The Orange Social Venture Prize 2021

Every year since 2010, the Orange Social Venture Prize (OSVP) in Africa and the Middle East has been awarded to start-ups making a strong social or environmental impact in our 17 Orange countries.

Are you an entrepreneur with an ICT solution that contributes to the socio-economic development of your country? If so, what are you waiting for? Apply from 9 March!

What is the OSVP?

The Orange Social Venture Prize (POESAM in French) rewards innovation that promotes social development using information and communication technologies. In 2020, the competition attracted 1,300 from across Africa and the Middle East region in sectors as varied as e-health, EdTech, mobile payment and the green transition.

How does it work?

The competition takes place in 2 stages:

1. A national competition where you compete against other candidates in your country.
2. An international competition which brings together all national winners.

Awards: the International Grand Prix awards three prizes from €10 000 to €25 000 and each includes several months of support from Orange experts to accelerate your business development. In addition, the Group is renewing its support for female entrepreneurship again this year through the International Women’s Prize launched in 2020 and worth €20,000. The international finalists will also benefit from nine months of support consisting of individualised follow-up and practical training to accelerate the development of their projects.

Who can take part?

To apply for this year’s OSVP, you just have to meet the following criteria:

• You’re a student, employee or entrepreneur over 21 years old.
• Your business launched at least 3 years before the competition start date.
• Your venture is based in one of the listed countries

Key dates!

Apply between Tuesday 9 March 2021 (9am GMT) until 4 June 2021 (9pm GMT). The first national phase of the competition will take place between June and the end of August and the international competition will run from mid-September to mid-October.