From quantum trailblazers and robotics innovators to circular economy leaders and high-stakes startup pitch battles, the final day placed next-generation disruptors firmly at centre stage.
Singapore, 10 April 2026: Day two of GITEX AI ASIA 2026 spotlighted global startups, scientists, investors, and frontier technologies shaping Southeast Asia’s next major growth phase. The region is rapidly evolving beyond a foundational digital economy toward an AI-driven future, with investment projected to grow at a 25% compound annual rate, exceeding US$110 billion by 2028. This surge is attracting global tech giants, venture capital firms, and startup ecosystems eager to expand across the region.
This momentum was clearly visible at GITEX AI ASIA and its flagship startup platform, North Star Asia, presented by GITEX the world’s largest tech and AI startup event network. Over 300 startups from more than 50 countries connected with investors managing upwards of US$350 billion in assets, creating one of the region’s most concentrated hubs for startup discovery, deep tech collaboration, and commercial evaluation. Across both the exhibition floor and conference sessions, discussions focused on technologies and business models best positioned to scale within an AI economy shaped by regulation, industrial demand, energy constraints, and the challenge of converting research into revenue.
North Star Asia expands the global startup landscape
With participation from tech pavilions representing Hong Kong, India, Japan, the Netherlands, Pakistan, and South Korea, alongside first-time entrants Belgium and the Philippines, North Star Asia reflected the increasingly borderless nature of innovation.
Belgium’s hub.brussels introduced companies operating at the intersection of AI, enterprise software, and regulated industries. Artech showcased solutions around digital product passports, AI driven compliance, secure data exchange, and regulatory modelling aligned with European standards critical infrastructure for future transparency and collaboration. Meanwhile, AW Labs demonstrated intelligent sensing technologies for indoor air quality, applying scientific precision to airborne risk management.
From the Philippines, TAPI presented startups across AgriTech, Smart Cities, Education, and SaaS. Cerebro delivered integrated school management systems covering enrolment, attendance, grading, and reporting, while GreenVisionsPh highlighted sustainable agriculture tools focused on soil restoration and productivity enhancement.
Industry 5.0 sharpens focus on governance and sustainability
As AI systems become embedded in industrial and national ecosystems, the conversation is shifting from deployment speed to governance and control. This was a key theme in a high-profile session led by Demetris Skourides, Chief Scientist for Research, Innovation & Technology, Republic of Cyprus.
He emphasized:
“Sovereign AI is not just about hosting models locally it’s about controlling data, decisions, and the algorithms behind them. Too often, AI is treated as an application layer, ignoring the underlying stack hardware, models, engineering, and data science. That gap can introduce serious systemic risks, from biased datasets to overdependence on specific infrastructure.”
Sustainability also emerged as a critical priority. With manufacturing responsible for roughly 20% of global emissions and over 54% of energy consumption, the transition to greener production is becoming a competitive necessity.
Dr. Arvind Bodhankar, Chief Sustainability Officer at Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel the world’s second-largest steel company by market capitalization outlined how AI, robotics, and advanced materials are enabling circular manufacturing systems.
“We follow a three pronged strategy: reduce, recycle, and repurpose ensuring materials are reintegrated into steel production or reused in sectors like cement and infrastructure. This is the essence of Industry 5.0, where sustainability and human-centric design define the future of manufacturing.”
Investors demand resilience, not just vision
Investors from over 30 countries attended not only to identify emerging startups but also to provide clarity on today’s evolving funding environment. A consistent theme was the dual challenge of commercialization and sustained growth.
Saemin Ahn, Managing Partner at Rakuten Capital, highlighted that capital is increasingly flowing toward startups focused on durable sectors such as AI and infrastructure especially those solving mission critical problems and proving themselves as essential business enablers rather than experimental add-ons.
Yinghui Kuang, Partner at Granite Asia, addressed the complexities of commercializing deep-tech innovation:
“One effective strategy is to achieve market traction first, then continue advancing the technology. Early stage investing is inherently difficult due to limited product validation, so much depends on the founding team. In the past year alone, we’ve evaluated over 100 humanoid startups, often taking three to five years to fully assess execution before investing.”
Supernova Challenge crowns high-impact innovators
At North Star Asia’s Supernova Challenge, startups were evaluated not only on technical innovation but also on their ability to demonstrate commercial viability, scalability, and clear market fit.
Ailytics emerged as the Supernova Champion, winning SG$30,000 in equity-free funding for its AI-powered workplace safety platform that transforms standard CCTV systems into intelligent monitoring tools.
CEO Tan Wei Zhuang (Lenard) commented:
“We were excited to see GITEX launch in Singapore last year and quickly committed to this year’s edition. The quality of engagement has been outstanding, and from a tech campus perspective, the ROI has been exceptionally strong. We look forward to continued participation in the future.”
Japan’s health-tech innovator Lifescapes secured first runner up with SG$20,000, while South Korea’s talent upskilling and recruitment platform Codespresso claimed second runner-up, receiving SG$10,000.
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About GITEX AI ASIA
GITEX AI ASIA, Asia’s largest and most global tech, startup, and digital investments event, takes place at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, from April 9-10, 2026. Powered by the world’s largest tech and AI show, GITEX GLOBAL, it serves as a global hub for innovation and collaboration, featuring dedicated industry verticals covering artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cybersecurity, data centres, digital health and biotech, industry 4.0-5.0, and deep tech. The 2026 edition brings together over 550 global technology enterprises and startups, 250+ influential investors, 175+ speakers, with participation from more than 110 countries across the exhibition and conferences.
Media Contact:
Sean Muir, PR Director, GITEX AI ASIA | media@gitexasia.com
