Orange Middle East and Africa (OMEA) has recognised three innovative start-ups during the third International Orange Summer Challenge (OSC) Award Ceremony, highlighting the role of youth-led entrepreneurship and technology-driven solutions in addressing social and environmental challenges across Africa and the Middle East.
The Orange Summer Challenge, a flagship initiative of the Orange Digital Centers network, supports young innovators in transforming ideas into scalable technology solutions with measurable impact. The 2025 edition brought together 369 young entrepreneurs from 14 countries, who participated in a three-month programme offering training, mentoring, coaching, and access to technological expertise.
A total of 56 start-up projects were developed under the Startup4Good theme, focusing on sectors including environment, healthcare, education, and agriculture. The initiative was supported by partners such as Amazon Web Services, Meta, UNDP, The Hashgraph Association, and Dar Blockchain, reinforcing collaboration between technology providers and innovation ecosystems.
The first prize was awarded to SafeGuard from Jordan for a smart device designed to prevent workplace accidents through intelligent risk detection. GasNika from Madagascar secured second place for its waste-to-biogas solution combined with organic fertilizer production, while DripIn from Tunisia received third place for its AI-powered connected system aimed at detecting water leaks and optimising water consumption.
The winning start-ups will receive financial, technical, and business support through the Orange Digital Centers network, including a total grant of €50,000 to accelerate development and market expansion. The programme reflects Orange’s broader commitment to supporting youth employability, fostering innovation, and advancing digital inclusion across its markets.
