Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy will host the global tech and startup communities at Expand North Star: Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, one of three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, is preparing to welcome the international business community to Expand North Star, the largest gathering of entrepreneurs and investors in the world.
From the 15th to the 18th of October 2023, Dubai Harbour will host the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy’s flagship event, which will connect the world’s most sought-after businesses with innovators, investors, entrepreneurs, and the founders of global success stories. Collectively, participants will endeavor to capitalize on the emerging growth opportunities in Dubai and accelerate the future of the digital economy.
The global startup event demonstrates the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy’s dedication to providing ambitious entrepreneurs in the emirate with the resources they need to flourish. Expand North Star supports the chamber’s efforts to establish Dubai as a prominent global hub for the digital industries by bringing together venture capitalists and startups, expanding the presence of startups, and attracting the global tech community to the emirate.
The event, hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy and organized by the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), aims to support Dubai’s transformation into one of the world’s leading digital economies, in accordance with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33).
D33, which was launched at the start of the year by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, seeks to double the size of the emirate’s economy over the next decade and place Dubai among the top three cities in the world.
The digital economy has been established as a key pillar of the agenda, which aims to generate an annual contribution of AED100 billion to the economy of the emirate through digital transformation initiatives. Expand North Star seeks to support this objective by transforming 30 startups into unicorns by 2033. Unicorns are privately held startups with a valuation of at least $1 billion.
Vice President of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy Saeed Al Gergawi stated, “Hosting Expand North Star will further Dubai’s transformation into one of the world’s most flexible, diverse, and technology-driven digital centers. This mega event will enable us to harness the full potential of the digital economy by bringing together the world’s foremost industry experts, innovators, and tech startups with government sector stakeholders, investors, and accelerators.
Al Gergawi added, “This one-of-a-kind event expands on the sold-out success of last year’s North Star, which resulted in the launch of approximately 150 startups in the UAE as a result of agreements signed during the exhibition. We anticipate that the majority of the focus will be on startups in fields such as artificial intelligence, climate technology, mobility, smart cities, and manufacturing, but there is space for all. We are always searching for innovative thinkers with ambition.
Expand North Star offers an ideal platform for startups that will help them accelerate their development in a unique global environment and make a significant impact in the business world. This year’s event will be hosted at Dubai Harbour in ten dedicated exhibition venues.
Expand North Star will accommodate over 1,800 exhibitors from over 100 countries. Dubai is swiftly emerging as the center of the world’s digital economy, attracting more than a thousand investors with a combined $1 trillion under management.
The eagerly awaited event begins on Sunday, October 15 with the official opening and the CTO World Congress, which will provide exclusive insights into the minds of the world’s top tech architects and data scientists.
Expand North Star 2023 will feature AI Monday, showcasing over 400 rapidly scaling AI startups; India Central, the largest gathering of Indian startups ever assembled outside of India; and Asia Fast 100 and Africa Fast 100, the event’s largest showcases that will bring together 100 leading startups from each continent for a day of conferences, networking, and dedicated pitch competitions.
Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President of Events Management at DWTC, the organizer of GITEX GLOBAL and Expand North Star, stated, “The intense demand for participation in GITEX from the global tech and startup community is a testament to the strong impetus to learn, exchange, debate, and challenge the most recent technological advancements.”
The gathering of next-generation companies includes three sector-specific thematic sub-events: Fintech Surge, the Future Blockchain Summit, and Marketing Mania.
Expand North Star is the leading platform for deal-making, co-financing, and fundraising among investors from 70 countries, creating thrilling opportunities for ambitious digital startups to secure funding and scale their operations.
Moreover, Expand North Star will host the debut of Emaratipreneur Inc., a community-driven networking and development platform created specifically for Emirati entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors.
Together with the Emaratipreneur Majlis, where panel and group discussions will shed light on creating the next generation of startup superstars, unicorns, and globally renowned entrepreneurs from the UAE’s youth ecosystem, the event will feature a first-of-its-kind exhibition area for talented young innovators and startups to exhibit on fully built, branded, and sponsored exhibition pods.
Continuing the legacy of North Star Dubai, the Supernova Challenge will conclude this year’s Expand North Star. The prize fund for the esteemed pitch competition is $200,000, adding to the allure of this unmissable event.
