The future lands in Dubai: Delivery titans, AI leaders & startups

The brightest minds, boldest startups and biggest industry players converge at Expand North Star 2025. Meet global CEOs, unicorn builders, and pioneers shaping the next decade of tech, talent and investment. Secure your place today.

Headline Speakers

1. Niklas Östberg — CEO, Delivery Hero
   Leader behind one of the world’s largest food delivery empires — from Talabat to Woowa Brothers
2. Tomaso Rodriguez — CEO, Talabat
   Driving MENA’s #1 q-commerce platform through strategic acquisitions and rapid regional growth.
3. Maymee Kurian — CHRO, G42
   Creator of the first AI Talent Report, reshaping how companies attract and retain AI talent.
4. Bacary Sagna — Football Legend
   From Champions League stages to inspiring entrepreneurs — bringing global sports leadership to the stage.
5. Vivek Anand Oberoi — Actor & Investor
   Bollywood star turned investor, building portfolios across fintech, agritech, edtech and sustainable luxury.

 

Startup & Partner Highlights

This year’s programme brings together powerhouse partners who are shaping ecosystems and building bridges across continents:

VentureOne — Europe’s early-stage accelerator with a track record of backing fintech and AI startups that went on to unicorn status.

Astana Hub (Kazakhstan) — Central Asia’s largest IT hub, connecting 1,300+ startups with investors and government programs across the region.

Unicorn Factory Lisboa (Portugal) — The public-private initiative credited with scaling Lisbon into Europe’s hottest startup city.

Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (UAE) — The institution behind the UAE’s Mars Mission and pioneering Emirati astronaut program.

IT Park Uzbekistan — Driving digital transformation in Central Asia with a strong pipeline of export-ready tech companies.

ProChile — Chile’s national trade promotion agency, opening global doors for Latin America’s most promising tech innovators.

Japan Pavilion — Showcasing Web3 and deep tech startups, backed by Japan’s innovation-led ecosystem.

Together, they bring fresh ideas, investment opportunities, and cross-border collaboration to Dubai’s stage.

 

Exclusive Experiences & Networking

(all require pre-registration; places are limited)

• Deep Tech MEA Careers Hub — AI-powered hiring, interviews and premium networking (apply to register).
• GROW with SAP for Scaleups — invite-only evening on the North Star by Night Deck (apply).
• ProChile Innovation Summit — Chilean startups meet MENA investors & corporates (apply).
• Japan → UAE: Web3 Networking — seven pioneering Japanese Web3 teams in Dubai (apply).
• Google Cloud Reception — intimate networking with thought leaders and cloud experts (apply).
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Save the date

📅 12–15 October 2025

📍 Dubai Harbour