In a strategic move aimed at empowering African entrepreneurs, Orange Middle East and Africa has signed a three-year partnership with risingSUD, the economic development agency of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region in France. This collaboration is designed to help startups from the Orange Digital Centre network gain a foothold in the French and wider European markets, creating a new bridge between African innovation and European opportunity.
For the many African founders striving to scale their startups beyond borders, this initiative offers more than just logistical support, it represents recognition, resources and the chance to thrive on a global stage.
Connecting Two Continents Through Innovation
The heart of this initiative is deeply entrepreneurial. At a time when Africa’s startup scene is growing rapidly, many founders still face structural barriers when attempting to expand internationally, ranging from limited funding and infrastructure to lack of market access. By partnering with risingSUD, Orange is attempting to ease those burdens.
risingSUD brings to the table its strong roots in Southern France’s innovation ecosystem, home to more than 500,000 companies, including major international firms and a robust network of startups. The region has become a magnet for clean tech, biotech and digital enterprises. Now, with this partnership, it becomes a welcoming launchpad for African tech leaders.
For entrepreneurs like those supported by Orange’s Digital Centres, this is an unprecedented opportunity to connect with investors, peers and potential customers in one of Europe’s most economically active regions.
What the Orange Digital Centre Network Offers
Launched in 2021, the Orange Digital Centre (ODC) network is a pan-African and Middle Eastern initiative that offers training in digital skills, startup incubation, acceleration programs and access to funding. With centres in 17 countries across Africa and the Middle East and eight more in Europe, the ODCs have become vital hubs for nurturing young entrepreneurs.
The Orange Digital Centre embodies Orange’s commitment to using technology as a force for positive change. It aims to equip young people, regardless of their educational background, with essential digital skills, while also encouraging them to launch startups and become active contributors to their country’s digital future. By fostering entrepreneurship and local digital innovation, the initiative plays a key role in driving inclusive economic growth and supporting digital transformation across communities.
These centres are free and open to all, helping thousands of young people build technical and business capacities. For startups that reach a growth-ready stage, the next step is often internationalisation but this is where many get stuck.
The partnership with risingSUD aims to change that.
A Launchpad in the South of France
With this new collaboration, selected startups from the ODC network will receive hands-on support from risingSUD’s business development experts to establish themselves in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. That includes help with market entry strategy, legal and regulatory guidance, recruitment, financing and networking with local players.
One early success is the Tunisian startup Guépard, a graduate of the Orange Digital Centre in Tunisia, which successfully opened an office in Marseille with support from risingSUD. In 2024 alone, the agency facilitated the entry of 14 African companies into the region.
This isn’t just about business support, it’s about creating an ecosystem where African founders can operate as equals. By embedding themselves in the French tech scene, they not only access customers and capital but also develop valuable cross-cultural expertise that will serve them globally.
Why This Matters for African Startups
For many African startups, international expansion remains a steep climb. Despite having strong products and innovative teams, founders often lack the global networks needed to scale effectively. The Orange–risingSUD partnership changes that by providing:
- Access to European markets that are otherwise difficult to enter without support.
- Integration into a thriving business region where tech talent and capital are abundant.
- Tangible support structures, including legal and operational guidance, which are crucial for long-term sustainability.
Orange Ventures, the venture capital arm of the Orange Group, further boosts the ecosystem by offering co-investment opportunities, particularly through its collaboration with initiatives like Digital Africa’s Fuzé, which matches funding for eligible startups.
Moreover, the presence of a strong African diaspora and business interest in Francophone African countries makes Southern France a culturally and economically strategic entry point.
A Vision Rooted in Inclusion and Growth
“This partnership with risingSUD marks a key step in our ambition to promote African innovation internationally,” said Jérôme Hénique, CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa. “It is a continuation of the support we offer startups through our Orange Digital Centres. By facilitating their establishment and acceleration in France, particularly in the South region, we are giving young African companies the means to accelerate their growth.”
The initiative also holds promise for fostering more equitable global innovation flows. Rather than perpetuating brain drain or extractive investment patterns, the partnership allows African entrepreneurs to expand while staying rooted in their local economies and identities.
Building a Two-Way Innovation Corridor
While the focus is currently on helping African startups expand into Europe, the partnership is designed to foster long-term collaboration in both directions. French startups and talent will also benefit from access to Africa’s fast-growing digital economy through the ODC network.
This model of reciprocal growth aligns with broader trends in global innovation, where ecosystems are increasingly interconnected. For example, African fintech, health-tech and green tech startups are drawing interest from European investors and customers, while African markets offer huge potential for pilot testing, scale, and talent.
By embedding African entrepreneurs into the global conversation early and meaningfully, this partnership helps shape a more inclusive tech future.
Looking Ahead
The Orange and risingSUD partnership is still in its early stages but the framework is strong and the early signs are promising. As more African startups take their place in the European innovation ecosystem, their success stories could inspire a new generation of founders across the continent.
In the end, this is more than a business development initiative. It’s a strategic, human-centered effort to rebalance the global startup narrative, placing African talent, ideas and leadership at the center of innovation, not the margins.
For the founders in Orange’s network, it might just be the breakthrough they’ve been waiting for.
