Why have you published a book that portrays nine African startups and their technological innovations ?
The book African Digital Champions 2023 highlights the impressive journeys and success stories of a number of innovative African startups, led by inspiring men and women. Most of them are graduates of Orange Digital Centers (ODCs). The aim is to showcase these success stories and turn them into role models to inspire young people and give hope to those already in the entrepreneurial process. When you close the last page of the book, you feel like starting your own business! (laughs). What fascinates me is that they are all committed to providing concrete solutions to improve people's lives. What they also have in common is that they all rely on digital technology.
Can you give us some examples ?
I'm thinking of Kumulus, founded by Tunisian Iheb Triki. His startup produces machines the size of mini-fridges that can produce 30 liters of drinking water a day using only solar energy and humidity. Or Brastorne, co-founded in 2013 by Martin Stimela and Naledi Magowe, two Botswana entrepreneurs who are developing the mAgri solution. Their innovation allows farmers to access weather and market information, as well as various services and, ultimately, new opportunities, via a USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) code on their mobile phones. I could also mention Bamba Lo, who founded the startup Paps in 2016. It started as an on-demand delivery app and over time has become an end-to-end solution for all transport and logistics needs (freight, courier, warehousing, etc.) in Senegal, with offerings for businesses. These are just a few examples. They are all talented, with inventions for the management of medical appointments, digital education and the development of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions.
The book is also a kind of mapping of the African tech ecosystem. How would you sum it up ?
What is striking is that the continent does not suffer from a skills deficit. What is often lacking is the creation of an environment that allows ideas to flourish. Our main lesson, after supporting over two hundred startups, is that with the right ecosystem, the chances of success are multiplied by five or ten. Entrepreneurs also often express a need for training. Again, we're very proud to have reached the symbolic milestone of one million beneficiaries of our Code Schools, centers dedicated to technology. There is a growing need for training in coding, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity... all subjects at the heart of the continent's digital transformation. Beyond funding, this is what we are trying to do with our ODCs. Finally, there has been great progress in connectivity, both fixed and mobile. This is our core business and the catalyst for many start-ups.
The Orange Digital Centers (ODC) help to promote the Group on the continent. How do they work?
The first Orange Digital Centre was established in Tunisia 13 years ago. The initiative has since been extended to all countries in the Orange footprint - 17 countries in Africa and the Middle East and 8 countries in Europe - to create a network of twenty-five ODCs that enable the exchange of experience and expertise between the two continents. In practical terms, the centers include a code school, a digital manufacturing workshop, FabLab Solidaire, a startup accelerator, Orange Fab, and an Orange Ventures investment fund office. The strength of the ODCs lies in the fact that they are physical structures equipped with state-of-the-art technology that support young people throughout the value chain, from innovation to entrepreneurship. The first centers have been established in capital cities. But there is a huge need in the provinces. As a result, "ODC Clubs" will soon be set up in local universities to be as close as possible to young people.
Aren't these success stories cited in the book a bit of Orange's own ?
Yes, highlighting these successes is a natural extension of our work in this field over the last fifteen years, when Orange launched the first ODCs, incubators, startup accelerators, code schools and FabLabs in the countries where we operate. Since then, other programs have been launched, such as POESAM (Orange Social Venture Prize in Africa and the Middle East), which rewards startups with an impact. We also have a €50 million investment fund, Orange Ventures, which uses the ODC pool to find start-ups to support. In terms of numbers, one million people have benefited from the activities of the ODCs. By 2023, 72,000 young people will have been trained, 55% of them women. 226 start-ups have been supported to complete their activities and sign commercial contracts with Orange or one of its local or international partners. Twenty startups also received funding from Orange Ventures in Africa and the Middle East.
