Orange launches 6th edition of the Orange Social Venture Prize 

PRESS RELEASE

Orange is launching a call for candidates for the 2016 Orange Social Venture Prize in Africa and the Middle East. 

The Orange Social Venture Prize, which aims to encourage start-ups that use innovation to fuel development on the African continent, is being extended to the Middle East and, this year, includes a Special Cultural Content Prize. 

Applications may be made from 18 May to 21 September 2016 on the EntrepreneurClub.Orange.com website, Orange's new portal for entrepreneurs in Africa and the Middle East.

The projects of 4 start-ups will be recognized during the awards ceremony with prizes of 25,000, 15,000 and 10,000, while 5,000 euros will go to the winner of the Special Cultural Content Prize.

The 10 finalists of the Prize and the “Entrepreneur Club’s choice” award will also receive special support from the Grow Movement NGO for 6 months.

Net users are invited to participate in the selection by choosing their favourite project on the new Orange portal for entrepreneurs in Africa and the Middle East, EntrepreneurClub.Orange.com.

The Orange Social Venture Prize showcases entrepreneurs offering innovative products and services meeting the health, agricultural, educational, energy, commercial or industrial needs of local communities.

In its 6 years of existence, the Orange Social Venture Prize has been exceedingly successful, with some 2,600 projects received. This strong turn-out by candidates illustrates the entrepreneurial dynamics and telecommunications potential of Africa and the Middle East.

Who can participate?

Any entrepreneur of 21 years and older and any legal entity in existence for less than 3 years may participate in the Prize at no cost, regardless of nationality. 

The projects presented must concern a service to be deployed in at least one of the 18 African and Middle Eastern countries listed in the contest rules(1).

Orange innovates to bring information and communication technologies into play to improve the living conditions of communities in those countries.

Press contacts: +33 1 44 44 93 93
Tom Wright, tom.wright@orange.com
Caroline Simeoni; caroline.simeoni@orange.com