Attendees from 80 countries converge in Berlin for landmark event
With Atomico's latest 'State of European Tech' report revealing Europe's tech sector has surged to €2.95 trillion in 2025 – a fivefold increase from €518 billion a decade ago – the most promising startups at forefront of regional tech momentum are showcasing their innovations at the highly anticipated North Star Europe.
Debuting as part of GITEX EUROPE x Ai Everything, from 21-23 May at Messe Berlin, North Star Europe stands as the region's largest and most global startup, accelerator, and investor event. It presents the continent's most comprehensive showcase of international startups, as over 750 startups from over 80 countries join 600-plus international investors with over $1 trillion (€880 billion) in assets under management (AUM).
North Star Europe is the startup engine of GITEX EUROPE x Ai Everything, which is held in partnership with the Berlin Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises, Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Berlin Partner for Business and Technology, Startup Germany, and the European Innovation Council (EIC).
Phenomenal International Involvement Drives Urgency to Access New Markets & Capital
Reflecting Berlin's global magnetism, North Star Europe hosts one of the biggest international participations of founders, venture capitalists, ecosystem enablers, and tech leaders, with participation from Germany, France, Italy, India, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Spain, Netherlands, Morocco, Portugal, Serbia, and South Korea, among the major delegations. Startups revolutionising diverse sectors feature at North Star Europe, with the top five sectors including AI, Climate Tech, Deeptech, Health Tech and Cyber, followed by award-winning ventures in fintech, manufacturing, edtech, and creative economies.
Attendees will also have first-hand experience of groundbreaking innovation from the UAE, spotlighting the country's shared commitment with Europe to advance new frontiers of AI, technology, research and digital adoption. At the event, Dubai's Chamber of Digital Economy, Department of Economy and Tourism, and the Ministry of Economy will present a power-packed lineup of startups and tech hubs transforming AI, finance, healthcare, and more; alongside Dubai Digital Authority showcasing the country's influential interconnected government services.
The Most European-Centric Startup Show Ever Staged
Featuring 35 European states in its landmark first edition, North Star Europe welcomes nearly 400 early-stage European companies alongside a formidable selection of national digital development entities. Germany's most prominent startup and investment hubs, including De:Hub, Start2 Group and Deutsche Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), present the latest projects and solutions spanning the aviation, space, and deep tech sectors.
Matthias Notz, Global CEO of Start2 Group, said, 'Europe's startup and SME landscape is rich in innovation and entrepreneurial energy, however, it needs a shared momentum where nations, investors, and ecosystem builders move in together to empower growth. Especially for scale-ups, timing is critical: funding needs to keep pace with ideas. Creating the right environment where meaningful, efficient connections between startups, enterprises, and capital can happen in one place is not just useful, it's necessary.'
At the show, Europe's entrepreneurial prowess is further reinforced through a strategic collaboration with the European Innovation Council (EIC) – the EU's flagship deep tech accelerator. EIC launches its largest-ever startup showcase at GITEX EUROPE x Ai Everything, where 40+ deep tech ventures backed by a €10 billion programme highlight the future of European innovation. These include ATLAND 3D, Denmark's atomic-precision 3D nanofabricator working with NASA; and Germany's Kiuntra, the world's only cryogen-free sub-Kelvin cooling provider enabling scalable quantum infrastructure.
Illustrating the wider region's surging startup momentum, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia and Bulgarian SME Promotion Agency are among those bringing 20+ innovative companies to the German capital. Emerging ecosystem hubs from Latvia, Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, and Croatia are also making a significant mark in Berlin, solidifying its status as the continent's most dynamic and open innovation hub.
Driving startup growth through programmes for early-stage and later stage companies
North Star Europe shines at connecting growth stage and later stage founders to enterprise and government customers, as well as late-stage investments. This includes the premiere of its GITEX ScaleX programme, powered by AWS for startups, supercharging 25 venture-backed, fast-scaling companies from around the world whilst Supernova All-Stars, the world's ultimate pitch competition, welcomes aspirational founders to showcase outstanding innovations and win €100,000 in cash prizes.
