Orange, risingSUD Partner to Help African Startups Expand in France
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.
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.
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