Expand North Star
The world’s largest event for startups and investors, hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, has enabled thousands of digital startups to secure multi-million-dollar investment deals and forge strategic partnerships.
Since 2016, Dubai World Trade Centre has organised Expand North Star, the world’s largest event for startups and investors. The event, hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, has enabled thousands of digital startups to secure multi-million-dollar investment deals and forge strategic partnerships to accelerate their global growth. The exhibition has become a vital launchpad for startups, connecting innovators with capital and markets, and reinforcing Dubai’s position as a capital of the digital economy.
Nigerian mobility fintech Moove raised more than $ 460 million from investors, including Uber and BlackRock, before expanding into 13 global markets and moving towards unicorn status with a valuation of around $750 million. French virtual agent developer Obo secured $ 20 million in 2024, while India’s Freshcraft Technologies raised $ 12.7 million in 2022. Zaara Biotech, also from India, attracted $ 10 million to establish its UAE operations. Early-stage startups, ShopDoc raised $ 1.36 million, Machbee Innovations $ 1.1 million, and Orgaayur Productions $58,000 to develop urban agriculture solutions.
In 2023, UK-based Lorien Finance used the platform to launch its growth strategy in the Middle East. DeepSeek AI, an exhibitor in 2024, quickly rose to global prominence, underlining the event’s value for pioneering tech firms. For over a decade, Expand North Star has been a leading platform for innovation and opportunity, said Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy. Its success stories demonstrate Dubai’s status as a global centre for the digital economy and a gateway for startups to scale from Dubai to the world,” he added.
