With a diverse portfolio featuring companies like Terragon, SudPay, Gebeya, Julaya, Chari, and Yoco, Orange Ventures Africa stands as a prominent player in Africa’s corporate venture capital scene.
Launched in 2015, Orange Ventures focuses on investing in startups that align with the strategic priorities of its parent company, the Orange Group. Managing €350 million in assets, the fund recently partnered with Digital Africa to co-invest in innovative African startups.
During the GITEX Morocco event, Brelotte Ba, Deputy CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa, discussed Orange Ventures’ investment approach and strategic vision for Africa.
Goals and Approach
Orange Ventures’ mission goes beyond funding startups—it aims to provide operational and strategic support. With a presence in 18 countries and extensive assets, the group leverages its telecommunications infrastructure to foster synergies with the startups it backs. Ba highlighted the diversity of Africa’s startup ecosystem and Orange’s ability to connect startups with its extensive network, spanning activities like sales, tower-building, and fintech operations.
What sets Orange Ventures apart is its holistic approach: “We’re not just financial investors; we nurture, guide, and integrate startups into our ecosystem,” said Ba. Orange serves over 153 million customers in 17 African markets, offering unparalleled access to a vast consumer base.
Trends Shaping Africa’s Startup Landscape
Ba noted that Orange defines itself as a “multi-service operator,” operating beyond telecommunications to address Africa’s challenges, including financial inclusion and energy access. Investments exceed €1 billion annually to expand coverage and deploy 4G and 5G networks.
Initiatives like Orange Money, which supports 9 million users with 800 million transactions monthly, and Orange Energy, providing solar home systems to 300,000 households, reflect the group’s commitment to solving critical challenges. Additionally, their new super app, Max It, combines telecom services with a digital marketplace.
Orange Ventures is also closely watching trends such as AI, digital customer care, and logistics as key growth areas for startups across the continent.
Investment and Exit Strategies
Orange Ventures evaluates potential investments based on four key metrics: market potential, team capability, technology, and timing. While the group is a long-term investor, exit strategies are coordinated with startup management to align with market dynamics and business priorities.
Ba emphasized the importance of collaboration, saying, “We work with startups to define exit conditions and adapt to their evolving needs while prioritizing long-term partnerships.”
Encouraging Corporate Involvement in Venture Capital
Ba expressed optimism about Africa’s potential to develop multiple innovation hubs, noting that ecosystems in countries like South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, and Egypt are already thriving. He also highlighted the rapid adoption of advanced technologies like 5G as a testament to the continent’s growing innovation capacity.
Reflecting on Orange’s 30 years in Africa, Ba reaffirmed the company’s confidence in the region’s dynamic growth and future potential, stating that the next decade could see multiple “Silicon Valleys” emerge across the continent.
