Latvian health tech startup Longenesis was named the winner of The Supernova Challenge 2.0, an early-stage startup pitch competition at the Expand North Star event in Dubai on October 16.

Taking home the top prize of US$100,000, Longenesis aims to transform healthcare by accelerating the development of innovative treatments and enhancing patient engagement through advanced data utilisation.

With collaborations spanning leading healthcare institutions, global life sciences companies, and national governments, Longenesis said it has positively impacted over 850,000 patients across the European and Middle East regions.

Emil Syundyukov, Co-Founder and CEO of Longenesis, said, “It is all about unlocking the hidden value of data. By engaging broader populations and bringing them into the data conversation, we can help therapies reach those in need faster. This win is just the start for us. We are here to raise geographical borders for healthcare research and scale up, especially in the Gulf region, which we see as a focal point for healthcare innovations.”

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Singapore-based ProfilePrint secured second place and a prize of US$60,000. The company showcased its AI-driven platform, which uses patented digital food identity-as-a-service (IDaaS) technology.

By synthesising molecular data into digital fingerprints, ProfilePrint empowers agribusinesses to make data-driven decisions, improving product quality and efficiency.

Third place went to NEXTPAYMENTS INC. from South Korea, earning US$35,000. Led by CEO Jee Kwangchol, the startup is revolutionising retail through its advanced AI kiosks and smart store technologies, providing personalised experiences for consumers.

The north star of innovation

Organised by the Dubai World Trade Centre and hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, Expand North Star celebrated its biggest edition this year, according to a press statement by the organisers. It was held in conjunction with the GITEX GLOBAL 2024 event.

The organisers said that this year’s edition saw a “record-breaking” participation, with a total prize pool of US$200,000. A 40 per cent increase in global participation for 2024 saw GITEX Global and Expand North Star welcome over 1,800 startups and 1,200 investors.

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The Supernova Challenge 2.0 witnessed over 650 startups competing for the prestigious Overall Supernova Champion title, following six months of semifinals from Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas.

Startups from 69 countries participated, with the UAE, India, and South Korea emerging as top contributors.

In terms of development stages, the event saw startups from various stages with 39 per cent being in seed or early stages, 24 per cent at Series A, 18 per cent in Pre-Seed, and 11 per cent bootstrapped.

Popular sectors such as AI, SaaS, and healthcare were the most represented in the event, which the organisers saw as a reflection of the latest industry trends and the ongoing shift towards an AI-driven economy.

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Image Credit: Expand North Star

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