Orange is stepping up its support for African tech startups to help them succeed in the ever-evolving digital landscape. The global telecommunications giant with 266 million subscribers has partnered with Digital Africa through its Orange Ventures arm to invest in startups through its Fuzé initiative.
Fuzé is a €6.5 million fund established by African entrepreneurs to support startups at the ideation and minimum viable product stages. The fund is 100% owned by Digital Africa. The collaboration, which was launched at Vivatech in Paris, builds on a partnership established between both organizations in 2023 to provide funding to startups within the Orange Digital Centre (ODC) network.
The ODC Network is an ecosystem operating in 17 countries in Africa and the Middle East and eight in Europe, aiming to bring together young individuals to incubate and accelerate startups, as well as provide support and investment to project leaders.
Orange Ventures Managing Partner, Faycal Aduluni, highlighted the firm’s focus on fostering entrepreneurship and innovation across Africa.
“Orange Group is committed to nurturing future leaders in the technology sector in Africa and the Middle East. This collaboration, which involves Orange Middle East Africa, Orange Ventures and Digital Africa, allows us to bring together our resources to create an environment that supports startups to succeed,” he said.
In the first year, five tech startups within the ODC received $54,200 each through Digital Africa’s Fuzé program.
Digital Africa CEO Grégoire de Padirac noted that the new initiative strengthens a strategic partnership established last year.
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