Digital finance, exciting innovations and deep-tech investment in focus
The event gathered key industry leaders to discuss a range of issues that will shape the future of decentralized finance and venture capital
Expand North Star 2025 saw thousands of visitors attend the show’s second day at Dubai Harbor. Attendees enjoyed a series of tech showcases, as well as panel discussions, keynote addresses and conversations on a range of subjects, including digital assets and new deep-tech frontier markets.
The 10th edition of Expand North Star, running until October 15, features a comprehensive four-day program that has attracted 2,000 exhibiting startups and more than 1,200 investors, with assets under management (AUM) exceeding $1.1 trillion.
Digital assets in focus
Expand North Star 2025 gathered key industry leaders from the digital assets and VC investment space to discuss a range of issues that will shape the future of decentralized finance and venture capital. The all-new Gitex Digital Assets Forum tackled institutional investment topics such as tokenization and its liquidity benefits for short-term investors, plus the importance of democratizing capital to scale inclusive investment across the sector.
“Digital assets are no longer a fringe experiment. They have become part of financial systems worldwide – from institutional capital to everyday consumers,” said Val Malinovskiy, founder and CEO of YPay said during his keynote address.
Malinovskiy emphasized the importance of creating a bridge between traditional finance and the new economy, highlighting the role events such as Expand North Star 2025 play in integrating digital assets responsibly, securely and at scale.
“We know the future needs trust, regulation, and collaboration. That is why these conversations are so important, bringing together leading voices to shape the next chapter of institutional involvement in digital assets, exploring risk returns and realignment,” Malinovskiy added.
Increasing deep-tech investment to accelerate AI adoption
The future evolution of AI, quantum computing, robotics and climate tech and their role in overcoming the challenges of slow-growth markets and saturated sectors all featured in a high-level panel discussion at Expand North Star 2025: ‘The Next Frontier: Deep Tech, Frontier Markets and Untapped Sectors”.
The wide-ranging, dynamic conversation featured panelists from global tech giants such as Nvidia, Samsung and Honda, as well as local VC experts – all highlighting the next major breakthroughs that will transform markets worldwide.
Wei Xiao, head of developer relations at Nvidia, said during the panel that to capitalize on the next big game-changing opportunity, increasing deep-tech investment into the nascent startup ecosystem is needed to help accelerate the adoption of AI, while Sung Sik Byun, Head of EMEA at Samsung Venture Investment, mentioned that increased collaboration among research centers, such as government-backed R&D facilities as well as corporate efforts, will provide more chances to validate new technologies such as quantum computing.
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AI in healthcare
Expand North Star 2025 continues to attract visionary disruptors to Dubai Harbor. Among the notable exhibitors, Euphoria AI from Florida (USA) is using its AI-powered robocall service to support mental health issues in India.
Working with an NGO in the country, young Indian students facing academic pressures can call support hotlines to chat with specially trained AI voice engine assistants. The service provides much-needed mental relief for those with no support, especially in low-income rural areas.
Children with autism are also benefiting from the assistance of ‘TimTim’, a robot made by Haprow, a robotics and AI company from Pakistan. TimTim is the first commercial robot in Pakistan created to support special education (including autism care) and school learning.
It was developed with insights from child specialists and educators to provide support for school learning and therapy to special children, and helps develop their communication, social, and cognitive skills.
“We are now making global waves, and came to Expand North Star to expand and scale our product at this big event to more countries. The experience of exhibiting here is truly phenomenal; we have met lots of companies that are interested in our product,” said Muhammad Ali Abbas, founder and CEO of Haprow.
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