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This year, Expand North Star is reunited with GITEX GLOBAL and will run side by side at Expo City Dubai in December. Expand North Star is an annual technology start-up event, which brings together start-ups, investors, corporates, governments and innovators from around the world. Peter Brady, AVP – Exhibitions at inD Group, discusses why this year’ s edition of the start-up gathering is the one he has been waiting for and explores the opportunities available to small and medium enterprises attending the event.
EXPAND NORTH STAR AND GITEX GLOBAL REUNITE TO UNLOCK SME GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES
What can people expect from Expand North Star this year?
Honestly, this is the edition I’ ve been waiting for. It’ s all about business, trade and growth. Expand North Star is a programme singularly focused on the commercial growth of start-ups and on strengthening city and national startup ecosystems. Start-ups don’ t come here to learn how to be start-ups. They invest valuable time and money to attend, and they expect a demonstrable return: investors, customers, partners and deals.
This year is also a new chapter. After three editions at Dubai Harbour, the 11th edition moves to Expo City Dubai, with new December dates. The main event runs from December 8 to 10, and Expand North Star will also be part of the GITEX Scale Summit at Dubai World Trade Centre on December 7. Most importantly, Expand North Star is reunited with GITEX GLOBAL, the world’ s largest tech ecosystem, so start-ups, investors, enterprises and governments meet in one place, during the same week.
Tell me more about Expand North Star this year – I hear it will be in the same place as GITEX GLOBAL.
It’ s true, and it’ s the news our community has been asking for. For the first time, both events will run side by side at Expo City Dubai. The Dubai Exhibition Centre is the world’ s largest indoor events venue, with 2.2 million square feet of space. It is part of a US $ 2.7 billion expansion next to what will become the world’ s largest airport.
The week opens on December 7 with the GITEX Scale Summit at Dubai World Trade Centre. GITEX GLOBAL then runs from December 8 to 11 at Expo City Dubai,
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