Orange has opened applications for the fifth edition of its African Social Venture Prize, with the winner to receive EUR25,000 (US$27,500) and six months of business support from the global telco.
The African Social Venture Prize recognises the startups using technology to improve standards of living across the continent and innovating to accelerate development in Africa.
The competition is aimed at startups offering innovative products or services to at least one of Orange’s 17 African markets, in the fields of health, agriculture, education, energy, industry or trade.
The first prize winner will be granted EUR25,000 (US$27,500), patent registration in the country of deployment, as well as six months’ worth of business support from Orange experts; while the second and third place winners will receive EUR15,000 (US$16,700) and EUR10,000 (US$11,100) respectively.
Members of the public will also be drawn in through an online vote – via Orange’s entertainment portal StarAfrica.com – for the public’s “favourite project”. The winner of the “favourite project” vote will automatically become a finalist, and the project will be put directly before the final jury.
The competition is open to any entrepreneur (aged over 21) with a startup in existence no longer than three years. Innovations must be designed for at least one of the 17 African markets in which Orange operates.
Applications can be made online, and close on September 18.
