In a move designed to bolster support for African startups, Orange Ventures, the venture capital arm of Orange Group, and Digital Africa have signed a new partnership agreement. This agreement will see Orange Ventures double the investment made by Digital Africa’s Fuzé program for startups within the Orange Digital Centers (ODC) network.

The partnership was solidified during the Vivatech conference by Fayçal Adlouni, Managing Partner of Orange Ventures, and Grégoire de Padirac, CEO of Digital Africa. Asma Ennaifer, Orange Middle East and Africa’s Executive Director for CSR, Communications and the Orange Digital Center program, expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative, which strengthens a strategic partnership established in June 2023 to support startups from the ODC network.

Fuzé Program Gets a Boost

The new agreement leverages the Fuzé program, a joint initiative between Orange Ventures and Digital Africa. Through this program, applications will undergo a collaborative review process, with the possibility of Orange Ventures matching the investment pledged by Fuzé, effectively doubling the available funding for selected startups.

The Orange Digital Centers act as a comprehensive ecosystem for aspiring entrepreneurs across 17 African and Middle Eastern countries, along with eight European nations. ODCs offer various programs free of charge, ranging from digital skills training for young people to startup incubation and acceleration programs. Additionally, they provide crucial support and investment opportunities for project leaders. Notably, the ODC network aims to foster entrepreneurship and innovation throughout the region by providing support throughout a startup’s lifecycle.

Early Success for Fuzé

In its inaugural year, the Fuzé program awarded funding of up to €50,000 each to five startups within the ODC network. These startups originated from Cameroon (Clinihome — Healthtech, Koree — Fintech, Colorfol — Cultural and creative industries) and Senegal (Tolbi — Agritech, Proboutik — Fintech). The additional funds are expected to significantly accelerate their growth trajectories.

This collaboration signifies a shared commitment by Orange Ventures and Digital Africa to accelerate the development of African startups. Representatives from all three organizations — Orange, Orange Middle East and Africa (OMEA), and Digital Africa — expressed their unwavering support for the initiative’s success.

• Fayçal Adlouni, CEO of Orange Ventures: “The Orange Group is fully dedicated to nurturing the future leaders of Africa and the Middle East’s technology landscape. This collaboration will allow us to combine resources and create an environment that fosters the success of startups across the region.”
• Asma Ennaifer, Executive Director, CSR, Communications and Orange Digital Center program for Orange Middle East and Africa: “Orange Digital Centers are powerful catalysts for innovation, where ideas flourish and ambitions are realized. By joining forces with Orange Ventures and Digital Africa, we are empowering African startups to thrive and make a significant impact in the ever-expanding digital world.”
• Grégoire de Padirac, CEO of Digital Africa: “I am thrilled about this partnership with Orange. We share a common vision of supporting African entrepreneurs from the earliest stages by providing them with comprehensive financing and support services.”

How to Apply

Startups interested in participating in this new initiative are encouraged to visit the websites of Orange Ventures (https://apo-opa.co/3WTOxpH), Orange Digital Center (http://apo-opa.co/3KdSTRe), and Digital Africa (http://apo-opa.co/3VdPSFJ).