The 2015 Orange African Social Venture Prize launched

The prize will recognise three projects with grants of 10,000, 15,000 and 25,000 euros, along with six months of support from Orange experts. The first prize will also be offered a patent registration in the country of the project's deployment.

Internet users are also invited to vote online for their favourite project on Orange's entertainment portal in Africa, StarAfrica.com. The winner of the "Favourite Project" will have its project submitted directly to the jury along with the other project finalists.

The Orange African Social Venture Prize showcases entrepreneurs offering innovative products or services that meet the needs of Africans in fields such as health, agriculture, education, energy, industry or trade.

Who can enter?

Any entrepreneur (aged 21 or over) or legal entity that has been in existence for fewer than three years may participate at no cost and with no restriction on nationality. Submitted projects must be designed to be deployed in at least one of the 17 African countries in which Orange operates and must use information and communications technology in an innovative way to help improve the living conditions of the populations in these countries.

Applications are accepted from 21 May to 18 September 2015 on Orange's pan-African web portal, www.starafrica.com.