North Star Asia to showcase 300 startups in Singapore

North Star Asia will bring together more than 300 startups from over 50 countries in Singapore as part of GITEX AI ASIA.

According to organisers, the event will also host investors managing USD $350 billion in assets, alongside enterprise and government representatives.

The gathering reflects a broader shift in the startup market towards industrial and business applications for artificial intelligence rather than consumer-led products. Asia-Pacific is a focal point for that trend, organisers say, with more than 475 unicorns in the region and a growing number of companies building products for enterprise, industrial and public sector use.

Startup focus

North Star Asia is expected to feature more than 65 award-winning innovations across manufacturing, healthcare and sustainability, including companies working on AI infrastructure, machine vision, medical devices and environmental technology.

Blaize, a listed AI computing platform company, is set to present work developed with Nokia on hybrid AI infrastructure for smart cities, defence and industrial systems. Joseph Sulistyo, Senior Vice President of Blaize, said: "GITEX AI ASIA reflects a turning point - from AI experimentation to real-world deployment. Our collaboration with Nokia demonstrates how AI infrastructure is now being built for scale, enabling production-grade inference across industries and environments."

Other participants include Italy's AI4IV, which has developed machine vision technology based on biological processes. Its system is designed to help machines interpret complex environments in areas such as autonomous vehicles and industrial robotics.

In healthcare, Japan's Physiologas Technologies is developing compact home dialysis systems for patients with chronic kidney conditions. The approach is intended to reduce reliance on hospital visits by allowing more frequent treatment at home.

Singapore startups

A dedicated Singapore 100 programme, curated with the Action Community for Entrepreneurship, will showcase local high-growth startups. The selection is intended to highlight companies applying advanced engineering and deep-tech research to commercial markets.

Among the Singapore firms named are Ailytics, which uses standard CCTV systems for workplace safety monitoring at construction and industrial sites, and Hydroleap, which develops chemical-free wastewater treatment systems. Hydroleap was named the winner of Singapore's 2025 Emerging Enterprise Sustainability Award.

Patrick Lim, Chief Executive Officer of ACE.SG, said: "Singapore's startup ecosystem has matured into a global proving ground for entrepreneurs building deep-tech solutions with tangible commercial value. As our startups look toward international expansion, platforms like GITEX AI ASIA provide the essential access to global capital and market opportunities."

Singapore continues to rank highly among startup hubs in Asia. Organisers cited StartupBlink's 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Index, which placed the city fourth globally and first in Asia.

Unicorn line-up

The event will also include more than 20 unicorns with a combined valuation of more than USD $35 billion, pointing to a mix of early-stage and later-stage companies attending the same forum.

Among them are Odoo, described by organisers as Belgium's largest unicorn, and US cybersecurity company Tanium, valued at USD $9 billion. Southeast Asian participants include used-car marketplace Carro and insurtech company Bolttech, valued at USD $2 billion and operating in more than 30 markets.

The presence of larger private technology companies is likely to sharpen investor interest in sectors where AI is being deployed in operating environments rather than tested in pilot projects. The startup showcase is positioning itself around that commercial shift from experimentation to implementation.

Prize competition

At the centre of the startup programme is the Supernova Challenge, a pitch competition with a total prize pool of SGD $60,000. The winner will receive SGD $30,000, while two runners-up will receive SGD $20,000 and SGD $10,000.

HP has also pledged USD $5,000 worth of Z Mobile Workstations for one winning startup. The competition is designed to connect founders with investors, strategic partners and industry executives.

The programme's emphasis on industrial AI, healthcare technology, sustainability and enterprise software underlines how investors and founders are increasingly focusing on businesses with clearer commercial paths. That is particularly visible in Singapore, where local and international startups are using the city as a base for regional expansion and cross-border investment.