The 15th edition of the Orange Social Venture Prize (OSVP) in Africa and the Middle East is now accepting applications to recognise and reward entrepreneurs who have made high impact in the last one year. Deadline for applications is May 18, 2025.

This prestigious program aims to encourage social innovation and entrepreneurship across the region by empowering startups that harness technology to address social challenges.

Since its launch in 2011, the OSVP has focused on identifying and rewarding creative startups that use emerging technologies to drive positive change in key sectors such as e-commerce, healthcare, education, agriculture, and environmental sustainability.

Read also: Orange Social Venture Prize applications now open to entrepreneurs in Cameroon, Mali, others

Empowerment of startups making social change through technology 

By providing recognition and support, the OSVP helps entrepreneurs dedicated to solving societal issues and driving meaningful change in their communities.

Open to candidates from the 17 countries within the Orange Group’s footprint in the region, the competition spans Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Central African Republic, DR Congo, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea Conakry, Jordan, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Tunisia.

How winners will be selected

The competition unfolds in two phases. In the first round, which serves as a national phase, applications will be accepted until May. From this pool of applicants, three winners will be selected—one from each of the 17 countries.

These national champions will then move on to the international stage, where they will compete for the International Grand Prize and the International Women’s Prize. In October, a distinguished panel of leaders from the technology and entrepreneurial sectors in Africa and the Middle East will evaluate the entries and select the winners.

Cash prizes

The cash prizes for the OSVP are substantial. The three International Grand Prize winners will receive EUR 25,000 (approx. USD 27,000), EUR 15,000 (approx. USD 16,000), and EUR 10,000 (approx. USD 11,000) for first, second, and third place, respectively. Additionally, the winner of the International Women’s Prize will receive EUR 20,000 (USD 22,000).

Established in 2020, this prize specifically supports female entrepreneurs and aims to promote inclusive, sustainable, and responsible development. Recognizing the growing importance of women in entrepreneurship, it underscores the powerful role female-led ventures play in addressing gender inequality and driving global economic growth.

Beyond the financial rewards, the OSVP provides winners with business and technical assistance to help scale their impactful initiatives. Female-led businesses, in particular, benefit from targeted support aimed at enhancing their growth and promoting women’s financial and digital inclusion. This commitment to empowerment aligns with the program’s broader mission of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the region.

Read also: Orange upgrades mobile money services for Burkina Faso

OSVP 14th edition winners 

At the 14th edition held in Morocco, Five winners emerged out of 1,600 applicants from 17 different countries.

Moroccan logistics company SAVEY won EUR25,000 (US$27,000) as the International Grand Prize, which recognises the top three technology-based projects with a major social or environmental effect.

WeFix, a Tunisian electronics platform, took second place with EUR15,000 (US$16,000), and Cocoa Shield, an AI business located in Ivory Coast, took third place with EUR10,000 (US$11,000).

Dedicated to a female-led firm with a high-impact initiative, the EUR20,000 (US$21,000) International Women’s Prize went to Morocco’s MyTindy, an online marketplace that links artisans with buyers throughout the globe.

Additionally, Egyptian AI firm Intella received the EUR10,000 (US$11,000) Coup de Coeur honour, which is granted to a project that stands out for its uniqueness.