Orange OSVP Winners Announced: 15 Years of Impact Entrepreneurship
▼ Summary
– Orange announced the winners of its 15th Orange Social Ventures Prize (OSVP) during a ceremony at the Mobile World Congress in Kigali, Rwanda in October 2025.
– Five startups from 70 finalists across 17 countries were recognized for their creativity and positive impact, and will receive support from the Orange Digital Center.
– The International Grand Prize winners were Sand to Green (Morocco, €25,000), E-Blood Bank Makila (DRC, €15,000), and N’Zassa Fund (Ivory Coast, €10,000) for their tech-driven social and environmental projects.
– Special awards included the International Women’s Prize of €20,000 for Tunisia’s Proverdy and the Coup de Coeur Prize of €10,000 for Botswana’s Maarifa.
– OSVP has grown significantly since 2011, receiving over 17,000 applications with an 82% participation increase this year, highlighting the rise of impact entrepreneurship in Africa and the Middle East.
At the recent Mobile World Congress in Kigali, Rwanda, Orange celebrated the 15th anniversary of its Social Ventures Prize by announcing five standout winners from a competitive field of 70 finalists representing 17 nations. These innovative startups were recognized for their creative approaches and significant positive impact, earning comprehensive support from the Orange Digital Center to scale their operations and expand into new markets.
The ceremony featured Yasser Shaker, Chief Executive Officer of Orange Middle East and Africa, alongside numerous leaders from the continent’s entrepreneurial community. Shaker emphasized the program’s evolution, noting that what began as a simple award has transformed into Africa’s premier innovation platform. Over its 15-year history, the initiative has received more than 17,000 project submissions, including 3,000 this year alone, demonstrating its growing influence in empowering entrepreneurs who convert challenges into viable opportunities.
Established in 2011, the Orange Social Ventures Prize reflects the company’s long-standing commitment to advancing technological innovation that drives sustainable development and social inclusion. This year’s competition highlighted ventures that combine measurable social or environmental benefits with strong scalability potential and technological integration.
The International Grand Prize recognized three exceptional projects. Morocco’s Sand to Green secured the top award of €25,000 for its agritech platform that designs profitable, regenerative agroforestry systems to foster sustainable and resilient agricultural practices. The second prize of €15,000 went to Democratic Republic of the Congo’s E-Blood Bank Makila, a digital solution that connects hospitals, blood banks, and donors through secure payment systems and rapid drone or motorcycle delivery services. Ivory Coast’s N’Zassa Fund received the third prize of €10,000 for its gamified micro-donation mobile application that makes supporting local NGOs an engaging experience through mobile money integration.
Special category awards included the International Women’s Prize, which awarded €20,000 to Tunisia’s Proverdy. This AI-powered platform enables businesses to accurately measure, manage, and reduce their carbon emissions while providing compliant reporting and certified offset projects. Botswana’s Maarifa earned the €10,000 Coup de Coeur Prize for its AI-driven online learning platform that delivers personalized, accessible education to enhance academic achievement across Botswana.
The growing enthusiasm for OSVP is evident in the program’s expanding reach, with nearly 17,600 applications received since its inception and an 82% participation increase compared to the previous year. This milestone edition underscores the rising prominence of impact entrepreneurship and the increasingly vital role women play in shaping technological progress across Africa and the Middle East.
Orange maintains a significant presence across 18 countries in Africa and the Middle East, serving 161 million customers by the end of 2024. The region generated €7.7 billion in revenue during 2024, establishing itself as the primary growth driver within the Orange Group. Orange Money, the company’s flagship mobile financial service available in 17 countries, continues to expand its reach with over 100 million users. As a multi-services operator and digital transformation partner, Orange remains committed to supporting the development of innovative digital solutions throughout these regions.
(Source: MEA Tech Watch)
