The world’s largest startup event, Expand North Star, is set to return from October 13-16, 2024, at Dubai Harbour. This year, more than 400 startups from Europe and the UK will attend the exhibition — the largest presence yet from the region. In total, over 2,000 startups will showcase their innovations at the ninth edition of this standout 4-day event.

Organized by the Dubai World Trade Centre and hosted by Dubai Chambers, Expand North Star forms part of GITEX GLOBAL — the largest tech event worldwide. The exhibiting startups will present solutions in diverse fields such as Agritech, AI, Climate Tech, Fintech, Health Tech, and more. Germany will lead the new country pavilions with 40 startups making their debut, followed by countries including Ireland, Poland, Latvia, Austria, and Portugal.

Among the returning countries is the United Kingdom, whose participation has doubled to 50 startups compared to 2023. Other key countries represented include France, Italy, and Turkey. Omar Hassan, Managing Director of Global Growth Hub in the UK, said: “We are thrilled to have the fastest-growing technology companies joining this year’s delegation, spanning across FinTech, AI, Sustainability and EdTech”.

Hassan also highlighted that “Expand North Star provides UK tech with a great path and connectivity both into local markets in the region and beyond, particularly in Asia and Africa. The delegation is ready to explore expansion into the UAE, and that will be the biggest takeaway for many participants”.

Investors & Unicorns Explore New Opportunities At Expand North Star

European startups saw a surge in funding in Q2 2024, with a 31% rise to nearly $16 billion, marking a 17% year-on-year growth, according to Crunchbase. At Expand North Star, around 30% of the 1,200 investors attending will be from Europe, offering tremendous startup opportunities.

Among the notable investors are SpeedInvest, one of Europe’s most active early-stage investors, and H Tree Capital, a UK biotech fund. Investors will participate in a series of panels, meetings, and the Supernova Challenge, the largest pitch competition in the world, offering a $200,000 cash prize.

Additionally, the event will connect attendees with over 65 global unicorns, including Volocopter, BitPanda, and Climeworks, who will showcase innovative solutions and discuss industry trends on the main stage.