Expand North Star at GITEX Global Empowers Startups from 180 Countries to Grow

Dubai's biggest startup and investor event just wrapped up its 10th anniversary edition, bringing together over 2,000 startups and 1,200 investors from 180 countries. The four-day Expand North Star event, running October 12-15 as part of GITEX Global, shows how Dubai is positioning itself as a global hub for tech investment and innovation.

This year's event carries extra weight given that global venture capital investments hit $368 billion in 2024. The numbers tell the story - since launching in 2016, Expand North Star has helped more than 8,000 founders expand their businesses across different markets.

**Brazil takes center stage**

For the first time in the event's history, Brazil joined as an official country partner. More than 50 Brazilian startups showcased their solutions, representing some of the country's most dynamic companies.

"Brazil is now home to one of the world's largest startup and venture capital ecosystems, with over 20,000 startups nationwide," said Tatiana Riera, Executive Director of Apex Brazil's Dubai office, during her opening remarks. Apex Brazil is the country's national trade and investment promotion agency.

The partnership makes business sense. Brazil's massive startup ecosystem needs global connections, while Dubai offers access to Middle Eastern and Asian markets. Riera emphasized that Dubai Chamber of Commerce has become one of their key partners in the region.

**New markets join the mix**

Ecuador and Chile also made their debuts at this year's event. Ecuador brought 22 companies, including 20 startups working on everything from AI-powered banking services to advanced medical technologies.

Felipe Ribadeneira, Ecuador's Ambassador to the UAE, highlighted the strategic timing. "Dubai and the UAE are investing heavily to become a global hub for data and artificial intelligence," he said. "We see huge opportunities to build on this momentum."

Ecuador is planning something bigger too. During February's World Government Summit, they expect to sign an important agreement to establish a technology logistics corridor with the UAE.

Chile brought 12 innovative service companies covering mining, education, finance, construction, and entertainment sectors. Their pavilion hosted a Chile-Dubai Innovation Summit to strengthen their presence in the Middle East and support export diversification efforts.

**The bigger picture**

These partnerships aren't just about networking. Dubai World Trade Centre, which organizes both GITEX Global and Expand North Star, signed multiple agreements during the first day. Partners include Breset, 28 Digital, Apex Brazil, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia.

Here's what Dubai is really aiming for: the government wants to create 30,000 new jobs by 2030 and produce at least 10 unicorn companies - startups valued at over $1 billion - by 2031. Events like this are key to attracting the global talent and investment needed to hit those targets.

The expansion into Latin American markets through Brazil, Ecuador, and Chile shows Dubai's strategy of building bridges beyond its traditional focus areas. With global venture capital still flowing despite economic uncertainties, positioning Dubai as a gateway between emerging markets could pay off for both sides.