Orange partners with Digital Africa to help African startups grow using the knowledge and resources of both businesses.
The agreement was signed by the CEO of Orange, Middle East and Africa, Jérôme Hénique, and the CEO of Digital Africa, Isadora Bigourdan. This started the work of finding and choosing bright tech startups all over Africa.
Selected startups will have access to a wide range of resources, such as mentoring programmes, technical help, funding, and chances to network through the Orange Digital Centre and the Digital Africa community.
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Orange Digital Centres (ODC) across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe
Orange Digital Centres (ODC) are ecosystems in 17 countries in Africa and the Middle East and 8 countries in Europe that support, train, and guide young people and those with new ideas to make them more employable and ready for future jobs (AI, cybersecurity, etc.) or to become digital entrepreneurs.
Orange Digital Centres offer a variety of free, open-to-all initiatives, including digital training for youth, startup acceleration, and aid and funding for project leads.
ODC 2.0, the new phase of Orange Digital Centres, targets women and others without internet access. This would assist them in growing digital entrepreneurship in each country’s priority areas, such as environment, e-agri, e-health, and e-commerce.
Digital Africa aims to make it easier for African firms to generate and use digital innovations in large numbers for the real economy. Digital Africa brings together global startups, researchers, incubators, institutional investors, venture capitalists, and cluster techs. Proparco, as the sole stakeholder, is the most important of these partners.
Digital Africa bases its programmes on three primary priorities:
- Access to trained local talent and data boosts startup abilities and tools.
- Creating investor communities to increase seed financing access
- Supporting “made in Africa” innovation policies that benefit African digital entrepreneurs and digital issue knowledge production
Startups can expand their businesses and accelerate growth by connecting with investors, partners, and customers through Orange Digital Centres and Digital Africa.
NITDA advocates Pan-African collaboration to drive digital growth
Orange-Digital Africa partnership
Orange and Digital Africa will collaborate to grow Africa’s startup environment. This relationship empowers young entrepreneurs to convert their unique ideas into profitable enterprises by providing them with tools, information, and support. They support digital innovation “made in Africa” and socio-economic development on the continent.
Orange and Digital Africa personnel were enthusiastic and committed to this relationship at the signing event. They stressed indigenous talent, digital inclusiveness, and African entrepreneurial potential.
Digital talent will alter Africa. “This partnership with the Orange Digital Centres aligns with our strategy for identifying promising entrepreneurs locally and helping them access support, funding, and lobbying tools through an international network of allies,” said Digital Africa CEO Isadora Bigourdan.
“We are very excited to launch this collaboration with Digital Africa, as it adds an essential component to our existing Orange Digital Centres network, facilitating access to flexible financing solutions specifically designed to meet the needs of seed-stage entrepreneurs,” said Orange Middle East and Africa CEO Jérôme Hénique. This alliance will boost the African startup ecosystem.”