MONROVIA, LIBERIA – August 31, 2026: Orange Liberia Foundation, and the Orange Digital Center (ODC), has successfully concluded the 16th Edition of the Orange Social Venture Prize (OSVP) and the 8th National Pitching Competition in Liberia, celebrating a new generation of Liberian entrepreneurs whose innovative solutions are addressing critical challenges and creating opportunities across the country.
The national pitching and award ceremony was held on Friday, August 28, 2026, at Orange Icon 16, bringing together seven national finalists competing for four awards across a diverse range of sectors, including tourism, healthcare, financial inclusion, social innovation and entrepreneurship.
Unlike a competition defined solely by the final pitch, OSVP represents a broader investment in entrepreneurial talent. In the weeks leading up to the national pitching ceremony, finalists benefited from mentorship and preparation designed to strengthen their business propositions, sharpen their presentations, and prepare them to communicate the potential impact and sustainability of their ventures.
Speaking on Orange’s commitment to entrepreneurship development, Mrs. Uomah Brown Witherspoon, Senior Manager, Orange Liberia Foundation, emphasized that the Foundation’s investment in young entrepreneurs goes beyond financial awards.
“Our investment in young Liberian entrepreneurs goes far beyond the prize money. The real value of OSVP is in the journey—the mentorship, the guidance, the exposure, and the opportunity to connect young innovators with experienced professionals who can challenge their thinking and help them strengthen their businesses. By the time they arrive at the national pitch, we want them to be better prepared not only to compete, but to build ventures that can survive, grow and create meaningful impact.”
Through the Orange Digital Center, OSVP provides a platform where entrepreneurs can access training, mentorship, resources and networks that support innovation, digital skills development and entrepreneurship. The Orange Digital Center is designed to foster collaboration among startups, developers, students and local communities while building the digital and entrepreneurial capabilities needed to thrive in the modern economy.
Celebrating Liberia’s 2026 OSVP Winners
Following the national pitching competition, four ventures emerged as the 2026 national winners:
1st Place – Tuzee En Afrique – US$3,000
Founded by Mariama Tuzee Toure, Tuzee En Afrique is a tourism innovation initiative designed to make authentic and accessible tourism experiences in Liberia easier to discover and book. The venture connects travelers with verified local experiences, affordable packages and community-based cultural journeys.
The initiative seeks to strengthen the connection between tourism and local development by integrating communities into the tourism value chain and creating income opportunities for guides, creatives, small businesses and cultural practitioners.
2nd Place – EYE Liberia – US$2,000
Led by Benjamin Varney Jr., EYE Liberia is expanding access to affordable reading glasses for underserved communities, particularly adults aged 40 and above affected by presbyopia.
Its youth-led distribution model combines mobile outreach, digital engagement, trained vision agents and local pharmacy partnerships to bring quality-assured reading glasses closer to customers. The venture has already reached customers across multiple counties and is building a scalable last-mile optical distribution system.
3rd Place – VisEmpro – US$1,500
Founded by Abraham E. Bedell, VisEmpro is a mobile-first and web-based business management platform designed to help African small and medium-sized enterprises digitize their operations.
The platform brings employee management, attendance, sales, inventory and financial records together in one place, with offline functionality designed for low-connectivity environments. VisEmpro is already serving paying businesses and generating recurring revenue, positioning the venture for further growth.
National Women’s Prize – MamaCare Natural Soap – US$500
Founded by Maima David, MamaCare Natural Soap addresses limited access to safe and affordable hygiene products in underserved Liberian communities.
The venture produces antibacterial and beauty soaps using locally sourced ingredients and combines production with a women-led micro-distribution model. By training women and youth as resellers, MamaCare Natural Soap seeks to expand access to essential hygiene products while creating income-generating opportunities at the community level.
Beyond the Prize: New Opportunities for Collaboration
The impact of the 2026 competition extended beyond the official awards.
During the engagement surrounding the competition, Paul S. Wungko, technology executive and entrepreneur and Founder and CEO of Atexx, challenged three of the finalists—Kollekt, VisEmpro and Tuzee En Afrique—to explore how their respective capabilities could be brought together into a stronger, integrated business proposition.
Rather than pursuing their ventures in isolation, the three entrepreneurs were encouraged to consider how their complementary solutions could be combined into a collaborative model capable of addressing broader market opportunities. Mr. Wungko further offered to make available US$3,000 in funding toward the development of this venture, creating an additional pathway for the entrepreneurs to move from competition to collaboration and from pitching ideas to developing investable solutions.
