Africa: Orange, Risingsud Partner to Help African Startups Expand in France

16 June 2025
Daba Finance (Abidjan)

TLDR

  • Orange Middle East and Africa has signed a three-year strategic partnership with risingSUD
  • Startups from the Orange Digital Centre (ODC) network will receive customised support from risingSUD to establish a presence in southern France
  • The collaboration aims to connect innovation hubs across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, promoting cross-border entrepreneurship

Orange Middle East and Africa has signed a three-year strategic partnership with risingSUD, the regional development agency for Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur in southern France, to support African and Middle Eastern startups in scaling their operations in Europe.

Under the agreement, startups from the Orange Digital Centre (ODC) network--present in 17 countries across Africa and the Middle East--will receive customised support from risingSUD to establish a presence in southern France, home to over 500,000 companies and a growing tech ecosystem.

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The collaboration aims to connect innovation hubs across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, promoting cross-border entrepreneurship. Startups will benefit from business development support, access to funding, and international networks, with southern France serving as a springboard into the European market.

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Key Takeaways

This partnership reflects Orange's broader strategy to internationalise African innovation through its Orange Digital Centres, which offer training, incubation, acceleration, and startup financing in a unified model. The ODC program supports thousands of entrepreneurs annually, fostering tech-driven ecosystems on the continent. In 2024, risingSUD helped 14 African companies set up in southern France, including Guépard, a Tunisian startup from the Orange Digital Centre network that opened an office in Marseille. Through this new partnership, more startups are expected to follow, benefiting from France's business-friendly infrastructure, particularly in deeptech, climate innovation, and digital transformation. The agreement also enables reciprocal access: French startups and talent from the South region will gain entry into Orange's extensive innovation network in Africa and the Middle East, creating a two-way bridge for tech collaboration and investment.

Read the original article on Daba Finance.

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