In an era where entrepreneurship is increasingly focused on impact, the Orange Social Venture Prize (OSVP) in Africa and the Middle East has become a landmark initiative for tech-driven, socially conscious startups. Since its inception in 2011, this competition has nurtured startups using digital innovation to tackle social and environmental challenges in one of the world’s most dynamic and diverse regions. With its deep integration into local ecosystems, strategic partnerships, and the strength of the Orange Group, OSVP continues to catalyze the evolution of purpose-driven businesses that are both viable and impactful. This article dives into the structure, mission, and results of this prize, and why it remains a vital instrument of sustainable progress.
The Genesis of the Orange Social Venture Prize
The OSVP was created by Orange Group to promote digital solutions with measurable social impact across 17 countries in Africa and the Middle East. The goal is to empower young companies whose core mission addresses social needs in areas like education, healthcare, financial inclusion, agriculture, and environmental protection. What distinguishes the prize is its dual commitment: to foster social innovation and to embed such innovation within Orange’s broader ecosystem through mentoring, incubation, and even investment. The competition reflects Orange’s broader digital inclusion strategy and commitment to sustainable development goals. You can learn more about this mission on the official Orange OSVP website.
A Two-Tiered Competition with Broad Reach
Each year, the competition unfolds in two major phases. The first is the national stage, where startups compete in local editions of the prize across participating countries. In 2025, these include Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry, Jordan, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Tunisia. From each country, up to three winning startups are selected to advance to the next stage. In parallel, up to three women-led startups per country are also considered for a special distinction: the International Women’s Prize. The selected startups move on to the international phase, where a jury of experts from across the region and within Orange Group reviews all submissions. This panel identifies finalists based on innovation, scalability, relevance to social issues, and technical viability. According to TechAfrica News, over 1,000 applications were submitted in 2024 alone, reflecting growing regional interest.
Significant Financial and In-Kind Rewards
Winners at the international level receive substantial financial prizes that serve as both validation and seed capital. The 2025 edition maintains the traditional structure for the International Grand Prix: €25,000 for first prize, €15,000 for second, and €10,000 for third. In addition, the International Women’s Prize launched in 2020 awards €20,000 to one outstanding woman-led startup. This prize structure reinforces OSVP’s commitment to gender equality and the economic empowerment of women entrepreneurs. These rewards are more than just symbolic. They give startups the financial runway to scale and refine their business models. Moreover, all finalists receive six to nine months of coaching from Orange employees and gain access to a suite of development programs through Orange Digital Centers. You can read more about the 2025 prize structure via Opportunities for Africans.
Orange Digital Centers: The Secret Ingredient
One of OSVP’s most significant assets is its alignment with the Orange Digital Centers, which operate as local hubs for digital innovation. These centers serve as full-fledged startup accelerators offering training, mentorship, prototyping tools, and access to funding. Within the Digital Centers are dedicated programs such as the School of Code for technical upskilling, the Solidarity FabLab for hardware innovation, and Orange Fab, which supports startup acceleration and market access. Through these hubs, OSVP winners not only receive coaching but also enter Orange’s innovation value chain, allowing them to benefit from the company’s technical infrastructure, vast user base, and international presence. In many cases, startups have progressed from prize winners to official Orange suppliers or joint-venture partners.
Gender Empowerment through the International Women’s Prize
Launched in 2020, the International Women’s Prize serves a dual purpose: celebrating innovation and promoting gender equity in entrepreneurship. Women entrepreneurs across the region face unique barriers in accessing capital, mentorship, and visibility. By creating a dedicated prize, OSVP not only highlights the success of women-led ventures but also integrates them into a more inclusive innovation ecosystem. The prize is awarded to a single standout project, regardless of whether it placed in the top three of the Grand Prix. Notably, a startup can win both the Grand Prix and the Women’s Prize, amplifying its impact. As highlighted by Opportunity Desk, OSVP’s women-focused initiatives help bridge one of the most persistent gaps in the entrepreneurial landscape.
