On Friday, 26th September 2025, Orange Corners South Sudan hosted the second edition of the Orange Corners Innovation Fund (OCIF) Pitch Competition in Juba. In South Sudan, the initiative is implemented by the Foundation for Youth Initiative (FYI), in partnership with BizEx Ltd and the Cooperative Bank of South Sudan.
Orange Corners South Sudan equips emerging entrepreneurs with six months of intensive training, followed by mentorship, financial literacy training and access to grants and loans through OCIF. This combination enables young innovators to build sustainable businesses that create jobs and contribute to community development.
The second edition of the OCIF Pitch Competition brought together 24 ambitious entrepreneurs, each presenting bold ideas to transform South Sudan’s economic landscape. After a day of inspiring pitches judged by an independent panel of jurors, seven winners were awarded grants:
- 1st grand prize – € 30,000
- 2nd place – € 15,000 each
- 3rd place – € 7,500 each
The event was enriched by distinguished guests and stakeholders, including Arend van Vuren, First Secretary Development Cooperation at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in South Sudan, representatives from BizEx Ltd. the Cooperative Bank of South Sudan and other key partners. Their presence highlighted the importance of investing in youth-led innovation.
Congratulations to all winners and participants: your innovation, passion and vision demonstrate that South Sudan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is full of promise and potential!
