Kerala, which sends one of the largest contingents to Dubai for its tech fair every year, has sent as many as 50 startups this year. Supported by the Kerala Startup Mission, (KSUM) the nodal agency for entrepreneurship development and incubation activities, the startups are now part of GITEX Global 2023, which commenced at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) on October 16.

The startups, in addition to exploring business and investment opportunities, will showcase innovative products, technology skills and sustainable ideas. The Kerala team is part of Expand North Star, the startup-focused event being held at Dubai Harbour, one of the two major venues of the tech show.

The KSUM pavilion was inaugurated by K.P. Hussain, chairman and managing director of Fathima Healthcare Group, UAE. The Middle East offers immense opportunities for the growth of start-ups with credible products, Dr Hussain said.

Anoop Ambika, CEO, KSUM, said the event will help open doors for startups from the state, considering the good relationship between Kerala and the Middle East. “Apart from bagging business and investment opportunities, the seventh delegation led by KSUM at GITEX Global will find ways to scale up their business,” Ambika said. These ventures will also aim for better investor-connect to the Middle East, he added.

“Corporate matchmaking and investor-connects make the event more impactful,” Ambika said. This year’s venture participants from the state are from sectors such as IT, robotics, AR/VR (Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality), IoT (Internet of Things), software and EV.

Meanwhile, eight startups from Kerala have made it to the semifinals of the Supernova Challenge featured alongside the Expand North Star event. The challenge is the biggest pitch competition in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia and the start-ups that made it to the semi-finals from thousands of entries include Genrobotics, Brainwired, HyperQuotient, Acutro Technologies Pvt Ltd, EyeRov, Noval Sustainability Solutions Private Limited, Tuttifrutti, and Estro Tech Robotics.

Over 1,800 global start-up exhibitors, 900-plus investors, and 100-plus countries are participating in the Expand North Star event.

GITEX Global – the world’s largest, most inclusive tech and startup event – brings together the world’s most innovative enterprises and best minds together. The year 2023 for Gitex marks The Year to Imagine AI in Everything, supercharging the epic global race for AI supremacy.