Orange issued calls for applications for the national phase of its social venture prize in Burkina Faso, on March 28, 2022. It received over 500 applications but only ten were selected to present their projects to the jury. 

Last Friday, September 2, Burkinabe startup AINO Digital SAS’ digital identity project Sauvie won the first prize in the national phase of the Orange Social Venture Prize (POESAM) in Ouagadougou. The startup, founded by Scarlett Zongo (photo, left), thus won a check of XOF2 million. The second (Diabète contrôle) and third (Alliance Pharma) winners went home with respective checks of XOF1.5 million and XOF1 million. 

The digital identity project, which won the first prize, is a bracelet with an ornament that is embedded with a QR Code. The QR code contains the wearer’s health information and emergency contacts. It, therefore, gives all the information needed to receive first aid when the need arises. 

“We started working on the project in 2018 and finally launched it in February 2022. Since its launch, we have received important support from the national fire agency and the Ministries of Defence and Territorial Administration. We were able to work with those institutions to fine-tune Sauvie so that it can be able to address the issues faced by our societies,”  indicated Scarlett Zongo.

Orange launched its POESAM awards, twelve years ago, to support startups that offer useful solutions to the population. This year, Burkina Faso has organized its fifth national phase, receiving more than 500 applications.  During the national phase, a  women entrepreneurs prize was also awarded. It was received by the founder of Women Health, who won a check of XOF1.5 million and one year of mentoring at the Orange Digital Center. 

Let's note that the three winners of the national POESAM edition will take part in the international phase against the winners of sixteen other countries. 

Adoni Conrad Quenum