Berlin, Germany – May 2025: Following rallying calls for global tech, research, and innovation ecosystems to ‘Choose Europe’ and the groundbreaking launch of the EU Startup & Scaleup Strategy, Europe’s tech sector is entering a revitalized era of exponential growth. Fueled by a renewed focus on research, tech talent, and later-stage investments, the continent’s tech industry is thriving.
According to Atomico’s latest ‘State of European Tech’ report, Europe’s tech sector has surged to €2.95 trillion in 2025, a fivefold increase from €518 billion a decade ago. At the forefront of this momentum, the most promising startups are showcasing their innovations at the highly anticipated North Star Europe.
North Star Europe: The Continent’s Largest Startup & Investor Event
Debuting as part of GITEX EUROPE x Ai Everything from 21-23 May at Messe Berlin, North Star Europe stands as the region’s largest and most global startup, accelerator, and investor event. The showcase features:
- 750+ startups from 80+ countries
- 600+ international investors with over $1 trillion (€880 billion) in assets under management (AUM)
The event is held in partnership with:
- 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
- Startup Germany
- European Innovation Council (EIC)
Phenomenal International Involvement Drives Urgency to Access New Markets & Capital
Reflecting Berlin’s global appeal, North Star Europe hosts one of the biggest international gatherings of founders, VCs, and tech leaders, with major delegations from:
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Germany, France, Italy, India, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Spain, Netherlands, Morocco, Portugal, Serbia, and South Korea
Top Startup Sectors at the Event:
- AI
- Climate Tech
- Deeptech
- Health Tech
- Cyber
Award-winning ventures in fintech, manufacturing, edtech, and creative economies will also be featured.
UAE’s Groundbreaking Innovation on Display
Attendees will experience cutting-edge innovations from the UAE, highlighting the country’s shared commitment with Europe in advancing AI, technology, research, and digital adoption. Key UAE participants include:
- Dubai’s Chamber of Digital Economy
- Department of Economy and Tourism
- Ministry of Economy
- Dubai Digital Authority (showcasing interconnected government services)
The Most European-Centric Startup Show Ever Staged
The inaugural North Star Europe welcomes 400+ early-stage European companies alongside leading national digital development entities. Highlights include:
- Germany’s top startup hubs: De: Hub, Start2 Group, and DLR (showcasing aviation, space, and deep tech innovations)
- 40+ deep tech ventures backed by the European Innovation Council (EIC)’s €10 billion programme, including:
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- ATLAND 3D (Denmark) – atomic-precision 3D nanofabricator working with NASA
- Kiuntra (Germany) – the world’s only cryogen-free sub-Kelvin cooling provider for quantum infrastructure
Matthias Notz, Global CEO of Start2 Group, said:
“Europe’s startup and SME landscape is rich in innovation, but it needs shared momentum where nations, investors, and ecosystem builders collaborate to empower growth. Timing is critical for scale-ups—funding must keep pace with ideas. Creating an environment where startups, enterprises, and capital connect efficiently is not just useful, it’s necessary.”
Driving Startup Growth Through Early & Late-Stage Programmes
North Star Europe connects founders with enterprise customers, government partners, and late-stage investments through:
- GITEX ScaleX (powered by AWS for Startups) – Accelerating 25 fast-scaling, venture-backed companies
- Supernova All-Stars – The world’s ultimate pitch competition with €100,000 in cash prizes
Europe’s Premier Platform for Investor Connections
The Investor Matchmaking Programme brings together leading investors, including:
- Speedinvest (Austria)
- Cathay, Partech, Venture Capital, Serena VC (France)
- Earlybird, High-Tech Gründerfonds, Cherry Ventures, 468 Capital (Germany)
- ITOCHU Corporation (Japan)
- Apis (Luxembourg)
- 33 Equity (Netherlands)
Expert-Led Conference Programme on 10X Stage
Key topics include:
- Scaling from seed to IPO
- Navigating global tech dynamics
- Expanding from local roots to global markets
- Evolving VC funding frameworks
Featured Unicorns & Ecosystem Leaders:
- Alexandre Prot, Co-Founder & CEO, Qonto (France)
- Justin Grooms, CEO, Bolt (USA)
- Carsten Höltkemeyer, CEO, Solaris (Germany)
- Sinead Fitzmaurice, CEO, TransferMate (Ireland)
- Hannah Huber, SVP Technology / CTO, Flix (Germany)
- Mats Solberg, Chief Design Officer, reMarkable (Norway)
Corporate & Government Stakeholders:
- Milena Stoycheva, Board Member, Ministry of Innovation and Growth (Bulgaria)
- Jager McConnell, CEO, Crunchbase (USA)
- Joerg Landsch, Head of Corporate Venture Capital, Deutsche Bank (Germany)
- Costanza Carissimo, Investment Director, Cathay Innovation (Germany)
A Global Tech & Startup Network
North Star Europe is part of the GITEX global network, with events across:
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Germany, Morocco, Nigeria, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the UAE
For more information, visit: www.gitex-europe.com
