Top Innovations & Winners from Expand North Star 2025

By the time Expand North Star 2025 wrapped up on October 15, it was almost impossible to choose just one highlight. The event was a whirlwind of inspiring announcements, thought-provoking discussions, and a showcase of startups buzzing with energy and ambition.

As I wandered through the maze of startup pods and national stands, each corner had its own story to tell. From Palestine to South Korea, and from Egypt to Oman and Singapore, every booth reflected the dreams and determination of nations chasing their digital futures. I found myself drawn into long conversations, lively demos, and even some late-night fireside chats that made the event feel more like a community than a conference.

Let’s take a moment to revisit the standout moments and inspiring innovations that made this year’s edition unforgettable.

Key Takeaways

• AI with a purpose – Startups like Neurabody and Ailytics stole the spotlight with their smart yet practical AI tools designed to solve real-world problems. It was refreshing to see technology that genuinely makes life easier, not just flashier.
• Robots meet fun – The crowd couldn’t get enough of True Gamers’ customized Unitree Go1 robot, a playful reminder that automation isn’t just about efficiency—it’s also about creativity and joy.
• Backing bold ideas – Presight shared how its accelerator and Venture Fund are helping startups take the final leap—from having great products to finding real markets and opportunities to grow.
• Shared struggles, shared dreams – Founders from Egypt, Oman, and Palestine spoke openly about their challenges—everything from infrastructure gaps to red tape—but their passion and optimism were contagious. It was a powerful reminder that innovation thrives even in tough conditions.
• The big win – In the much-anticipated Supernova Challenge 2.0, South Korea’s AIM Intelligence took home the top prize, with Chile’s Chucao Technology and Ecuador’s Aerialoop following close behind. Their success symbolized the global spirit of innovation that Expand North Star celebrates every year.

Accelerating AI Startups — The UAE Way

At the buzzing Expand North Star event in Abu Dhabi, the city’s very own AI and big data powerhouse, Presight, made an exciting announcement. The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the UAE Cyber Security Council (CSC) — a move that will bring the Council’s CyberE71 program into Presight’s AI Startup Accelerator initiative.

Curious to learn more, I sat down with Altair Bekturov, Senior Specialist for Accelerator and Venture Growth at Presight. His enthusiasm for nurturing innovation was contagious as he shared insights into how their accelerator is shaping the future of AI startups.

“We help startups in two main ways,” Altair explained with a smile. “Through our Accelerator and our Venture Fund. The Accelerator is designed for companies that already have a solid product ready to launch. We open doors for them — connecting them to deployment opportunities through our own network and through partners like G42.”

Just weeks before the event, Presight had also unveiled a $100 million Venture Fund — a serious boost for innovation in sectors like finance, energy, smart cities, government technology, and education. “We’re focusing mainly on B2B companies, not B2C,” Altair noted. His excitement was clear as he mentioned that the fund had already begun making its first investments.

But what truly stood out in our conversation was Presight’s philosophy — success, for them, isn’t just about raising capital; it’s about creating real impact. Altair put it simply:

“Our goal isn’t to chase big numbers. We measure success by how many of our startups actually get their products out into the real world — and the value those solutions bring. When a startup signs a commercial deal through our network, that’s a win for us. That’s when we know we’ve made a difference.”

In a world where startups often get lost in the race for funding, Presight’s people-first, impact-driven approach feels refreshingly human — and deeply UAE.

Neurabody showcasing its AI-powered office chair at Expand North Star, 2025.

Innovations That Truly Stood Out

Out of the many exhibitions I explored, a few truly captured my attention—not just for their technology, but for the thought and heart behind them.

One that really impressed me was Neurasit, an AI-powered office chair created by the South Korean startup Neurabody. Watching their demo felt like a glimpse into the future of workplace comfort. The chair actually senses when you shift or slouch and gently adjusts itself to support your back. It’s like having a quiet little helper that cares about your posture.

Neurabody showcasing its AI-powered office chair at Expand North Star, 2025.

The founders shared that their goal is to make long hours at a desk less punishing for people who spend their days sitting with little ergonomic support. As someone who knows that ache between the shoulders after a long workday, I found that idea incredibly relatable.

