In line with its mission to support and empower women entrepreneurs in the UAE, the Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC) is sponsoring female-led startups at the upcoming Expand North Star 2024 event, and the anticipated ‘Supernova Challenge 2.0’ pitch competition, taking place at Dubai Harbour from 13-16 October 2024.

This strategic initiative aims to give talented women founders an exclusive international platform and provide them with unparalleled opportunities to showcase their innovative ventures, secure funding, and forge invaluable connections within the global entrepreneurial ecosystem.

An exclusive platform for the world’s leading startups

As the official partner in the ‘Women in Tech’ track for the 7th consecutive year, SBWC will select 8 exceptional women founders with cutting-edge startups in tech, AI, and other forward-thinking sectors to receive fully-sponsored participation at Expand North Star 2024.

This event hosted by GITEX Global and the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy is set to attract a global audience of investors, industry leaders, and potential partners, and the SBWC-sponsored startups will have the rare opportunity to present their groundbreaking ideas and solutions to this influential gathering, opening doors to investment, collaborations, and ultimately accelerating the growth of their female-led ventures.

The largest startup pitch competition in the MENA region

In addition to the Expand North Star 2024 platform, the SBWC-sponsored startups will qualify for the ‘Supernova Challenge 2.0’, where they will compete for a share of the $200,000 equity free prize pool. The Supernova Challenge is the largest startup pitch competition in the MENA region, celebrating innovative solutions in sustainability and social impact.

The competition is structured across several categories culminating in a $100,000 grand prize for the overall ‘Supernova Champion’, and SBWC have furthered their support of female-led startups by sponsoring a $10,000 prize exclusively for the ‘Women in Tech’ category. The Supernova Challenge finals will take place on the last day of Expand North Star 2024, allowing the selected startups to showcase their solutions to a global audience and compete for these life-changing cash prizes.

The key to driving societal success

Commenting on the upcoming opportunity for SBWC members, Mariam Bin Al Shaikh, Director of SBWC, said, “At the Sharjah Business Women Council, we believe that empowering women with the right knowledge, skill sets, and connections is the key to driving societal success. By providing female entrepreneurs with an enabling environment and unlocking access to global platforms such as Expand North Star and their Supernova Challenge, we are opening doors to invaluable opportunities that will propel their innovative startups to new heights. Our comprehensive support for women-led businesses serves as a foundation for a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem where female founders can lead the charge in shaping the future.”

To be considered, applicants need to be SBWC members, and non-members can apply for membership at https://sbwc.ae/how-to-join. As participation is fully sponsored by SBWC, application is 100% free and the start-up must be UAE-based, founded or co-founded by a woman entrepreneur, and operating for under 5 years in the technology sector. Those wanting to apply can register using the following form: https://survey.zohopublic.com/zs/v6CsM0

For more information on SBWC, visit https://sbwc.ae/ or contact: membership@sbwc.ae.

The epicentre of digital transformation

Expand North Star has firmly established itself as the premier global platform for startups and investors. The 2023 edition was a resounding success, attracting 1,835 exhibitors, 923 investors, and 58,000 attendees, featuring 650 speakers across 18 specialised tracks, covering the latest trends and disruptive technologies. Expand North Star has cemented its reputation as the epicentre of digital transformation, serving as a launchpad for groundbreaking startups and fostering invaluable partnerships and connections.