By Foday Moriba Conteh
As part of their stride to enhance innovation in the country and create a congenial space for innovators, Orange Sierra Leone is set to launch its third edition of the “Orange Social Venture Price (OSVP)” with a whopping star price of One Hundred Million Leones to innovative Sierra Leonean men and women who have ventured into the business world with innovative ideas.
In addition, the International Women’s Prize, is the first to be observed in Sierra Leone wherein an assessment of how ICT solution will positively impact women’s development. Grand prize for this category include 50 million Leones with internet Speed Box router and Monthly subscription over a period of 6 months.
The Orange Social Venture Price (OSVP) is an annual program organized by Orange Group to showcase innovative young minds by providing financial support as start-ups and putting expertise in the management of new businesses using Information, Communication, Technologies ICTs through its implementing partner “Pitch Night Sierra Leone”.
Orange Social Venture prize further seeks to support new businesses and start-ups in Africa, Sierra Leone to be specific by providing start-up capital for young potential entrepreneurs and promote social innovation for development, through ICT.
Dynamics of OSVP
During the course of this competition, each country is expected to evaluate their respective project based on certain criteria such as: social and/ or environmental impact, the degree of innovation embedded in the ICT usage, the capacity of extending distribution of the product or service to several countries, the financial viability of the project and the realistic and operational nature of the project.
Registration starts on Tuesday 22nd March 2021 and all projects must be submitted not later than Friday, 4th June, 2021 at 12 Midnight GMT. Submissions beyond this date will not be accepted.
- Projects must be submitted in a word document to: email; osvp2021@innosl.com and all national applicants must also apply on the OSVP international application platform: https://startup.orange.com/en/orange-social-venture-prize/poesam-submit-your-candidature/
- Send an email to osvp2021@innosl.com to request an application form.
National Contest Rules are: Open to both Male and Female, participants must be at least 21 years old, ideas or post revenue. If post revenue, the companies must not be more than 3 years old at the launch date of the competition.
Innovators who are not yet entrepreneurs are eligible to participate ,entrepreneurs whose businesses have existed for more than three years are NOT eligible to participate, your business idea must be innovative and MUST leverage on technology (digital technologies, ICTs and /or exponential technology) ,your business idea must create measurable social impact, your idea must address livelihood challenges of communities at the bottom of the pyramid. For example, slum communities, villages, women etc.
Entry File Relative to the Project:
The format authorized is that of a file in PDF format of 10 Mb maximum.
Important to Note: The name of the said file must be strictly identical to the name of the Project mentioned in the first field of the entry form. The elements necessary to complete the Project File are as follows:
- Summary presentation of the Project: between 1,000 and 2,000 characters, outlining the social/environmental your ICT solution will address.
- Market analysis: segmentation, SWOT, competition, partners (financial, strategic etc).
- Identification of the market opportunity.
- Presentation of the product/service proposed.
- Information about the management team.
- Financial forecasts for three (3) years (business plan).
- Evaluation of the societal impact.
National Prizes:
1st Prize: Speed Box + Monthly subscription over a period of 6 months (fair usage policy applies), Certification and Material/Technical Assistance Cash Prize: SLL 100m.
2nd Prize: Speed Box + Monthly subscription over a period of 6 months (fair usage policy applies) and Certification.
3rd Prize: Speed Box + Monthly subscription over a period of 6 months (fair usage policy applies) and Certification.
For the remaining 2 Pitchers – Consolation Prizes: Speed Box + Monthly subscription over a period of 6 months (fair usage policy applies) and Certification each.
2nd Prize: Speed Box + Monthly subscription over a period of 6 months (fair usage policy applies) and Certification.
In the case of any difficulty, interested applicants are advised to forward their application to the below email address.
