Witness the convergence of investment, talent and innovation from October 15 to 18, 2023, at Dubai Harbour.
This week, Expand North Star, the largest start-up exhibition in the world, is being held in Dubai, taking centre stage. The event highlights Dubai’s increasing prominence in the global digital scene, with over 1,800 businesses from over 100 countries and 1,000 investors managing an incredible $1 trillion in assets.
Expand North Star, presented by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, will take place at Dubai Harbour from October 15, 2023, to October 18, 2023. This event will pave the way for a confluence of investment, entrepreneurial talent, and innovation.
Startpad in Dubai
Launchpad Dubai will be unveiled at Expand North Star, among other announcements. This platform, offered by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, is intended to make the setting process easier for international tech companies wishing to set up shop in Dubai.
It provides a centralised solution that streamlines access to necessary services on a single platform, including banking, talent acquisition, housing, visa applications, and legal services. The programme seeks to draw both entrepreneurs and tech giants, strengthening Dubai’s standing as a major worldwide hub for the digital economy.
The National Incubator for Digital Talent
Simultaneously, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Emirates NBD, a well-known banking group in the area, launched the National Digital Talent Incubator project.
The goal of this venture-building programme, which is supported by DIFC Launchpad, is to develop entrepreneurship in the fintech and digital innovation sectors by identifying and developing local talent.
The programme, which is backed by major players in the industry like Visa, Microsoft, and Dell Technologies, gives UAE national founders and members of fintech startups access to vital networks, mentorship, and the chance to learn from venture-building and innovation experts.
CEO of Emirates NBD’s group digital and information division Miguel Rio Tinto stated: “Most incubator programmes globally concentrate solely on promoting product innovation. The National Digital Talent Incubator programme from Emirates NBD is unique since it’s made to help participants expand their knowledge base, network, and sphere of influence. It also helps them better comprehend the major economic trends and develop ventures that have a big impact on both the local and global economies.
“We are giving participants the tools to turn their ideas into successful innovations and the encouragement to expand them to larger markets.”
Cooperative relationship
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund (MBRIF) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Star Venture programme have formed a strategic collaboration, which was also unveiled during Expand North Star 2023.
The strategic partnership helps the MBRIF’s members enter burgeoning European markets while providing a quick route for creative companies to establish and thrive in the UAE market.
A new generation of entrepreneurs in the UAE will be able to expand globally thanks to the new cooperation, according to Fatima Al Naqbi, top innovation officer at the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry’s representative at MBRIF.
“It also makes it easier for people from Europe to enter new markets and investigate growth prospects in the UAE, which has developed into a hub for regional trade and business.”
Enlarge the North Star
Expand North Star replaces this essential component of GITEX GLOBAL. These gatherings provide a forum for international discussion on cutting edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, Web 3.0, and a sustainable digital economy.
Targeting particular segments of the tech industry, Expand North Star 2023 also includes themed sub-events like Fintech Surge, the Future Blockchain Summit, and Marketing Mania. The Supernova Challenge, the event’s big finale, is a renowned pitch competition with a huge prize pool of US$200,000, which heightens the attraction of the occasion.
