Orange Ventures and Digital Africa have committed to co-invest in startups from the “Orange Digital Centres” network in Africa and the Middle East.
Orange Digital Centre is an ecosystem deployed in 17 countries in Africa and the Middle East, and eight countries in Europe, bringing together in a single location a range of free programmes open to all, from digital training for young people to startup incubation and acceleration, as well as support for and investment in project leaders.
It offers support throughout the startup lifecycle, with the aim of stimulating entrepreneurship and innovation in the region. Digital Africa already runs the Fuzé investment facility, which allows early-stage startups operating in Francophone African countries to apply for up to EUR50,000 (US$54,000) in equity funding from by Digital Africa.
A partnership agreement was signed at Vivatech by Fayçal Adlouni, managing partner of Orange Ventures, and Grégoire de Padirac, CEO of Digital Africa, to strengthen and accelerate support for African startups from the Orange Digital Centres.
“The Orange Group is fully committed to nurturing the future champions of the technology scene in Africa and the Middle East. This arrangement, involving Orange Middle East and Africa, Orange Ventures and Digital Africa will collectively enable us to concentrate our resources to create an environment conducive to the success of startups in Africa and the Middle East,” Adlouni said.
Startups interested in this new initiative are invited to visit the Orange Ventures website, the Orange Digital Centre website, and the Digital Africa website.
