUM). Participants include European Investment Fund, bpifrance, Lightrock, SpeedInvest, and more, offering ample opportunities for matchmaking and networking.
Investor-Startup Engagement: The 2024 edition offers a 50% increase in late-stage startups, and investors will have opportunities for over 5,000 meetings with startups over four days. The event features a pre-scheduled concierge meeting service to ensure productive interactions.
Events featured alongside Expand North Star:
GITEX IMPACT
This event focuses on ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) themes and features startups from various sectors. It aims to bring together investors, government representatives, and sustainability experts to discuss impactful strategies for climate action. Attendees can expect a platform for networking, investment opportunities, and innovative discussions surrounding climate technologies.
Fintech Surge
This event highlights the latest trends in the financial technology sector, providing a platform for industry leaders to share insights and showcase innovative solutions. It attracts global investors and startups aiming to revolutionize the financial landscape.
Future Blockchain Summit
This summit is dedicated to blockchain technology, covering aspects such as cryptocurrencies, smart contracts, and decentralized finance (DeFi). It aims to connect startups, investors, and experts to explore the future potential of blockchain applications across various industries.
Marketing Mania
This event focuses on marketing strategies in the tech sector, addressing the latest trends and innovations that drive customer engagement and brand growth. It features industry experts who share their experiences and insights into effective marketing practices in the digital age Expand North Star 2024 stands out as a global tech and investment event, attracting stakeholders from over 100 countries and focusing on advanced, future technologies. With a record-breaking attendance, a wide range of conference tracks, and unparalleled networking opportunities, it is an essential platform for startups, investors, and corporations looking to shape the future of technology and business.
