Destination Expand North Star roadshow at Technopark on Oct 12

Initiative for tapping into Dubai startup ecosystem for tech founders

Trivandrum / October 10, 2026

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct. 10: Seeking to access global capital and explore opportunities for Indian technology founders, Dubai-based hospitality-led business hub Zentral will launch a founder-focused initiative at Technopark on October 12.

The major objective of the initiative, ‘Destination Expand North Star’, is to connect Indian technology founders with investors, customers, business leaders and global technology companies in Dubai during Expand North Star, a staple event at GITEX Global 2026.

The first phase of the programme will bring together technology founders, startups, business leaders, incubators, accelerators and wider ecosystem communities across Kozhikode, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kanyakumari, Coimbatore, Chennai and Bengaluru.

The event, to be held at Travancore Hall, Park Centre, Technopark Phase-I, here at 3 pm, will connect founders, investors, business leaders and ecosystem enablers to explore Dubai’s technology and business landscape.

Besides, it will set the stage for discussing potential market opportunities and the value of participating in Expand North Star - the world’s largest startup and investor connector event planned on the sidelines of GITEX Global 2026 in Dubai.

The initiative will bring 100 selected founders from across India to Dubai for a curated seven-day experience built around Expand North Star and GITEX Global 2026. It will provide investors with access to promising startups and give founders a platform to connect with potential investors, customers, strategic partners and key technology players from around the world.

The programme is supported by strategic ecosystem partners across the region, including Infopark, Cyberpark and Technopark, Startup TN, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), HiLITE Business Park, CAFIT, GTECH, World Trade Centre (Thiruvananthapuram, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kochi).

Mr Rafees Rahmathulla, Chief Executive Director, Zentral, said: “Our objective has always been to create more than a place to work. We want to create an environment where founders can connect, grow and access opportunities. Through our partnership with Expand North Star, we want to help Indian founders discover what Dubai can offer beyond an event — from potential customers and strategic partners to investors, business leaders and new markets. Our aim is to help founders understand who they can meet, what opportunities they can explore and how Dubai could support their next phase of growth.”

He added: “With Destination Expand North Star, we want to take the founder experience a step further. We want them to have meaningful conversations, explore potential customers, partners and investors, and understand whether Dubai and the UAE could be relevant to their next stage of growth. The real value lies in what happens around the event and the relationships that continue long after it.”

Zentral is a hospitality-led business hub at Dubai World Trade Centre and an Ecosystem Partner of Expand North Star 2026. The firm offers premium workspaces, business support and access to a growing ecosystem of connections and opportunities.

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