Europe's Premier Platform for Investor Connections
A global launchpad for investor collaborations and expansion, North Star Europe's Investor Matchmaking Programme sets the stage for accelerated startup growth with leading investors including Austria's Speedinvest; France's Cathay, Partech, Venture Captial, and Serena VC; Germany's Earlybird, High-Tech Gründerfonds, T Capital, Cherry Ventures, 468 Capital, and DN Capital; Japan's ITOCHU Corporation; Luxembourg's Apis; and Netherlands' 33 Equity – at the event to scout new funding opportunities.
The show also features one of the most empowering expert-led conference programmes on 10X stage, diving deep into topics such as scaling from seed to IPO, navigating complex global tech dynamics, rising from local roots to global expansion, and the evolving frameworks of VC funding. An impressive line-up of unicorns is represented on-stage through Alexandre Prot, Co-Founder & CEO, Qonto (France); Justin Grooms, CEO, Bolt (USA); Carsten Höltkemeyer, CEO, Solaris (Germany); Sinead Fitzmaurice, CEO, TransferMate (Ireland); Hannah Huber, SVP Technology / CTO, Flix (Germany), and Mats Solberg, Chief Design Officer, reMarkable (Norway). Joining them are national ecosystem stakeholders and corporate investors including Milena Stoycheva, Board Member, Ministry of Innovation and Growth, Bulgaria; Jager McConnell, CEO, Crunchbase (USA); Joerg Landsch, Head Central Corporate Venture Capital, Deutsche Bank (Germany); and Costanza Carissimo, Investment Director, Cathay Innovation (Germany).
North Star Europe is part of the GITEX global network of tech and startup events, taking place across Germany, Morocco, Nigeria, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the global flagship programme UAE. For more information, please visit: www.gitex-europe.com.
Image Credit: North Star Europe
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arabian Business
9 hours ago
- Arabian Business
Etihad Airways and Vietnam Airlines launch frequent flyer partnership
Etihad Airways and Vietnam Airlines have signed a new frequent flyer partnership that will allow loyalty members of both airlines to earn and redeem miles across each other's global networks, starting July 1, 2025. The agreement enables Guest and Lotusmiles members to benefit from increased flexibility, expanded travel rewards, and enhanced connectivity between North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and domestic Vietnam. Mark Potter, Managing Director Etihad Guest at Etihad Airways, said: 'We are pleased to offer our members even more ways to earn and redeem their Etihad Guest miles, rewarding guests for every extraordinary travel experience. Etihad Airways and Vietnam Airlines 'Complimenting Etihad's launch of flights to Hanoi from November this year, this partnership gives our members access to Vietnam Airlines' impressive global network, offering members more destinations across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and domestic Vietnam.' Through this partnership, loyalty program members can: Earn miles when flying on either airline Redeem miles across an extended global network Access more destinations in North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East Enjoy a seamless customer experience across both carriers Nguyen Sy Thanh, Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles Director, said: 'We are delighted to partner with Etihad Airways. This collaboration will offer Lotusmiles members greater opportunities to earn and redeem miles across an extensive global network, including destinations in North America and the Middle East. 'It also ensures a seamless and rewarding travel experience, delivered with world-class service from both airlines. This marks an important milestone in our journey to enhance customer value and reinforce our continued commitment to provide memorable travel experiences.' The Abu Dhabi-based carrier will begin flights to Hanoi in November as one of 16 new destinations the airline is launching this year. The inaugural flight will create a new bridge between Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates and offer more value to loyalty members of both airlines.
