SBWC Invites Women-Led Startups to Apply for Expand North Star 2025

• The Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC) has unveiled an opportunity for UAE women-led startups
• It is accepting applications from innovative, UAE-based female technology entrepreneurs
• Successful startups will get fully-sponsored attendance at Expand North Star 2025

The Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC) has invited UAE-based women-founded startups to apply for fully sponsored attendance at Expand North Star 2025, taking place from 12 to 15 October at Dubai Harbour.

Eight female founders will be chosen as part of this initiative to pitch their companies at the global event, receiving visibility to a broad network of international investors, venture capitalists, and business leaders.

The sponsored startups will also be automatically qualified for the event's headline 'Supernova Challenge', the biggest startup pitch competition in the world with a total prize fund of $214,000 in equity-free grants.

Now in its 10th year, Expand North Star is the world's biggest startup and investor conference, organized by the Dubai World Trade Centre and hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy under the sponsorship of Gitex Global.

Reflecting on SBWC's mission to empower women entrepreneurs in the UAE, "Supernova Challenge" offers them opportunities to develop globally, said H.E. Maryam Bin Al Shaikh, Director of SBWC.

She added that being part of the 'Supernova Challenge' provides startups with a great platform to share their concepts and interact with prospective partners and investors.

The sponsorship bundle comprises a personal exhibition pod at Expand North Star 2025, exposure among the audience of more than 100 nations, and automatic qualification to the Supernova Challenge.

Startups can also participate to compete in special awards, such as the 'Sustainability Leaders Pitch Competition' and the 'Fintech & Blockchain Disruptor Award', each with a $10,000 equity-free award.

Eligibility criteria require that the applicants must be founders or co-founders of licensed startups, operating for less than five years, based in the UAE and a member of SBWC. Applicants can also apply for membership when applying at https://shorturl.at/E9KV7.