Orange Summer Challenge 2025: Winners Emerge as Orange MEA backs three impact-driven start-ups

Orange Middle East and Africa (OMEA) has recognised three innovative start-ups created by young entrepreneurs across Africa and the Middle East following the third International Orange Summer Challenge Award Ceremony held on 4 February 2026 in Casablanca.

The initiative, a flagship programme of Orange Digital Centers, supports emerging talent each year in transforming ideas into technology-based solutions with strong social and environmental impact.

For the 2025 edition, 369 young innovators from 14 countries took part in three months of intensive training, mentoring, coaching and technical support delivered by Orange MEA teams and the Orange Digital Centers network. 

With support from partners including Amazon Web Services, Meta, United Nations Development Programme, The Hashgraph Association and Dar Blockchain, a total of 56 start-up projects were developed under the Startup4Good theme, addressing key sectors such as environment, health, education and agriculture.

This momentum reflects Orange’s ambition to position the Orange Digital Centers as open and inclusive innovation platforms. As stated by Ben Cheick Haidara, Deputy CEO and Chief Operations Officer of Orange Middle East and Africa: “For more than 16 years, Orange Summer Challenge has been a true catalyst for talent and innovation. More than competition, this program enables young entrepreneurs to develop technology-based solutions, notably leveraging artificial intelligence, to address societal and environmental challenges in a very concrete way. Through the Orange Digital Centers, Orange is firmly committed to supporting youth and fostering high-impact innovation across Africa and the Middle East.”

The first prize was awarded to SafeGuard (Jordan) for its smart device designed to prevent workplace accidents through intelligent risk detection.

Second place went to GasNika (Madagascar) for its biogas production solution from waste, with organic fertiliser valorisation.

Third place was awarded to DripIn (Tunisia) for its AI-powered connected solution to detect water leaks and optimise consumption.

The winning start-ups will receive financial, technical and business support from Orange MEA and the Orange Digital Centers network, including a total grant of €50,000 to accelerate their development.

Through the Orange Digital Centers, Orange Middle East and Africa reaffirmed its commitment to technological entrepreneurship, youth employability and impact-driven innovation, contributing to sustainable development and digital inclusion across the region.