Dubai: Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, one of the three chambers under Dubai Chambers, recently carried out a promotional roadshow in Canada alongside Dubai World Trade Centre to promote Expand North Star 2025, the premier event for startups and investors worldwide. The chamber is set to host the upcoming edition of the event at Dubai Harbour from 12th to 15th October 2025.
According to Emirates News Agency, the roadshow aims to build on the success of Canadian startups from last year's event, 67% of which have already established their operations in Dubai. These companies are now looking to use Dubai as a base for local and regional expansion, forming strategic partnerships to enhance their business growth.
The roadshow included a series of events in Toronto, Mississauga, and Vancouver, gathering over 350 founders, investors, accelerators, and policymakers. Discussions centered on Dubai's role as a global hub for digital business growth and the opportunities available at Expand North Star. The annual event is organised by Dubai World Trade Centre and hosted by Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy.
The campaign offered a platform for networking and knowledge exchange, showcasing initiatives to assist Canadian companies in entering Dubai's burgeoning digital market. The chamber highlighted its support services for Canadian entrepreneurs seeking to expand in advanced technology sectors.
Pitch competitions were held across the three cities, with 31 startups participating. Bidblocks, Dia Labs Canada, and Recyclorobo.ai, companies specializing in AI and healthcare technologies, emerged as winners, securing fully funded participation in Expand North Star 2025. This presents a gateway to new markets and the chance to compete in the Supernova Challenge semi-finals during the event.
The 2024 edition of Expand North Star saw record participation and engagement, with over 1,800 startups and more than 1,200 investors from 100 countries participating. Additionally, 65 unicorn companies with a market value exceeding US$ 400 billion were present.
Canada is the second stop in a global campaign to underline the significance of Expand North Star 2025, a crucial gathering for startups, innovators, and business leaders aiming to harness growth opportunities in Dubai and shape the future of the digital economy.