The Firehood: Women in Tech Partner

The Firehood: Empowering Women in Tech at Expand North Star 2025

Location: Hall 6 | The Firehood Stage & Lounge

Canada’s most dynamic community of women angel investors, The Firehood, brings its global mission to Dubai — championing diversity, innovation, and investment at the world’s largest startup and investor event.

At Expand North Star 2025, The Firehood curates the Women in Tech Stage — a four-day programme designed to ignite ambition, unlock capital, and celebrate the power of women founders leading the future of technology.

From AI and Deep Tech to cybersecurity, ethics, and inclusive capital, each day gathers founders, investors, and industry pioneers shaping a more equitable and resilient innovation ecosystem.

The Firehood community, co-founded by Claudette McGowan and Danielle Brewin Graham, has empowered hundreds of women entrepreneurs through funding, mentorship, and investor networks — and now, its impact takes centre stage in Dubai.

Programme Overview

Over four days, the Firehood Women in Tech Stage brings together thought leaders, investors, and global founders for deep-dive sessions, networking, and a transformative pitch challenge.

Day 1 – 12 October

Deep Tech, Gender-Lens Capital & The Future of Human-Centered Innovation

Kick off with a powerful opening fireside chat by The Firehood co-founders, exploring inclusive innovation, deep tech opportunities, and gender-lens capital.

Highlights include Helen Kontozopoulos’ keynote on multimodal design in the age of Generative AI and a networking mixer connecting women founders with investors from around the world.

Day 2 – 13 October

Executive Mindset & High-Impact Leadership

A day of mindset transformation featuring women tech leaders including Nkechi Nwafor-Robinson, Priya Singh, Trecia McLennon, and Saima Malik.

Practical sessions and panels reveal how to build impossible goals, scale innovation ethically, and lead with vision.

Day 3 – 14 October

Inclusive Capital & Impact Tech

Dive into the trillion-dollar future of women entrepreneurship.

Sessions led by Mary Ng, Cynthia Ene, Colleen Ward, and Vanessa Mahan explore inclusive investing, sustainable innovation, and national resilience through startups.

The day features a hands-on Cybersecurity for Startups Workshop with Claudette McGowan and Ting Zhou — a must-attend session for every founder scaling in the digital economy.

Day 4 – 15 October

Pitching, Scaling & International Investment

The grand finale brings together global investors and founders for the Top 5 Pitch Competition, followed by reverse pitches from women-led VCs.

The day concludes with open networking, international expansion strategies, and a call to action for inclusive innovation worldwide.

Featured Speakers & Mentors

Danielle Graham

Co-Founder

The Firehood

Claudette McGowan

Co-Founder

The Firehood

Mary Ng

Former International Trade Minister

Government of Canada

Nkechi Nwafor

Founder & CEO

Empowered in My Skin Inc.

Ting Zhou

VP

Protexxa

Colleen Ward

Senior Vice President

Scotiabank

Priya Singh

CEO

Techsector Services

Trecia Kay McLennon

President

Ethicul Group Inc.

Helen Kontozopoulos

CEO

Resiin

Cynthia Ene

CEO

Corol

Women in Tech Pitch Competition

Organized by The Firehood, this competition is exclusively dedicated to empowering women founders exhibiting at Expand North Star 2025.

One exceptional startup will receive a C$100,000 investment from The Firehood Angels, alongside mentorship and access to an international investor network.

The competition celebrates innovation, courage, and leadership — spotlighting women shaping the future of technology across sectors including AI, Deep Tech, HealthTech, FinTech, and Sustainability.

About The Firehood

Founded in Canada, The Firehood is an award-winning community of women angels, investors, and innovators focused on increasing the participation, leadership, and prosperity of women in the tech ecosystem.

Through access to capital, mentorship, and training, The Firehood empowers women to not just join the innovation economy — but to lead it.

Visit: firehood.net