Zawya
11 hours ago
- Zawya
The 2025 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Awards honour organizations from Colombia, Egypt, and the Philippines for their contributions to agrifood systems transformation
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) announced the winners of the 2025 FAO Awards, recognizing organizations from Colombia, Egypt, and the Philippines, whose work has led to outstanding progress in building more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems. On Monday, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu presented the Champion Award and Partnership Award during the 44th FAO Ministerial Conference held in Rome. 'These Awards are more than an acknowledgment of achievements - they represent FAO's core values and aspirations. The ceremony is a celebration of possibility and hope of what happens when commitment and innovation meet the urgent call to transform global agrifood systems,' he said. The FAO Champion Award, the Organization's highest corporate award, which carries a prize of USD 50,000 and recognizes significant and outstanding contributions towards advancing FAO's overall goals, was conferred to la Confederación Mesa Nacional de Pesca Artesanal de Colombia (COMENALPAC), for its tangible results across organizational, social, economic and environmental dimensions, including championing social protection measures for fishers and played a key role in drafting laws against illegal fishing, thereby improving the welfare and rights of fishing communities. Since 2017, COMENALPAC has represented over 800 groups of marine and freshwater fishers across Colombia. Its work has contributed to the design and implementation of key legislation, including Law 2268 of 2022, which guarantees social benefits for commercial and subsistence fishers. Through an FAO–COMENALPAC partnership, the organization has strengthened fisher communities in Tumaco by eliminating intermediaries, increasing incomes, and promoting inclusive market opportunities. It has also led to the restoration of 83 wetlands, contributing to aquatic biodiversity and more sustainable food systems. The organization was further praised for helping secure the legal recognition of more than 120,000 fishers and for its role in incorporating the concept of 'Aquatic Agrifood Ecosystems' into Colombia's National Development Plan. In addition, within the same category, a Special Mention was also awarded to Youth Uprising, a Philippine-based non-profit organization recognized for its intense engagement of young people in transforming agrifood systems. The FAO Partnership Award — valued at USD 10,000 and recognizing outstanding cooperation with FAO in advancing the Organization's work by its Members — was presented to The Egyptian Food Bank (EFB), the first Egypt NGO focused on addressing food insecurity, providing support to over 24 million people through comprehensive food assistance, nutrition, and empowerment programs. Among the EFB's most notable initiatives are the Community Nutrition Programme, the Ramadan Food Loss Initiative, and the Resilience Index Measurement and Analysis (RIMA). EFB's programs have benefited over 150,000 families and more than 60,000 schoolchildren. Its work also includes capacity-building for small-scale producers and support to 1,200 farmers — particularly women — promoting sustainable agricultural practices and economic inclusion. The FAO Director-General bestowed the awards to representatives of the organizations who attended the ceremony in person. Adriana Rocío Cadena Cancino, Director of la Confederación Mesa Nacional de Pesca Artesanal de Colombia (COMENALPAC), received the Champion Award on behalf of the organization. Mohsen Sarhan Ali Gamal Ali, Chief Executive Officer of The Egyptian Food Bank (EFB), accepted the Partnership Award on behalf of his organization. 'These awardees remind us that transformation is already happening and must accelerate. Let us continue working hand in hand for the transformation of global agrifood systems to be more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable,' Qu added in his closing remarks, with a reference to the FAO Four Betters – better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Khaleej Times
12 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Challenge to dollar supremacy a long way off, central bankers say
There is no prospect of a major challenge to the dollar's status as the world's reserve currency of choice any time soon, central bankers gathered for an annual conference in the Portuguese resort of Sintra said on Tuesday. US President Donald Trump's unpredictable economic, trade and security policies have spurred questions over whether the US currency, which accounts for 58% of the world's reserves, can remain at the centre of the global monetary system. European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, who has argued the euro could over time become an alternative to the dollar if Europe's currency zone enacted necessary reforms, said 2025 could in future be viewed as "pivotal" in this respect. "(But) for a major change to occur it will take a lot of time and a lot of effort," she told a panel with her U.S., British, Japanese and Korean counterparts. She noted that "investors are looking at options" in a climate characterised by uncertainty and unpredictability and that there was evidence that the euro was benefiting from that. "It's not going to happen just like that overnight. It never did historically," she said. "But there is clearly something that has been broken. Whether it is fixable, or whether it is going to continue to be broken - I think the jury's out." Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda also noted that any significant change would depend on structural reforms. "It's to a certain extent up to what areas like Europe or China will do in terms of improving the efficiency or convenience of their currencies," he said, citing as an example the efforts at capital market integration in the euro zone. Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey said any change to the dollar's status was a long way off. "I don't see ... a sort of a major shift at the moment," he said, arguing that any reserve currency had to offer a supply of safe assets into the market that can be used for purposes of collateral and security. Bank of Korea Governor Rhee Chang-yong said the prospect of a long-term shift of the dollar sentiment was a subject of discussion for some even as they retained their dollar holdings. "It looks like people are talking about it. But at this moment they keep the dollar share while increasing their hedging ratio," he told the panel. Lagarde told a recent audience in Berlin that there was an opening for a "global euro moment", if it earned it. She said Europe would need to build a deeper, more liquid capital market, bolster its legal foundations and underpin its commitment to open trade with security capabilities. While the dollar's current share of international reserves is the lowest it has been in decades, its 58% tally is still well above the euro's 20% share.
