Orange has provided more resources to deepen and expedite support for African tech start-ups as they navigate and thrive in a fast evolving digital world.

Under its Orange Ventures arm, the multinational telecoms giant, which has 266 million subscribers, recently teamed with Digital Africa to invest in start-ups under the Fuzé scheme.

Fuzé is a €6.5 million facility formed by African entrepreneurs to invest in start-ups in the ideation and minimum viable product stages.

It is entirely owned by Digital Africa. The agreement, launched at Vivatech in Paris, follows the two firms' 2023 partnerships to fund start-ups from the Orange Digital Centre (ODC) network.

ODC network is an ecosystem deployed in 17 countries in Africa and the Middle East, and 8 countries in Europe, bringing together young people for start-up incubation and acceleration, as well as support for and investment in project leaders.

Faycal Adlouni, managing partner at Orange Ventures, stated that the company is committed to promoting entrepreneurship and innovation in Africa.

“The Orange Group is fully committed to nurturing the future champions of the technology scene in Africa and the Middle East. This arrangement, involving Orange Middle East and Africa, Orange Ventures and Digital Africa will collectively enable us to concentrate our resources to create an environment conducive to the success of start-ups,” he said.

In the first year, five tech start-ups in the ODC received $54 200 each as part of Digital Africa's Fuzé program.

Grégoire de Padirac, CEO of Digital Africa, said the latest initiative strengthens the strategic partnership signed last year.