Where Investors Are Looking: The Most Fundable Startup Categories at GITEX

GITEX Global has always been more than a technology exhibition. It is a magnet for investors, entrepreneurs, and global innovators who want to understand where the future of business is heading. With 2,850 startups participating in GITEX 2025, the event provides a unique lens into which categories are attracting the most innovation — and where investors should focus their attention.

At Royex Technologies, we work closely with startups and investors in the UAE and beyond, helping them turn ideas into scalable businesses. By studying the GITEX participant data, we can identify the categories where capital meets opportunity.

Category Breakdown of GITEX Startups (2025)

• AI-Powered E-Commerce & SME Automation – 30% (~850 startups)

• HealthTech & Med-IoT – 25% (~710 startups)

• Sustainability, ESG & Smart Cities – 20% (~570 startups)

• FinTech & Payments – 10% (~285 startups)

• Education & Wellness – 10% (~285 startups)

• LegalTech & Document AI – 5% (~150 startups)

1. AI-Powered E-Commerce & SME Automation (30%)

Why it’s fundable:
E-commerce is one of the fastest-growing industries in the Middle East. Startups at GITEX are embedding AI in product search, customer support, personalization, and SME automation tools. These startups show immediate ROI, making them investor favorites.

Examples from GITEX:

• Athena AI (Serbia): AI-powered search and recommendation for online retail.

• Plugthink (Brazil): Unified AI platform connecting ERP, CRM, and e-commerce data for SMEs.

Investor insight: The UAE has a large SME base and high digital adoption, making this category a safe, scalable bet.

2. HealthTech & Med-IoT (25%)

Why it’s fundable:
With lifestyle diseases rising and demand for preventive care increasing, HealthTech is booming. GITEX participants are using AI + IoT to deliver remote diagnostics, wearable healthcare, and rehabilitation solutions.

Examples from GITEX:

• AISTHESIS (Qatar): AI + IoT wearables for autism therapy.

• Orby (Brazil): AI sensors for rehabilitation and pain relief.

• Nanowear (USA): AI-powered wearable diagnostics.

Investor insight: The UAE’s focus on becoming a medical tourism hub adds momentum to this sector.

3. Sustainability, ESG & Smart Cities (20%)

Why it’s fundable:
With UAE Net Zero 2050 commitments, sustainability-focused startups are gaining attention. At GITEX, these include carbon tracking, AI for urban planning, smart energy systems, and climate risk monitoring.

Examples from GITEX:

• Latitudo 40 (Italy): Satellite imagery + AI for flood risk and resilience planning.

• LeafIoT (Hong Kong): IoT + AI + blockchain for carbon footprint monitoring.

Investor insight: This sector benefits from government support, grants, and corporate ESG demand, making it highly investable.

4. FinTech & Payments (10%)

Why it’s fundable:
FinTech remains attractive because payments drive all commerce. Many GITEX startups are embedding escrow, KYC, and fraud detection into WhatsApp, Telegram, and mobile-first ecosystems.

Examples from GITEX:

• AskAlem (Singapore): Escrow payments inside chat platforms.

• Bridge (Cyprus): Corporate finance and communication in one platform.

Investor insight: With the UAE’s cashless agenda and strong regulatory frameworks, FinTech has room for rapid growth.

5. Education & Wellness (10%)

Why it’s fundable:
Startups here focus on AI-driven personalized learning, AR/VR classrooms, and corporate wellness platforms. The UAE’s youth population and strong education investment make this a growing sector.

Examples from GITEX:

• Cheeko AI (India): Screen-free AI-powered learning for children.

• Brainy AI (UAE): Gamified learning platform for professionals.

Investor insight: The UAE’s knowledge economy vision aligns with this sector, ensuring sustainable demand.

6. LegalTech & Document AI (5%)

Why it’s fundable:
A smaller but promising category. Startups here use AI to automate document processing, multilingual compliance, and case management.

Examples from GITEX:

• Avocapp (Morocco): AI-powered legal practice management with multilingual support.

• Altilia AI (Italy): Intelligent automation for document-heavy industries.

Investor insight: Though niche, this category is valuable in the UAE’s multilingual, cross-border business environment.

Why AI Dominates Across All Categories

Out of the 2,850 startups, 675 (≈24%) explicitly identify as AI-powered. Nearly every sector — from retail to health to fintech — now relies on AI for speed, personalization, and scalability. This makes AI not just a vertical, but a horizontal investment theme cutting across all industries.

How Royex Helps Investors and Entrepreneurs

At Royex Technologies, we specialize in turning these trends into scalable businesses:

• E-commerce & Marketplaces: Shopify, Magento, custom builds with AI-driven personalization.

• HealthTech & IoT: Secure cloud pipelines for wearable data and diagnostics.

• FinTech: Chat-native payments, eKYC, and secure mobile integrations.

• Sustainability & Smart Cities: IoT + AI dashboards for ESG compliance and monitoring.

• AI-first Development: From semantic search to predictive analytics, we embed AI at the core.

Whether you are an investor looking for the next high-return category or an entrepreneur inspired by GITEX, Royex Technologies is your technology partner to build, launch, and scale AI-powered ventures in the UAE and beyond.

Royex at GITEX 2025 – Witness the Future of AI and Technology

GITEX 2025, one of the world’s largest and most influential tech events, is just around the corner, and Royex is excited to be part of this grand stage. As a leading technology solutions provider, we will be showcasing our latest innovations in AI, digital transformation, and cutting-edge software solutions designed to empower businesses across industries.

Attending GITEX gives you a unique opportunity to interact with our expert team, experience live demonstrations, and gain insights into how our solutions can solve real-world business challenges. Whether you’re interested in AI-driven applications, advanced web and mobile platforms, or enterprise-level digital strategies, Royex will have something tailored for you.

Don’t miss the chance to explore the future of technology with us at GITEX 2025. Join us, learn from our experts, and see how Royex continues to drive innovation and shape the digital landscape in the Middle East and beyond.