The tech scene in Asia is developing more than ever, and startups are at its centre. Among all the events taking place throughout the region, GITEX North Star Asia is one of the largest and most engaging spaces where startups and investors can meet.
The event takes place at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, as part of GITEX Asia x AI Everything, and features founders, venture capitalists, accelerators, and innovation leaders from across the world. It is not only a platform for presenting ideas, but also where new partners, investments, and success stories begin.
For start-ups, North Star Asia is an opportunity to find the right investors, mentors, and partners to turn ideas into businesses. For investors, it is rare to find the most promising young companies in Asia.
Simply put, GITEX North Star Asia is where innovation and opportunity intersect—the best platform for great founders and the rest of the world.
History & Evolution — From Future Stars to North Star Asia
The history of GITEX North Star Asia began with a simple idea: to provide startups with an international platform to shine. It began in Dubai, where GITEX Future Stars hosted thousands of entrepreneurs presenting new technologies and meeting with international investors. The event eventually expanded, attracting the attention of the vibrant Asian startup ecosystem.
With innovation momentum picking up in Asia, GITEX chose to extend its horizons and bring that same spirit to the region’s entrepreneurs. This led to the creation of North Star Asia, a new book specifically targeting Asia-Pacific founders and investors.
North Star Asia has established a direct connection between global capital and Asia’s rapidly rising tech markets by relocating to Singapore, one of the world’s leading startup and financial centres. It is a continuation of Future Stars and concentrates on regional expansion, investments, matchmaking, and global relations.
North Star Asia is not just an event anymore; it is a brand that represents the emergence of Asia as the world’s innovation powerhouse, bringing brilliant ideas to those who can turn them into reality. Want to see more of what’s next in AI? Read GITEX Global & AI Everything 2025: Your Cutting-Edge AI Preview for a quick look at the latest AI trends.
How GITEX North Star Asia Brings Startups and Investors Together
GITEX North Star Asia is not merely a showcase of startups; it is also a chance to grow, mentor, and fund. The gathering is well designed to foster connections among founders, investors, and innovators in constructive ways.
Pitch Tracks & Stages
The centrepiece of the occasion is the Supernova Challenge, which is one of the largest pitch contests in Asia. There is a competition among startups for major recognition and a $100,000 prize, with the opportunity to present their ideas to panels of international investors and industry experts. Individual pitch tracks are also available to other industries, including AI, Fintech, Health Tech, and Sustainability. Each startup has an opportunity to shine in its own niche.
Mentorship & Growth Support
North Star Asia is also learning and development oriented. Founders receive access to seasoned mentors, venture capitalists, and corporate leaders who help them refine their business models, investor pitches, and market entry strategies. Such sessions often lead to long term partnerships and accelerator programs.
Investor-Startup Matchmaking
The 1-on-1 investor matchmaking is one of the most beneficial aspects of the event. More than 250 global investors, such as angels, venture funds, and corporate investment teams, are matched with startups. The meetings have been scheduled in advance so that every founder can find investors who match their stage, sector, and funding needs.
Opportunities That Make North Star Asia a Game Changer for Startups
For startups in Asia-Pacific, GITEX North Star Asia is the gateway more than any other conference. It is not just a showcase, but also a platform for funding, partnerships, and international awareness.
Access to Funding
North Star Asia introduces founders to investors, including angel and large venture capital investors. The meetings can lead to seed funding, partnerships, or follow-up investments. The event is considered by many startups as a launchpad to raise their first major round and experience financial momentum to grow.
Global Visibility
Through attendance, startups are exposed to foreign media, tech players, and government delegations. Such visibility helps founders raise not only funds but also brand awareness, alliances, and market validation, which are significant for scaling fast.
Pathways for Expansion
In North Star Asia, startups can access cross-border opportunities in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and other regions. The event connects with corporations, accelerators, and innovation hubs and assists founders in entering new markets and expanding their operations worldwide.
Knowledge & Mentorship
Founders receive lessons directly taught by industry experts, serial entrepreneurs, and investors through workshops, panels, and mentorship programs. Such sessions offer practical tips on pitching, fundraising, and building long lasting business models.
What to Expect at GITEX North Star Asia 2025 — Singapore Edition
GITEX North Star Asia 2025, to be held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, will mark the largest and most vibrant edition. It will bring together 350+ startups, 250+ investors, and 1,000+ tech leaders across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, thanks to the success of past years. The current event is dedicated to building stronger ties between founders, investors, and corporate innovators who are driving the future of technology in Asia.
Event Highlights
- Bigger and Broader: Anticipate further involvement of even more countries in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
- Supernova Challenge Returns: The much-anticipated startup pitch event offers a $100,000 grand prize and the opportunity to pitch to some of the world’s most successful investors.
- Dedicated Industry Zones: AI, FinTech, HealthTech, and Sustainability-specific tracks will enable founders to connect with relevant investors and mentors in their area.
- AI Everything Integration: The event will be organised in collaboration with AI Everything Singapore, allowing participants to preview current trends in artificial intelligence, automation, and digital transformation.
New Additions & Trends to Watch
- Regional Pavilions: The most promising startups from countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Indonesia will be highlighted in their own pavilions.
- Corporate Innovation Hubs: Large corporations will introduce new partnering programs and startup collaboration options.
- Focus on Impact & ESG: An increasing number of investors seek sustainable, socially responsible innovations, and this edition is one of the main sources of impact-driven startups.
