Three startups from Francophone Africa have emerged as winners of the latest Orange Summer Challenge, a prestigious initiative that provides young entrepreneurs with the opportunity to transform their innovative ideas into viable businesses within three months.
Launched in 2011, the Orange Summer Challenge is the flagship program of the Orange Digital Centres network in Africa and the Middle East. The initiative aims to inspire and equip young innovators with the skills, mentorship, and resources needed to develop technology-driven solutions for societal challenges.
The 2025 edition attracted 282 entrepreneurs from 14 countries, all benefiting from an intensive support program that included training, mentorship, and coaching from industry experts at Orange, AWS, EY, and NOKIA. Under the theme Tech4Impact, participants developed 57 startups, addressing various social and environmental issues.
At the grand finale in Casablanca, Morocco, an international jury and Orange employees across Africa and the Middle East selected three standout startups as winners:
- First Prize: Plastikoo (Madagascar) – A startup tackling plastic waste by converting it into sustainable construction materials, promoting environmental sustainability and local economic development.
- Second Prize: MEPS (Tunisia) – A company integrating Internet of Things (IoT) technology to convert organic waste into clean biogas and fertilizer, contributing to renewable energy solutions.
- Third Prize: Leevlong (Cameroon) – A medical device startup that enables real-time monitoring of vital signs, improving healthcare accessibility and efficiency.
The winners will receive financial, technical, and commercial support from Orange Digital Centres and partners. NOKIA will provide a €40,000 (US$42,000) grant to fund the pre-incubation and incubation of the winning projects, while Orange has pledged €20,000 (US$21,000) to support young innovators driving impactful change.
Brelotte Ba, Deputy CEO of Orange Africa and the Middle East, praised the participants for their creativity and dedication.
“For 15 years, the Orange Summer Challenge has supported thousands of young talents in their entrepreneurial journey. This edition once again highlights the incredible innovation and problem-solving mindset of African and Middle Eastern youth. Congratulations to the winners and all participants for their hard work and vision,” he said.
The Orange Summer Challenge continues to be a platform for nurturing the next generation of African tech entrepreneurs, reinforcing Orange’s commitment to fostering innovation for social good across the continent.
