The Sharjah Businesswomen Council has announced the opening of applications for emerging women-led businesses to receive full sponsorship to participate in the “Expand North Star 2025” exhibition, scheduled from October 12 to 15 at Dubai Harbor. This event is recognized as the largest global gathering for startups and investors, inviting innovative female entrepreneurs in the UAE to take advantage of this exclusive opportunity.
The sponsorship aims to empower local talent to expand into international markets, with eight UAE-based companies being selected to showcase their operations at this international event. These companies will gain direct access to a vast network of global investors, financial leaders, and business executives. Additionally, they will automatically qualify for the Supernova competition, the largest global contest for showcasing startups, which offers a total prize pool of $214,000 in cash grants for the winners. Celebrating its tenth anniversary, this year’s “Expand North Star” event is highlighted as the most significant gathering of startups and investors, organized by the Dubai World Trade Center and hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy in partnership with GITEX Global.
Mariam Bin Sheikh, Director of the Sharjah Businesswomen Council, stated: “As part of our integrated entrepreneurial ecosystem, one of our main objectives is to ensure that women entrepreneurs contributing to the UAE economy have the opportunity to shine on the global stage. By enabling our members to participate in the ‘Expand North Star’ exhibition, we are not only supporting the growth of their businesses but also enhancing their presence and paving the way for them to become the next generation of leaders who shape innovation across the region. The Supernova challenge combines innovative ideas with global opportunities, and we are proud to open this door for women-led startups to seize this chance.”
The sponsorship package guarantees each startup a prominent exhibition booth at the Expand North Star 2025, increasing their visibility to thousands of attendees from over 100 countries. Participation in the Supernova competition allows companies to present their business, products, and services to a panel of esteemed experts and investors, with a chance to win cash prizes, including a grand award of $100,000.
To take advantage of this opportunity, the female entrepreneur must be the founder or co-founder of a startup based in the UAE, with an operating history of no more than five years, and be a member of the Sharjah Businesswomen Council. Membership to the council can be obtained in conjunction with registration on the website: .shorturl.at/E9KV7. All applications will be evaluated by a specialized judging panel based on criteria including the level of innovation, market needs assessment, business model strength, current achievements, and team capability.
In addition to the main prizes in the Supernova challenge, participants will also be eligible to compete for two special awards: the Leadership in Sustainability presentation competition, valued at $10,000, sponsored by North Star Impact for startups that drive positive environmental and social change. Additionally, there is the FinTech and Blockchain Innovation Award, also worth $10,000, presented by both FinTech Surge and the Future Blockchain Summit for the best innovative solution in the financial technology sector.