Orange Launches the 14th Edition of the Orange Social Venture Prize in Africa and the Middle East

Orange is pleased to announce the launch of the 14th edition of the Orange Social Venture Prize in Africa and the Middle East. The submission for the prize will commence on March 18, 2024, and applicants from 17 countries within the Orange footprint will have until May 26, 2024, to submit their projects on the official website. The OSVP prize seeks to recognize innovative start-up projects that harness new technologies to create a positive impact in various sectors such as education, healthcare, e-commerce, agriculture, and the environment.

The competition will consist of two stages; a national stage for collecting applications and an international stage for evaluating the projects. The national winners will be selected by a panel of judges comprising members of the entrepreneurial ecosystem and Orange representatives. The international stage will see 10 finalists chosen for the International Grand Prize and 5 for the International Women’s Prize. A final jury composed of leading figures from the tech and entrepreneurship sectors will then select the winners in October 2024.

The winners of the International Grand Prize will receive €25,000 for the 1st prize, €15,000 for the 2nd prize, and €10,000 for the 3rd prize. Additionally, the winner of the International Women’s Prize will receive €20,000. Since the inception of OSVP in 2011, Orange has received over 13,000 applications and has awarded approximately €700,000 in prize money to over fifty winners, while also providing capacity-building support to around one hundred entrepreneurs.

In addition to financial support, the OSVP winners will also receive assistance from Orange Digital Centers in their respective countries. Orange is dedicated to contributing to socio-economic development, supporting social and environmental innovation, and promoting entrepreneurship in the region.

The Orange Group operates in 18 countries in Africa and the Middle East, serving 149 million customers as of December 31, 2023. With revenues of 7.1 billion euros in 2023, Orange MEA is the primary growth area in the Orange group. The company’s flagship mobile-based money transfer and financial services offer, Orange Money, is available in 17 countries and has more than 90 million customers. The Orange Digital Centers function as a hub for opportunities, providing various services including a School of Code, a Solidarity FabLab, a digital manufacturing workshop, an Orange Fab, and Orange Ventures Africa & Middle East, a €50 million investment fund that finances innovative start-ups.

The Orange Social Venture Prize underscores Orange’s dedication to promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, and social development in Africa and the Middle East. The company aims to support the development of new digital services in the region and provide opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs to bring their innovative ideas to life. For more information about the prize and how to apply, please visit the official Orange website.