According to the three news analysis database,Dubai, UAE, 16 October 2024: The Supernova Challenge 2.0, the world’s largest early-stage
startup pitch competition, concluded today at Expand North Star, showcasing groundbreaking
innovations from across the globe. With a total prize pool of $200,000, the challenge saw a
record-breaking participation, highlighting the UAE’s position as a global hub for tech
entrepreneurship.
Organised by Dubai World Trade Centre and hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy,
Expand North Star, the world largest startup and investment event, marked its biggest and
busiest edition this year. With a 40 percent increase in global participation for 2024, GITEX
Global and Expand North Star welcomed over 1,800 startups and more than 1,200 investors.
Record-breaking Participation from Leading Global Startups

The Supernova Challenge 2.0 witnessed an unprecedented surge in applications, with over 650
startups vying for the coveted Overall Supernova Champion title, after six months of semifinals
from Europe, Asia, Africa, Middle East, and the Americas.
Underscoring its global appeal, the competition drew participants from an impressive 69
countries across the world, with UAE, India, and South Korea among the top nations.
The participating startups showcased a diverse range of development stages, with 39% in the
Seed/Early stage, 24% at Series A, 18% in Pre-Seed, and 11% as bootstrapped ventures.
Reflecting current industry trends, AI, SaaS, and Healthcare emerged as the three most
represented sectors, highlighting the cutting-edge innovations that are propelling the global
startup ecosystem and advancing the shift towards an AI-driven economy.
Intense Competition Culminates in Grand Finale
After live qualifying rounds in 16 countries, the competition intensified as 155 semi-finalists from
50 countries, predominantly representing AI, fintech, and healthtech sectors battled through the
final rounds.
On the final day of Expand North Star 2024, 20 finalists from diverse countries, including
France, China, Bangladesh, Germany, Brazil, Latvia, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Ireland, the UK,
and India, presented their innovations to a distinguished jury of global investors and influential
tech personalities.
The panel included Cristobal Alonso, Global CEO of Startup Wise Guys; Ibrahim Faruqi,
Investor at Bessemer Venture Partners; Stephanie Nour, Partner at Nuwa Capital; Mattia
Lecchi, Head of Immediate Accelerator at RS Productions; Mike Butcher, Editor at Large of
TechCrunch; and Karim Konsowa, Portfolio Manager at Hub71

Photo Caption: Latvian HealthTech startup Longenesis wins top prize of $100,000 at the Supernova
Challenge 2.0
Supernova Challenge 2.0 Winners: Health Tech Takes Centre Stage
In a thrilling display of innovation, Latvian Health Tech startup Longenesis wowed the judges at
the recent competition, clinching the top prize of $100,000. This groundbreaking digital health
company is revolutionizing 21st-century healthcare by accelerating the development of
innovative treatments and enhancing patient engagement.
With partnerships spanning leading healthcare institutions, global life sciences companies, and
national governments, Longenesis has positively impacted over 850,000 patients across the EU
and MENA regions.
Filled with excitement from his win, Emil Syundyukov, Co-Founder and CEO of Longenesis,
shared his vision for how this significant achievement will accelerate the company’s growth,
saying: “It is all about unlocking the hidden value of data. By engaging broader populations and
bringing them into the data conversation, we can help therapies reach those in need faster. This
win is just the start for us. We’re here to raise geographical borders for healthcare research and
scale up, especially in the Gulf region, which we see as a focal point for healthcare innovations.”
ProfilePrint from Singapore secured 2nd place, winning $60,000 for its groundbreaking AI-driven
ingredient quality platform. Utilizing patented digital food identity-as-a-service (IDaaS)
technology, ProfilePrint synthesizes complex molecular data into digital fingerprints, empowering
agribusinesses to make data-driven decisions that enhance product quality and efficiency.
Meanwhile, NEXTPAYMENTS INC. from South Korea claimed the 3rd place prize of $35,000,
led by CEO Jee Kwangchol, whose cutting-edge solutions offer personalized retail experiences
through advanced AI kiosks and smart store technology.

More information is available at: www.gitex.com

Journalist:Paris Amir mazahri