The Orange Social Venture Prize (OSVP) marked its 15th anniversary at MWC Africa 2025, celebrating entrepreneurs from Africa and the Middle East who are using technology to solve social and environmental challenges. Held in the presence of Yasser Shaker, CEO of Orange MEA, the event recognized startups whose innovations are improving lives and driving sustainable growth. Through financial awards and ongoing support from Orange Digital Centers, the initiative continues to strengthen the continent’s innovation ecosystem and empower a new generation of impact-driven entrepreneurs.
Held as part of GSMA’s MWC Africa 2025, the continent’s most influential connectivity event, this year’s celebration reinforced the role of innovation in shaping Africa’s digital future. MWC Africa brought together thousands of participants, including mobile operators, investors, energy companies, policymakers and entrepreneurs, to explore themes such as Connected Continent, The AI Future, Africa’s Digital DNA and Fintech.
From 70 finalists across 17 countries, five exceptional startups were awarded for their creativity, measurable impact and potential to scale. These winning ventures will now receive tailored support through Orange Digital Centers, which operate in 17 African and 6 European countries, helping them accelerate growth, attract investment and expand into new markets.
The first prize of €25,000 went to Sand to Green from Morocco, a regenerative agroforestry company that transforms deserts into green, productive farms. Their mission is to harness technology and science to regenerate ecosystems, restore productivity, capture carbon, enhance biodiversity and improve livelihoods. The company works with agri-food and financial industries to help them achieve carbon neutrality, restore land and water systems and build long-term resilience in food and resource security.
The second prize of €15,000 was awarded to E-Blood Bank Makila from the Democratic Republic of Congo, an innovative digital platform that connects blood banks, hospitals and individuals. By using instant notifications and drone delivery, the platform ensures faster and more efficient blood distribution, a critical need in emergency medical situations. This innovation helps streamline the blood supply chain, saving time and lives across the healthcare system.
The third prize of €10,000 went to N’Zassa Fund from Côte d’Ivoire, a gamified mobile platform that enables micro-donations to support NGOs and social causes. By making giving interactive and accessible, N’Zassa Fund is creating new pathways for civic engagement and community impact through technology.
The Women’s Prize of €20,000 was awarded to ProVerdy from Tunisia, an AI-powered SaaS platform that helps businesses measure, manage and reduce their carbon footprints. Designed to be easy to use, ProVerdy provides companies with accurate carbon tracking tools and tailored recommendations to cut emissions and optimize costs. The platform ensures compliance with environmental regulations and simplifies sustainability reporting, empowering organizations to lead the green transition.
The Special Jury Prize of €10,000 went to Maarifa from Botswana, an AI-driven e-learning platform whose name means “knowledge” in Swahili. Maarifa makes education more accessible and affordable by offering digital lessons, revision materials and private tutoring for junior and senior secondary students. Its AI tools recommend relevant content to learners, helping personalize education and close learning gaps.
This year’s OSVP edition celebrated responsible and inclusive innovation, with a strong emphasis on women’s leadership in technology and the rise of impact entrepreneurship across Africa and the Middle East. Each of the winning startups demonstrates how technology can be used as a force for good, addressing real social and environmental challenges while building sustainable business models.
Over the past 15 years, the Orange Social Venture Prize has become one of the most respected initiatives supporting early-stage innovation in the region. Through financial support, mentorship and access to resources via Orange Digital Centers, the program continues to help entrepreneurs transform bold ideas into impactful, scalable solutions.
By celebrating its 15th anniversary at MWC Africa 2025, Orange reaffirmed its commitment to empowering changemakers who are shaping a more inclusive, connected and sustainable future for the continent.