Then there was True Gamers, an esports company and gaming café chain, showing off something straight out of a sci-fi movie—a Unitree Go1 quadruped robot made by China’s Unitree Robotics. I actually got to control it for a bit! This agile little robot, dressed in True Gamers’ sleek branding, glided around the floor carrying drinks like a professional waiter.

One of the developers explained how it works:

“We can mark lines and numbers on the floor, and the camera tracks them in real time. With AI, it identifies each path and table, calculates its direction, and moves independently.”

Each robot can keep going for around two hours on a single charge—a small but mighty café assistant.

(Here’s a quick clip from my visit to #ExpandNorthStar2025, where I had the joy of commanding True Gamers’ robot as it navigated through the crowd.)

Finally, another name that stood out was Ailytics, a Singapore-based startup using computer vision to keep industrial workplaces safer. Their demo was both practical and inspiring. Using ordinary CCTV footage, their AI can detect missing helmets, unsafe actions, or blocked exits, and alert supervisors instantly.

One of their engineers summed it up beautifully:

“Our dream is to make AI an invisible safety partner on every site.”

It’s comforting to see technology not just being smart—but also genuinely caring about people.

A Region Moving at Different Speeds

Between the sessions, I wandered through several regional pavilions, chatting with a few representatives along the way. Our conversations were short but revealing—they painted a vivid picture of how the region’s journey toward global tech growth is being pulled in different directions.

At Egypt’s pavilion, I met Rokaya Ashraf, co-founder of Agridawar, a company turning agricultural waste into useful resources. She spoke with quiet frustration about how Egypt’s bright AI minds are often slowed down by outdated systems. “Our infrastructure isn’t digitized at all,” she said, shaking her head. “To make things digital takes so much effort—sometimes it drags on for months. It’s exhausting.”

Then, over at Oman’s pavilion, Majid Al Saifi, COO of SafaQat, a digital procurement platform, shared his perspective. His tone was optimistic but edged with concern. “Oman’s infrastructure is strong—it can easily handle digital innovation,” he said. “But the bureaucracy slows everything down. There are just too many steps, too many papers to sign before things move.”

Finally, at the stand for Glycare, a health tech startup from Jerusalem, I met its founder, Razan Ashhab. Her words carried both pride and sadness. “In Palestine, because of the ongoing conflict, it’s really hard for us to get noticed or to expand beyond our borders,” she told me. “We don’t have access to the tools or technology others take for granted. In countries like the UAE or Saudi Arabia, everything’s just… easier to reach.”

Palestinian pavilion at Expand North Star 2025.

Supernova Challenge 2.0

The buzz around Supernova Challenge 2.0, the early-stage startup pitch competition, lit up the event once again this year. After last year’s successful debut, excitement was high — and it didn’t disappoint. With a massive prize pool of $214,000, the challenge brought together passionate founders from around the world, each eager to share their dreams, innovations, and sleepless-night ideas with a panel of investors, journalists, and industry experts.

From AI and blockchain to agritech and digital health, startups across every corner of the tech world competed for recognition and a chance to shine on a global stage.

The Grand Prize of $100,000 went to AIM Intelligence Inc. from South Korea for their impressive breakthroughs in artificial intelligence. Chucao Technology from Chile took second place, walking away with $50,000, while Aerialoop, a drone company from Ecuador, proudly claimed third place and $25,000.

Special category awards celebrated innovation across diverse fields. India’s LogisticsNow earned the Sustainability Leaders Award for their green impact, Korea’s Funble grabbed the Fintech and Blockchain Disruptor Award, and Romania’s dotLumen received the GITEX Global Digi Health Champion title for their inspiring digital health solutions.

The Bottom Line

For years, the UAE has been quietly building the backbone of a digital future — investing in cutting-edge infrastructure and opening its arms to startups and tech visionaries. Expand North Star 2025 made that vision feel even more real.

Walking through the exhibition halls, it was clear that this wasn’t just another tech event. It felt like witnessing the birth of something bigger — a country crafting its own version of Silicon Valley, blending innovation with ambition.

The collaboration between ministries, investors, and global entrepreneurs painted a powerful picture: the UAE isn’t just hosting innovation — it’s living it, nurturing it, and making it part of its national identity.

The real question now is — how far will this wave of creativity go? And how many of the ideas born on stage this year will turn into real-world solutions that change lives?