Orange has officially unveiled the five winners of its 15th annual Orange Social Ventures Prize (OSVP), an initiative dedicated to recognizing and supporting socially impactful startups across Africa and the Middle East. Since its inception in 2011, OSVP has worked to encourage technological innovation that contributes directly to sustainable development and social inclusion.
This landmark anniversary edition, hosted under the theme of “responsible and inclusive innovation,” concluded during a high-profile international ceremony at the Mobile World Congress in Kigali, Rwanda. From a pool of 70 finalists representing 17 countries, five outstanding ventures were selected for their creativity, scalability, and social impact.
International Grand Prize Winners
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First Place: Sand to Green (Morocco)
Awarded EUR25,000 (US$29,000), this agri-tech startup focuses on modeling profitable and sustainable agroforestry plantations, helping drive the transition toward resilient and eco-friendly agricultural systems. -
Second Place: E-Blood Bank Makila (Democratic Republic of Congo)
This digital platform, which secured EUR15,000 (US$17,000), connects blood banks, hospitals, and donors using a streamlined system that includes secure payments and fast deliveries powered by drones and motorcycles. -
Third Place: N’Zassa Fund (Ivory Coast)
Receiving EUR10,000 (US$12,000), this innovative mobile app gamifies micro-donations, transforming philanthropic giving into fun and rewarding experiences to support local NGOs through mobile money.
Special Category Prizes
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International Women’s Prize: Proverdy (Tunisia)
This AI-powered platform, designed to help companies measure, manage, and reduce their carbon footprints with compliant reporting tools and certified offset projects, won EUR20,000 (US$23,000). -
Prize Coup de Coeur: Maarifa (Botswana)
Awarded EUR10,000 (US$12,000), Maarifa is an AI-based e-learning platform that offers personalized online education aimed at improving academic outcomes, particularly in underserved communities.
All five ventures will receive ongoing support from Orange Digital Centre, which will help guide them in scaling their projects, refining their offerings, and accessing new markets through mentorship and technical assistance.
“Over the past 15 years, POESAM has grown into much more than a competition,” said Yasser Shaker, CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa. “With over 17,000 project submissions — including 3,000 entries this year — it has become one of the most influential platforms for innovation on the continent, empowering startups that turn challenges into meaningful opportunities.
