As the inaugural GITEX EUROPE x Ai Everything 2025 drew close, North Star Europe stood out as the highly buzzing arena of the three-day tech spectacle, cementing the event’s role as a cornerstone of the European Startup Ecosystem and Europe’s premier startup and investment platform.
Over 750 of the world’s most disruptive early-stage ventures and scaleups featured, spanning diverse sectors from AI and DeepTech to HealthTech, GreenTech, and cybersecurity. Against the backdrop of a startup ecosystem that Dealroom values at more than €500 billion1 in generated economic impact, packed halls of investors, corporate buyers, tech hubs, and visitors validated the continent’s ability to not only attract world-class startups but to convert bold ideas into tangible growth at scale.
GITEX EUROPE x Ai Everything 2025 is organised by Dubai World Trade Centre and KAOUN International, 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, and the European Innovation Council (EIC), Europe’s largest DeepTech investor.
World’s Most Innovative Force From 60 Countries Present Their Tech:
Innovations on the floor were nothing short of spectacular. Parallel Health, a Fast Company “World Changing Idea,” debuted its Microbiome Dermatology™ platform, which has captivated the world through its AI-driven precision skin care built on microbial genomics.
Ubivis demonstrated its IIoT-powered Digital Twins, enabling factories to operate with unprecedented autonomy. Neurocast showcased its AI health-monitoring system, turning everyday interactions into neurological insights poised to accelerate Alzheimer’s research.
On the sustainability front, Re-Fresh Global unveiled its biotech upcycling process, transforming textile waste into patented micro-fibrillated cellulose. And Neuland AI AG previewed its “neuland.ai HUB” enterprise platform, built on Dynamic Hybrid Language Models, set to redefine AI deployment in large organizations.
Unicorns, Scaleups and Investors Take Partnerships Next Level:
A formidable line-up of 32 unicorns also took center stage, alongside scaleups from across the world, illustrating the continent’s ability to build the next-big global challengers. Cloud and data unicorn Snowflake – now valued at over $60 billion2 – highlighted its data-warehousing innovations, and cloud-security pioneer Netskope, at a $7.5 billion valuation, demonstrated how its real-time threat intelligence safeguards global enterprises.
Over 600 top-tier investors, including AlphaQ, B2Venture, DN Capital, Odba, Serena and Vinci, scouted the floor, forging new partnerships and fueling the next wave of European scaleups.
Nail-Biting Pitches & Celebrations Cap Europe’s First Supernova Battle Royale:
The Supernova All Stars delivered three days of fierce pitch battles, narrowing hundreds of contenders down to ten finalists from eight countries, all vying for a share of the €100,000 total prize pool and global exposure, including Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Serbia, and Spain.
In a pulsating grand finale, LuxQuanta from Spain impressed the global jury panel the most and claimed the €50,000 top prize for their groundbreaking NOVA LQ®, delivering the highest level of quantum-safe cybersecurity for critical infrastructures worldwide. Kazakhstan’s Arlan Biotech and Germany’s Bitteleib took the top second and third spots, respectively, together exemplifying the creative drive propelling Europe’s startup renaissance.
Vanesa Diaz, CEO of LuxQuanta, shared her excitement at not only scooping the top cash prize but also receiving the visibility, “Great recognition for all the hard work we put into this project for four years! We were not only facing the challenge of having to work in hardware, but more importantly, quantum hardware. So being here, getting this recognition, among all these outstanding companies and startups, it’s massive. We want to have a very clear image that this is a very serious, strong, innovative, and reliable company.”
Race To Build Europe’s Quantum Future Hits Top Gear:
A high-voltage panel, “The Quantum Race: Europe’s Ecosystem at a Glance,” united startups, researchers, and corporate leaders to discuss how the quantum movement can switch gears. Prof. Enrique Solano of Kipu Quantum GmbH addressed the importance of funding and timing when it comes to quantum ventures, “When you talk public funding, you have to go for the long-term vision. The money has to go transversal, wide, integrated, and on that with industry and academia.” Dr. Jasper Krauser, Central Coordinator Quantum Technologies, Airbus Group, added, “We need to bring together the startups, who know the algorithms, the hardware, and the end-user to bring quantum to value.” Dr. Alexander Glätzle, Co-Founder & CEO of Planqc, a quantum scaleup, shared, “Europe has to create [quantum] champions, and say that these are the five companies and those are the two technologies which best fit Europe, and that’s where we want to create a champion.”
Cross-Border MoUs Strengthening Research & Innovation:
In a series of landmark agreements reflecting North Star Europe’s role as a crucible for cross-border collaboration, two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed at the event.
The first letter of intent unites IIT Madras with German startup Flexora, an initiative born from the TUD TransCampus program, to co-develop printed and flexible RFID antennas, pioneer composite printable inks for active sensor areas, and field-test these flexible sensors in real-world environments. Shortly thereafter, a second LOI formalized a groundbreaking Indo-German partnership between TuTr Hyperloop of IIT Madras and Thyssenkrupp Transrapid. This accord drives joint R&D, pilot projects, commercialization efforts, and large-scale deployments of next-generation magnetic-levitation mobility systems.
In a fitting echo of the continent’s “Choose Europe” rallying cry – to anchor innovation, talent, and investment – North Star Europe’s resounding success confirmed that the continent’s startups aren’t just powering through the global tech upheaval but altogether redefining the trajectory of the continent’s digital decade. North Star Europe is the last stop before the flagship Expand North Star, billed as the world’s largest startup and investor connector event, takes place from 12-15 October 2025 in Dubai, hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy (DCDE). Further, the GITEX global network of events takes place in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Germany, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
