At every stage of the innovation journey, there comes a moment when belief becomes just as important as technical skill; belief that an idea is worth building; belief that one’s perspective matters, and belief that even with limited resources or an unfinished solution, the next step is still worth taking.
For Edward Kamara, winner of the 2025 Orange Social Venture Prize (OSVP) in Sierra Leone and founder of MiBuks, that defining moment came through the Orange Social Venture Prize.
While reflecting on his experience, Kamara explained that before participating in OSVP, MiBuks was still an emerging concept driven by strong ambition and purpose but searching for the right environment to grow and scale responsibly.
According to him, the programme provided exactly that opportunity.
Like many young innovators, Kamara admitted he almost did not apply for the competition. Questions about whether his solution was ready, whether the impact was significant enough, and whether he truly belonged in a national competition nearly discouraged him from participating.
However, he said OSVP taught him an important lesson, the programme is not necessarily about perfection, but about potential.
“OSVP exists to support ideas that are still evolving, ideas that respond to real challenges and can create meaningful impact when given the right guidance,” he noted.
Kamara explained that through the programme, he gained more than recognition. He gained confidence, mentorship, clarity, and the courage to take MiBuks beyond what he had originally imagined.
MiBuks, developed by Millennial Sierra Leone, is a digital business management platform designed to help micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises manage their finances through practical digital tools. The platform enables businesses to record sales, expenses, inventory, and operational performance, even in areas with limited internet connectivity.
According to Kamara, many small businesses across Sierra Leone struggle to maintain reliable financial records, creating barriers to growth and limiting their ability to access financial services.
By transforming daily business transactions into trusted data, MiBuks helps entrepreneurs make informed decisions and build credibility.
Winning the 2025 OSVP, he said, became a major turning point for the organisation. It encouraged the team to critically assess whether the platform was truly reaching the people it intended to serve, especially outside urban centres.
These reflections eventually led the company from ambition to implementation.
Following the competition, MiBuks was officially launched on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Continuous improvements were also introduced based on direct user feedback.
Today, the platform reportedly supports over 2,379 users across all 16 districts of Sierra Leone, including remote areas such as Falaba District.
Kamara said this nationwide reach reinforces a principle that continues to guide the organisation’s work that meaningful innovation must remain inclusive and accessible regardless of location.
He further disclosed that the financial and mentorship support received through OSVP enabled MiBuks to grow in a sustainable and responsible manner.
With the prize funding, the company strengthened its technical infrastructure, expanded its development team, and transformed MiBuks from a minimum viable product into a more stable and scalable solution. Additional language support, including Arabic, was introduced, alongside a branch management feature designed for businesses operating in multiple locations.
Beyond technological advancement, Kamara emphasized that OSVP also reshaped how the company understands impact and opportunity.
MiBuks is currently finalizing a partnership with Kakebo Financial Services to pilot access to credit for users in Kenema District. Through the initiative, businesses will be able to use verified transaction data to support financing applications.
According to Kamara, this is where innovation creates real value not through complexity, but through enabling opportunity and expanding financial inclusion.
He added that MiBuks is gradually evolving beyond bookkeeping into a platform capable of supporting long-term business visibility, financial inclusion, and economic growth.
Kamara also stated that the OSVP experience significantly influenced his leadership approach and deepened his commitment to collaboration and mentorship. He now actively supports young entrepreneurs and early-stage founders who are still building confidence in their ideas.
As applications officially open for the 8th edition of the Orange Social Venture Prize (OSVP) 2026, entrepreneurs across Sierra Leone are being encouraged to submit projects capable of addressing real societal challenges.
Applications for the competition run from March 26 to May 17, 2026.
The competition offers several prizes, including SLE 200,000 for the National Winner in Sierra Leone, SLE 120,000 for the Tech Queen Women’s Category, international prizes ranging from €10,000 to €25,000, and an International Women’s Prize worth €20,000.
Kamara encouraged aspiring innovators not to underestimate the potential of their ideas, even when uncertainty exists.
“Progress often begins with the simple decision to take part,” he said, while expressing hope that OSVP 2026 could become the turning point for another young innovator in Sierra Leone.
“OSVP changed my life. It might just change yours too,” he concluded.