Tunisia has announced the national winners of POESAM 2025, highlighting a new generation of entrepreneurs whose technology-driven solutions are creating measurable social, environmental and economic impact across Africa and the Middle East. Now in its 15th edition, the Orange Social Venture Prize continues to reward innovation and social entrepreneurship, empowering founders who are building solutions that address pressing challenges in climate, agriculture, aquaculture, education and women’s empowerment.
This year, three Tunisian startups stood out for their high-impact initiatives. ProVerdy, the first prize winner, is a ClimateTech startup that has developed a smart platform to help businesses measure, manage and reduce their environmental footprint. Using advanced AI, ProVerdy simplifies carbon accounting and provides tailored recommendations for lowering greenhouse gas emissions while optimizing costs. The platform is user-friendly, requiring no prior expertise and supports businesses of all sizes in complying with environmental regulations. By enabling companies to track and reduce their carbon output effectively, ProVerdy contributes to a greener transition while creating economic and environmental value for its users.
The second prize went to Ecofeed, an AgriTech startup transforming agricultural and marine by-products into sustainable livestock feed. Ecofeed addresses critical challenges in food production and waste management by creating solutions that reduce environmental strain while enhancing the sustainability of livestock farming. By converting materials that would otherwise go to waste into valuable, nutritious feed, Ecofeed promotes circular economy practices and helps farmers adopt more environmentally responsible methods, driving both efficiency and ecological stewardship.
ExypnoTech, awarded third prize, is an AquaTech venture reshaping the aquaculture sector through a connected buoy that integrates IoT and AI technologies. The startup empowers fish farmers to optimize efficiency, monitor water quality, improve feed management and detect diseases early, reducing losses and minimizing environmental impact. With a focus on sustainable growth, increased productivity and ecosystem protection, ExypnoTech exemplifies how technology can transform traditional industries. By helping farmers maximize yields while preserving aquatic ecosystems, the startup contributes to global food security and the responsible management of natural resources.
In addition to these national winners, POESAM 2025 also recognized women entrepreneurs, highlighting their role in driving innovation and social change. The National Women’s Award was presented to Jihene Touati for her EdTech project, Arzaak, which supports women with limited or no formal education in Africa and the Arab world. Through online training, personalized guidance and an AI-powered marketplace, Arzaak enables women to transform creative talents into sustainable income. This initiative, organized in partnership with UNDP Tunisia, underscores the importance of empowering women entrepreneurs who are actively reshaping their communities and driving inclusive economic growth.
The 15th edition of POESAM was hosted on September 9 at the Orange Maroc headquarters, showcasing a competitive and dynamic platform for social entrepreneurship. This year, 11 exceptional finalists were selected from over 380 startup applications, demonstrating the breadth and depth of innovation emerging from the region. Participants competed not only for recognition but also for funding of up to €25,000, designed to help them scale their impact and accelerate the growth of their ventures.
POESAM 2025 emphasizes the role of entrepreneurship in achieving sustainable development in Africa and the Middle East. By bringing together tech-driven solutions, visionary founders and supportive partners, the initiative creates a space where innovation translates into tangible results. From climate action and sustainable agriculture to aquaculture and women’s economic empowerment, the winners of this year’s edition exemplify how entrepreneurial talent can address real-world challenges while generating positive social and environmental outcomes.
The impact of initiatives like POESAM extends beyond individual startups. By connecting founders with mentorship, funding and a broader ecosystem, the program nurtures the next generation of changemakers who will continue to drive progress across multiple sectors. It encourages collaboration, knowledge sharing and the adoption of innovative technologies, all of which strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem and contribute to long-term sustainable growth.
Congratulations to Souha Bejaoui, Malak Boukthir, Kharroubi Fehmi, and Jihene Touati for their inspiring projects, which demonstrate the transformative power of innovation in service of society. POESAM 2025 proves once again that with the right support, vision and dedication, entrepreneurs can create meaningful change that benefits communities, industries and the environment, setting a benchmark for future editions of the prize.
