Founders, Vision, and the AI Economy: GITEX GLOBAL 2025
By Ashraf Kalim
This took some time, back-to-back meetings, and commitment, but I finally got to do this before the year ended. At this year’s Gitex GLOBAL and Expand North Star 2025, I ended up carrying home more than just notes and business cards.
This conference isn’t just an event; it’s a city-wide, relentless surge of technological ambition. The scale and intensity are truly unmatched. Spanning two mega-venues and converging over 6,500 global exhibitors and 2,000 of the world’s most disruptive startups. The energy on the floor, from the AI-focused deep tech pioneers to the next wave of FinTech innovators, was electric.
I was genuinely blown away by the quality of entrepreneurs I met. The founders here aren’t just building products; they are shaping entire industries. Connecting with this caliber of talent, alongside the 1,200+ global investors present, made every conversation a masterclass in market-ready innovation. These are the people driving the $2.7 trillion AI economy forward.
A massive thank you, and congratulations must go to the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) management for flawlessly executing an event of this magnitude. Furthermore, the commitment from the Dubai Government and leaders like H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama’s goal of creating the world’s most agile and future-ready digital economy is palpable. The entire ecosystem, from the Golden Visa programs to the ScaleX initiatives, demonstrates that Dubai isn’t just hosting the future; it’s strategically building it.
Here are some of the moments that stood out to me, along with the entrepreneurs whose passion, vision, and stories left a lasting impression.
MyFlow Method – Žarko & Tanja Lazarević
Meeting Žarko and Tanja Lazarević from MyFlow felt like stepping into a conversation where science and intuition genuinely meet. Their approach to wellness goes far beyond buzzwords rooted in neuroscience, movement, music, and color. The MyFlow Method is refreshingly practical yet deeply thought through. What stood out most was how intentional everything felt: short sessions, real impact, and a clear belief that performance and well-being don’t have to be at odds. It’s wellness designed for real life, not just theory.
&Again – Roanne El-Alaili
Roanne El-Alaili’s energy was impossible to miss. Creative, grounded, and quietly rebellious in the best way. With &Again, she’s building more than a resale app; she’s shaping a community that makes circular living feel effortless and exciting. The idea of “shopping your best friend’s closet” captures the spirit perfectly. Fun, conscious, and refreshingly guilt-free. It’s fashion that feels good, not just looks good.
PatternFast – Yuliya Raquel & Cabell B.
Talking to Yuliya Raquel and Cabell felt like getting a glimpse into the future of fashion, one that’s faster, smarter, and far more sustainable. PatternFast is solving problems designers have quietly struggled with for years, compressing months of work into hours through AI-powered precision. What impressed me most was how seamlessly creativity and efficiency coexist on their platform. It’s not about replacing designers, it’s about finally giving them better tools.
KidsAI – Irmak Atabek
Irmak Atabek discusses children and technology with a rare blend of imagination and responsibility. KidsAI isn’t driven by fear of AI, but by a deep respect for how children learn, grow, and stay safe in a rapidly changing world. From ethical AI assistants to storytelling-driven media, everything feels intentionally child-first. It was clear this wasn’t just a startup pitch; it was a mission shaped by care, research, and lived experience.
Spot Off, Glow On – Emily
Meeting Emily, the 13-year-old founder of Spot Off, Glow On, was one of the most inspiring moments of the event. Her vision for skincare goes far beyond products; she’s building confidence, community, and smart technology tailored specifically for girls her age. The idea of an AI-powered skincare mirror paired with emotional support tools feels both futuristic and deeply empathetic. It’s rare to see innovation led with this much heart, especially at such a young age.
Clever Forever / CatnClever –
Olga Ruf-Fiedler & Team
Clever Forever / CatnClever – Olga Ruf-Fiedler & Team
Olga Ruf-Fiedler and the CatnClever team are quietly redefining how early learning can look in a digital world. Their approach to gamified education feels gentle, thoughtful, and rooted in real pedagogy rather than screen-time noise. What stood out was their belief that digital learning, when done right, can be creative, musical, and emotionally safe for children. It’s technology that supports growth instead of rushing it.
Limula – Thomas Eaton
A conversation with Thomas Eaton from Limula quickly reminded me that some startups carry world-changing weight. Limula’s work in cell and gene therapy manufacturing is complex, precise, and deeply human at its core. Focused on making life-saving treatments more accessible and scalable. The way Swiss engineering meets medical urgency in their platform is genuinely remarkable. It’s innovation with stakes, purpose, and long-term impact.
SpiceAds – Luka Dolić
Luka Dolić’s perspective on advertising felt refreshingly honest, creative intuition backed by serious data. SpiceAds is built to answer questions marketers constantly ask but rarely get clear answers to: what works, why it works, and how to make it work everywhere. The platform’s focus on local nuance alongside global scalability really stood out. It’s a smart reminder that good advertising isn’t louder, it’s sharper.
Trifid Media – Mahdi Shafiei & Team
Mahdi Shafiei’s journey, from teenage hustling to building one of the GCC’s largest content hubs, felt as bold as the brand he’s created. Trifid Media thrives on understanding the internet’s pulse, turning organic content into real influence and measurable results. What struck me was how deeply creator-first their mindset is, balancing scale with authenticity. It’s media built by people who truly understand how attention works today.
ConnectHear – Arhum Ishtiaq
& Azima Dhanjee
Speaking with Arhum Ishtiaq and Azima Dhanjee was grounding in the best way possible. ConnectHear isn’t just building assistive tech; it’s rewriting what accessibility can look like at scale. Rooted in lived experience and powered by serious AI expertise, their work has already changed how millions communicate. There’s a quiet strength in their mission: technology that listens, adapts, and includes.
What Campaign – Ajla Licina
Ajla Licina and the team at Aisthesis are tackling something most people overlook—sensory overload in children who can’t always explain what they’re feeling. Their use of AI to decode stress triggers and provide actionable guidance felt both compassionate and intelligent. Rather than just flagging a problem, Aisthesis focuses on solutions caregivers can act on immediately. It’s thoughtful tech, designed with care at its center.
Tdooz – Matthew Dickerson
Speaking with Matthew Dickerson from Tdooz felt like a reminder that some of the smartest tech is the kind you barely notice. Tdooz is built around a simple but powerful idea: giving people their time back by making home services effortless to manage. From scheduling to payments, everything is designed for convenience and trust. It’s one of those platforms you immediately imagine fitting into everyday life without friction.
Dapper – Luis Alberto R. &
Pablo Pastrana Vega
Dapper – Luis Alberto R. & Pablo Pastrana Vega
Luis Alberto R. and Pablo Pastrana Vega are tackling complexity head-on with Dapper, a platform designed to turn dense data into clear, actionable insight. Focused on economic, regulatory, and sustainability information, Dapper helps organizations make smarter decisions while reducing risk. What stood out was the emphasis on clarity, customized dashboards, expert analysis, and alerts that actually matter. It’s data intelligence made human, not overwhelming.
Weeklik
Meeting Nancy Aoun and Magaly Abs from Weeklik felt like a breath of fresh air in the education-tech space. Weeklik is thoughtfully designed to bring schools, teachers, students, and parents onto one calm, intuitive platform, replacing chaos with clarity. What stood out most was their focus on inclusivity and wellbeing, weaving AI-powered planning with human-first design. It’s not just about staying organized; it’s about making education feel kinder, simpler, and more connected.
If you weren’t here, you missed the global tech pulse. Until next year, Dubai!
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