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European And UK Startups To Dominate Expand North Star 2024
The October event in Dubai will feature the largest-ever European and UK startup presence, including 400+ companies and 30% of all investors.
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.
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Checkout.com Set To Launch Card Issuing In The UAE
The payment service provider’s expansion is a first-of-its-kind investment and could reshape digital transactions across the region.
Checkout.com is laying the groundwork to become the first global payments platform to introduce card issuing in the United Arab Emirates — a move that could reshape how businesses in the region manage financial transactions.
The company plans to roll out its domestic card issuance offering in the UAE by 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The launch would give businesses the tools to issue both physical and virtual branded cards. This, in turn, opens up new ways to reward customers, streamline expense processes, and handle B2B payouts efficiently.
Checkout.com’s CEO and Founder, Guillaume Pousaz, revealed the plans during Thrive Abu Dhabi, the firm’s debut conference in the Emirates. Joined on stage by Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA, Pousaz presented to an audience of over 150 partners and merchants at Saadiyat Island. Also in attendance was H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications.
Abbondandolo highlighted the strategic importance of the announcement: “As a global business, we focus on bringing products to markets that our customers want and need. Today’s announcement is proof of our commitment to the MENA region and its rising influence in the digital economy. The appetite for innovation here is real, and we’re proud to be building the infrastructure that powers it”.
One early adopter of Checkout.com’s UAE acquiring services is Headout, a travel experiences marketplace, which recently named the payment provider as its main partner in Europe. The company has already begun card issuing there and is keen to expand that offering into MENA once approval is granted.
The expansion of services in the UAE and beyond builds on Checkout.com’s track record in the region. It was the first global payments firm to secure a Retail Payment Services license from the UAE’s Central Bank and was instrumental in rolling out Mada and Apple Pay in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Also Read: Protecting Your WhatsApp Account From Hackers: Kaspersky Expert Tips
The firm has also been rolling out new products: One of the latest is Flow Remember Me, currently in beta testing. It allows shoppers to store their card information once and access it across Checkout.com’s entire network, potentially cutting checkout times by up to 70%.
Earlier this year, Checkout.com also introduced Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution in the UAE, enabling both domestic and international payouts. Its collaboration with Mastercard has grown as well, making it easier for businesses to send funds directly to third-party cards securely and quickly.
With regional tech ambitions on the rise — spurred by initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s 2031 Agenda — Checkout.com sees its role as one of a key enabler. “Our mission is to help ambitious businesses navigate the complexity of payments, so they can move faster, go further, and make the most of every opportunity,” said Abbondandolo. “In MENA, performance is personal. It’s local. It’s built on trust. And when payments perform, businesses thrive”.
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