Gyeonggi Center for Creative Economy & Innovation (GCCEI), a Korea-based accelerator, will actively support its portfolio startups during the ‘2024 GITEX’ event, held from October 13 to 16 in Dubai, UAE. This participation aims to showcase the startups’ innovative technologies and explore opportunities for global market expansion by building international networks.

‘Expand North Star,’ hosted at the 2024 GITEX exhibition, is a major event where global investors and buyers converge. Alongside the CES in the U.S., it is recognized as one of the world’s premier IT exhibitions. 

Five startups supported by GCCEI have advanced to the semifinals of the ‘Supernova Challenge,’ a pitch competition within Expand North Star, highlighting their global competitiveness. The ‘Supernova Challenge,’ with a total prize pool of $200,000, offers $100,000 for 1st place, $60,000 for 2nd, and $35,000 for 3rd, making it the largest pitch competition in the Middle East.

The startups advancing to the semifinals of the Supernova Challenge will have the opportunity to present their unique innovations and business models in front of an international audience of investors and industry professionals. They will also explore potential market entry through networking opportunities at the event.

The five semifinalists are:

• Aetech: A robotics solution using AI-based object recognition to automatically sort waste
• MOCURATEC: A high-performance BBM solution for restoring safety and performance in reused batteries
• i-ESG: An AI-powered integrated ESG management solution supporting corporate sustainability
• dobstudio: A specialist in AI-driven virtual face graphic technology
• FIN2B: A B2B finance platform that leverages digital technology for invoice financing

These startups were selected through programs run by GCCEI.

In preparation for GITEX 2024, GCCEI has provided various global capability-building programs, including pre-meetups with experienced professionals in the Middle East market, helping startups understand the local business environment and gain global business insights.

GCCEI, committed to global expansion strategies, will continue to offer comprehensive support to ensure that Korean startups gain competitiveness and successfully establish themselves in international markets.