Orange Botswana intends to develop a culture of innovative thinking with a solution-driven approach to boost socio-economic progress in Botswana.

Announcing this year’s national winners of the Orange Social Venture Prize, company CEO Nene Maiga said Orange Botswana intends to promote and champion active support for social innovation and entrepreneurship across the board.

“We hold it (Orange Social Venture Prize) in very high regard as it is purposed towards celebrating the undeniable talent of Batswana, particularly those who inspire the spirit of entrepreneurship in others and unwaveringly commit themselves to nurturing and growing the youth, values synonymous with the Orange Botswana brand,” said Maiga.

“The ambition and objective of this global platform for start-up, is growth and development to the country, and remain true and clear.”

The Orange Social Venture Prize is a platform that rewards tech innovation within education, healthcare, agriculture, mobile payments and sustainable development.

This year, the competition received 65 applications compared to 95 entries in 2020, following its launch in the first quarter of the year.

The winners were Agrinect’s Batshidi Selebogo, who took home P50,000 in prize money and has been shortlisted into the international top three, Morui USSD App developer Lone Mojalemotho, who received P30,000, and Mosaditiya Mobile App developer Tshoganetso Tshotlego, who bagged P20,000.

With the conclusion of national competition, the Orange Social Venture Prize escalated to the international phase during which 51 national winners from Orange subsidiaries will compete for an international grand prize.

“This is a tremendous opportunity before us, and we need to recognise the potential positive impact these ventures stand to make in our socio-economic ecosystem,” said Maiga.

On the international platform the top three winners will receive €25,000, €15,000 and €10,000 respectively.