As of 1 April 2026, two flagship pan-African entrepreneurship competitions have simultaneously opened their application portals, offering tens of millions of francs CFA in potential funding for agri-food innovation and digital social enterprise across the continent.
The two programmes, the 9th edition of the Prix Pierre Castel and the 16th edition of the Orange Social Venture Prize for Africa and the Middle East (POESAM), are both currently accepting candidates. Their respective deadlines fall on 10 May 2026 for POESAM and 30 May 2026 for the Prix Pierre Castel. Spanning food systems, artificial intelligence, data and cybersecurity, the two initiatives together represent a significant combined funding and support opportunity for entrepreneurs across the continent.
Now in its ninth edition, the Prix Pierre Castel is open to enterprises across seven countries: Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The competition targets innovation within sustainable food systems, rewarding entrepreneurs working across agricultural production, processing, logistics and value chain development. The top pan-African winner stands to receive financial support of up to €35,000, equivalent to nearly CFA 23 million, alongside structured mentoring, coaching and access to strategic networks. Organisers describe the 2026 edition as “a lever for development,” aimed at entrepreneurs “who design sustainable solutions aligned with the economic, social and environmental realities of the African continent.” Candidates must demonstrate measurable impact, scalability and innovation grounded in real market needs.
Running its 16th edition, POESAM offers up to CFA 16 million in prize money to start-ups less than five years old, operating across 17 countries where Orange is present. The programme prioritises projects that leverage digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, data and cybersecurity, to deliver measurable social and environmental impact. Beyond prize money, selected participants benefit from incubation through the Orange Digital Centre and gain access to a network of investors and partners. Organisers say the initiative seeks to “identify, reward and support entrepreneurial projects using technology to address societal and environmental challenges.”
For Cameroon in particular, both competitions align closely with the priority sectors identified in the National Development Strategy (NDS30), which positions agro-industrial transformation, technological adoption and private sector growth as key drivers of economic expansion. The dual focus on agriculture, food systems and digital innovation directly mirrors these national development goals. Both programmes demand that applicants demonstrate innovation, measurable impact and scalability, while providing access to financing, mentorship and market networks. This structured support model is consistent with broader ongoing efforts to strengthen enterprise capacity, improve value chain integration and facilitate access to investment within Cameroon’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Mercy Fosoh
