French telecoms firm Orange has launched its third startup incubator, CIPMEN, in West Africa's Niger.
According to a statement, Orange Niger and local partners have established CIPMEN, a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) business incubator, geared to encourage the creation of new and innovative companies in the country.
CIPMEN aims to support SMEs from launch until they reach a level of maturity and turn enough profit to fend for themselves in the long term.
"The incubator will help companies in future-oriented sectors such as information and communication technologies, renewable energy and the environment. The project, initiated by Orange, is a pilot programme, which should enable the launch of other regional initiatives in Niger," reads the statement.
Orange has already established similar incubators in Senegal and the Ebène project in Mauritius, the press statement reveals.
The telco has also set-up a specific prize designed to support African startups, dubbed the Orange African Social Venture Prize, which was launched recently.
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