The proposition reflects an important dimension of the OSVP experience: creating connections between entrepreneurs and experienced business leaders that can potentially unlock opportunities beyond the competition itself.
A Jury Bringing Experience, Strategy and Business Insight
The 2026 OSVP national jury brought together leaders with extensive experience across entrepreneurship, finance, technology, youth development, business strategy and organizational leadership.
Gerald D. Hodges, CEO of LEAD Monrovia Football Academy and Head Judge, brought more than 14 years of experience in Liberia's development sector, including youth development, entrepreneurship, career readiness and startup incubation.
Alomegnon Yao Klugan, FCCA, Senior Manager – Accounting & Tax at Orange Liberia, contributed extensive expertise in finance, governance, audit, taxation, business strategy and sustainable value creation.
Benjamin Dagher, CEO of Benjamin Management and Consulting Group and founder of the Youth Entrepreneurs Network-Liberia, brought experience in business advisory, entrepreneurship development, organizational management and youth SME support.
Marvin R. Tarawally, CEO of Smart Liberia, contributed more than 15 years of experience in youth development and entrepreneurship, alongside his academic and global fellowship experience in social innovation and leadership.
Paul S. Wungko, Founder and CEO of Atexx and founder of Wungko's Farm, brought expertise spanning technology, health information systems, digital infrastructure, agribusiness and enterprise development.
Uomah Brown Witherspoon, Senior Manager at Orange Liberia Foundation, contributed her experience in corporate partnerships, philanthropy, stakeholder engagement, project management and organizational leadership.
Wainright Y. Acquoi, CEO of TRIBE and a design and experience strategist, brought expertise in entrepreneurship, innovation, systems design and youth development across sectors including education, technology, health, commerce and governance.
Together, the jury provided the finalists with rigorous assessment and practical perspectives on business viability, innovation, sustainability, scalability and potential social impact.
Orange Liberia Foundation and Orange Digital Center extend their appreciation to each member of the jury for volunteering their expertise and time to support Liberia's emerging entrepreneurs.
Building on a Legacy of Innovation
Since its launch in Liberia, the Orange Social Venture Prize has continued to provide a platform for entrepreneurs developing solutions to real-world challenges. The international OSVP programme, launched by the Orange Group in 2011, identifies, supports and promotes startups that combine innovation with social and environmental responsibility across Africa and the Middle East.
The Liberia competition has produced a growing network of entrepreneurs whose ventures have contributed to the country's innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. Previous national winners include SMART Liberia, Trash-Off, AgriWATTS, JPalm, Munch Food, Eco-Soap Liberia, Ezy Market, New Breed Tech and Annita Online Store, among others.
The 2026 edition builds on that legacy by demonstrating that Liberian innovation is not confined to one sector or one type of solution. From tourism and healthcare to financial inclusion and locally produced hygiene products, this year's finalists demonstrated that entrepreneurship can be a powerful vehicle for addressing social challenges, creating economic opportunities and strengthening communities.
For Orange Liberia Foundation and the Orange Digital Center, the OSVP is therefore more than a competition. It is part of a broader commitment to identify talent, strengthen entrepreneurial capacity, connect innovators to opportunity and support the development of solutions that can contribute to Liberia's sustainable growth.
As Liberia's entrepreneurial ecosystem continues to evolve, the 2026 finalists represent a new generation of innovators turning challenges into opportunities—and demonstrating what is possible when talent is met with the right platforms, mentorship, networks and support.
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About the Orange Social Venture Prize
The Orange Social Venture Prize (OSVP) is an international competition for social enterprises in Africa and the Middle East, sponsored by the Orange Group since 2011. It aims to identify, support and promote startups that leverage social innovation to advance digital development in critical areas such as health, education, agriculture and e-commerce.
About Orange Digital Center
The Orange Digital Center is an initiative established by the Orange Group that promotes digital innovation, skills development and entrepreneurship. The centers provide training, mentorship and resources in areas including technology, coding, digital marketing and business development, while fostering collaboration among startups, developers, students and local communities.
About Orange Foundation
The Orange Foundation has been dedicated to philanthropic initiatives since 2005, supporting projects across Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia in communities where the Orange Group operates. Its work includes digital solidarity and initiatives in healthcare, disability inclusion, education and cultural enrichment.
About Orange Liberia
Orange Liberia is one of the leading telecommunications operators in Liberia, licensed by the Liberia Telecommunications Authority, with a commitment to supporting Liberia's development through impactful projects and initiatives. The company seeks to be the preferred Liberian multi-service operator and a partner of choice for digital, financial, energy and social inclusion while respecting ethics and the environment.