- Investor Networking Lounges: More organised networking rooms and deal-making areas ensure actual discussion between founders and investors.
How Startups Can Apply and Prepare for GITEX North Star Asia
For startups in Asia-Pacific, GITEX North Star Asia may be a significant milestone towards international visibility and investment. The event provides participants with direct access to investors, accelerators, and mentors who are willing to help high-potential founders. The following is how you can practice and be completely ready.
Application Process
The journey starts on the official website — gitexasia.com/startups — where startups submit their details for selection.
Key points:
- Fill out the form with company details, stage, and goals.
- Be clear about your industry focus and target market.
- Submit early — spots are limited and highly competitive.
- Selected startups get invited to exhibit, pitch, or join the Supernova Challenge.
Tips for Pitching Successfully
- Keep it short and focused — explain your product in under 3 minutes.
- Use real data — show traction with users, revenue, or partnerships.
- Research your investors — tailor your message to their focus areas.
- Show your team’s strength — highlight expertise and experience.
- Practice repeatedly — rehearse until you sound confident and natural.
What Investors Look For
- Real, scalable business models with market demand.
- A clear path to growth and profitability.
- Founders who know their market and have a strong team.
- Startups that already show traction or early success.
Final Preparation Checklist
- A polished pitch deck (10–12 slides).
- Live product demo or prototype ready to show.
- Updated website and brand visuals.
- Business cards or QR-based contact links.
- A strong 60-second elevator pitch you can deliver anywhere.
Takeaways for Investors and Ecosystem Leaders
Along with being a great opportunity for startups, GITEX North Star Asia is also an incredibly powerful tool that can benefit investors and ecosystem leaders and help them keep up with the rapid technological development in Asia. The event provides unparalleled access to new markets, disruptive innovation, and investment-ready founders, all in a high-quality, curated setting.
Curated Deal Flow and Startup Discovery
Investors have direct access to hundreds of pre-vetted startups across AI, FinTech, HealthTech, and ClimateTech. The 1-on-1 matchmaking and structured pitching sessions help investors save time and find good teams ready to invest. North Star Asia provides high-quality, varied deal flow across both early- and growth-stage ventures.
Insights Into Emerging Tech Trends
North Star Asia also provides a window into the next big things in Asia. Panels, talks, and startup demos are indicators of where the market is going—whether to generative AI and automation or to sustainability and green innovation. To investors and corporates, the insight can be used to develop more intelligent portfolio and partnership strategies.
Networking That Matters
The event establishes significant connections among venture capitalists, accelerators, governments, and innovation hubs. Through networking lounges, VIP investor zones, and special ecosystem events, participants will have a chance to meet new co-investors, mentors, and policy leaders who will define the future of startups in Asia.
Strengthening Asia’s Innovation Ecosystem
North Star Asia serves as a collaboration hub for ecosystem leaders, including accelerators, incubators, and government innovation agencies. It encourages cross-border collaboration and helps align the region’s startup policies with international best practices.
The Future of Asia’s Startup Ecosystem Through North Star
The startup ecosystem in Asia is developing more rapidly than ever before, with spirited founders, proactive investors, and friendly governments. GITEX North Star Asia is the heart of this growth—the linking of fresh ideas to finance, mentorship, and worldwide exposure. It is helping make Asia one of the most innovative and technological regions. Curious about the future of tech? Check out GITEX Global 2025: Where the Future of AI & Quantum Tech Collide in Dubai to explore how AI and quantum innovations are changing the game.
Asia’s Innovation Momentum
Startups are transforming industries and making a difference all over Asia. Founders are solving big problems with smart technology in Singapore, and across Pakistan and Indonesia. North Star Asia assists such startups in finding the right investors and mentors to enable them to expand rapidly and access foreign markets. It provides Asian founders with an opportunity to compete and win worldwide by opening global doors.
Building a Collaborative Future
Teamwork is the future of the Asian startup community. North Star Asia is a collaboration of founders, investors, accelerators, and government programs to establish fruitful relationships. Pavilions of the countries, mentoring activities, and investor meetings provide opportunities to work together in the long term. Such relationships do not end with the event and contribute to new ventures, the sharing of ideas, the entry into new markets, and regional development.
Shaping the Next Generation of Startups
GITEX North Star Asia is also preparing the next generation of startups in fields such as AI, GreenTech, HealthTech, and FinTech. The event is all about innovation, whose benefits are not only economic but also sustainable and ethical. North Star Asia provides these startups visibility, training, and access to investors, thus making future businesses in Asia smart, responsible, and globally set.
Conclusion
GITEX North Star Asia has emerged as one of the most effective forums between startups and investors in the Asia-Pacific. It is not only an event but also a movement that drives innovation, encourages collaboration, and helps founders turn bold ideas into real success stories.
For startups, it provides everything required to expand, including money, publicity, advice, and access to the world. It provides investors and ecosystem leaders with unparalleled access to the most promising businesses in Asia and on-the-ground insights into emerging technological directions.
North Star Asia is also an open conference area at GITEX Asia x AI Everything, connecting founders to an expanded network across industries, including AI and cybersecurity, health technology, and sustainability, making it a full innovation-based ecosystem.
GITEX North Star Asia is a very good place to be in a region that is rapidly becoming the next technological powerhouse in the world, and it gives startups and investors the best opportunity to create the future together.
