Expand North Star 2025 opens; draws 2,000 startups, 1,200 investors

Image: WAM

The 10th anniversary edition of Expand North Star, part of GITEX GLOBAL, opened on October 12, attracting more than 2,000 startups and 1,200 investors from 180 countries, reaffirming its position as the world’s largest startup and investor gathering.

This year’s event, which runs until October 15, includes Brazil as the official country partner and marks the first-time participation of Ecuador and Chile.

With global venture capital investments reaching $368bn in 2024, the gathering continues to play a key role in scaling the digital economy and driving growth across emerging AI-driven markets.

New exhibitors at Expand North Star

According to a report by state news agency WAM, Ecuador debuted with 20 startups and 22 companies showcasing AI-driven and medical technology solutions.

Chile participated for the first time with 12 companies across diverse sectors and hosted the Chile-Dubai Innovation Summit to strengthen cooperation in technology and export diversification.

Expand North Star draws investors, sees key deals signed on day 1

Investors with a combined $1.1 tn in assets under management attended the event, reflecting its global economic influence.

According to the WAM report, on the opening day, Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), organiser of GITEX GLOBAL and Expand North Star, signed new partnerships with Presight, 28 Digital, ApexBrasil, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia to promote innovation and cross-border collaboration.

Through these initiatives, Expand North Star supports Dubai’s goal of creating 30,000 new jobs by 2030 and producing at least 10 unicorns by 2031, strengthening its position as a global hub for entrepreneurship, innovation, and investment.

Read: It’s official: 2025 will be the last year GITEX GLOBAL is hosted at DWTC