Key Themes and Sectors of Innovation
The OSVP has consistently emphasized technology for good across critical sectors. Startups that apply must demonstrate a viable tech-based solution with scalable impact. Common themes among winners include mobile health services, AI-enabled agriculture platforms, e-learning apps, clean energy solutions, and fintech products tailored for underserved populations. For instance, past winners have included startups that digitize farming co-ops, provide affordable maternal care via mobile platforms, or offer education to children in conflict zones using offline-enabled tools. In 2023, the winning startup from Senegal developed a platform that enabled micro-merchants to access real-time pricing data and demand forecasts using SMS technology, directly increasing household income in rural areas. These examples highlight how OSVP is not just a competition but a barometer for high-impact tech trends across the region.
Strategic Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals
A core tenet of OSVP is its alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From SDG 4 (Quality Education) to SDG 13 (Climate Action), OSVP winners often work at the intersection of global policy and local action. Orange has embedded this SDG alignment into its evaluation criteria, ensuring that all supported projects contribute meaningfully to global sustainability targets. Moreover, through its integration with Orange Ventures and the broader Orange innovation framework, the prize supports long-term ecosystem development. Many winning startups have gone on to raise capital from external investors or enter regional partnerships, reinforcing the prize’s value as a catalyst rather than a one-off reward. The Orange Ventures Africa fund, for example, offers follow-on funding opportunities for high-growth startups emerging from the OSVP pipeline.
Notable Success Stories
Over the years, numerous OSVP alumni have transitioned from local innovators to regional leaders. One standout is Rwanda’s Yegomoto, a digital taxi meter system that improves road safety and pricing transparency for public transport. Another success story is Egypt’s PraxiLabs, which provides virtual science labs for schools with limited resources. Tunisia’s MajestEYE, a data analytics firm, used OSVP exposure to secure partnerships in both Europe and the Middle East. These stories underscore the long-term credibility that OSVP provides. Startups that participate gain validation not only from Orange but from governments, NGOs, and investors who recognize the OSVP brand. As such, the prize serves as a launchpad for scale, partnerships, and visibility.
2025 Edition: Timeline and Eligibility
The 15th edition of OSVP opened on March 11, 2025, and the deadline for national submissions is May 18, 2025. National winners will be announced in June, followed by the international jury selection process. The Grand Prix and International Women’s Prize winners will be unveiled during a dedicated ceremony in October 2025. Eligible startups must be less than three years old, operate in one of the 17 eligible countries, and demonstrate a tech-driven solution that addresses a major social or environmental challenge. While the competition is open to all sectors, preference is often given to startups that use mobile or digital tools to reach underserved communities. Details on eligibility and application procedures can be found on Orange’s official OSVP portal.
Regional Collaboration and Ecosystem Benefits
Beyond the direct impact on winners, OSVP contributes to a broader culture of innovation. By fostering collaboration between startups, investors, academic institutions, and public bodies, the prize creates nodes of excellence across Africa and the Middle East. In countries with limited startup infrastructure, OSVP serves as one of the few available platforms for early-stage entrepreneurs to gain exposure. In more advanced markets like Morocco or Egypt, it complements local accelerators and investment networks. This ecosystemic approach ensures that OSVP’s benefits extend beyond the prize cycle, promoting long-term regional growth and cooperation.
Conclusion
The Orange Social Venture Prize is more than a grant it is a comprehensive platform for change. With its focus on real-world impact, technical excellence, and ecosystem integration, the OSVP continues to empower startups that dare to imagine a better world. Its unique structure, coupled with strategic support from Orange Digital Centers and Orange Ventures, makes it one of the most effective tools for sustainable innovation in Africa and the Middle East. As the 2025 edition progresses, the world watches to see which visionary startups will rise, scale, and change their communities and perhaps the world for the better. For entrepreneurs driven by purpose, the OSVP is not just a competition, but a catalyst for meaningful transformation. More information about this year’s edition can be accessed via Orange’s dedicated OSVP webpage.