The 14th iteration of the Orange Social Venture Prize (OSVP) is now accepting applications, marking another exciting opportunity for innovative entrepreneurs in Africa and the Middle East. This esteemed competition is dedicated to fostering social innovation and providing support to entrepreneurial ventures that aim to create a positive impact on society through their work.
Launched in 2011, the OSVP has consistently recognized and celebrated startups that utilize new technologies to tackle pressing societal issues. These ventures span a variety of sectors including education, healthcare, agriculture, e-commerce, and environmental sustainability, reflecting the diverse challenges and opportunities within the Africa and Middle East regions.
For this year’s competition, the call for entries is extended to entrepreneurs across 17 countries within the expansive Orange network. The competition is structured in two distinct phases to systematically identify and honor the most promising projects. Initially, a national competition will be held in each participating country until May, aiming to select the top three winners from each locale. These selected winners will represent their countries at the international phase of the contest, where the competition intensifies.
At the international level, 10 exceptional finalists will be chosen to contend for the coveted International Grand Prize. In parallel, another five remarkable entries will compete for the special International Women’s Prize, highlighting the competition’s commitment to promoting gender diversity and empowering female entrepreneurs.
The climax of the competition is set for October when a distinguished jury of prominent figures from the tech and entrepreneurial ecosystem in Africa and the Middle East will come together. Their task will be to select the three International Grand Prize winners as well as the sole recipient of the OSVP International Women’s Prize from among the 15 outstanding projects shortlisted by employees of the Orange Group.
The winners of the competition are set to receive substantial prize money, with the first-place winner awarded EUR25,000 (approximately US$27,000), the second-place winner receiving EUR15,000 (around US$16,000), the third-place winner getting EUR10,000 (about US$11,000), and the International Women’s Prize winner taking home EUR20,000 (approximately US$22,000).
The application deadline is set for May 24, providing a generous window for entrepreneurs who aspire to make a significant impact within their communities. Entrepreneurs with innovative solutions that have the potential to address societal needs on a large scale are strongly encouraged to seize this opportunity. By participating, they have the chance to not only bring their visionary projects to fruition but also to join the ranks of past winners who have gone on to achieve remarkable success in their respective domains.
