Among all the horrors unfolding in the East of DR Congo, Ingenious City – implementing partner for Orange Corners DRC – has been able to provide glimmer of hope: 2025 marks the opening of two new satellite hubs in Goma (North Kivu) and Kolwezi (Lualaba).
With DRC being the second largest country on the African continent, it’s imminent that a programme solely in the capital city of Kinshasa is not enough. Since the start of Orange Corners in the country, the programme was offered in hybrid form, to make sure entrepreneurs from all over the country could participate. However, this posed challenges for the participants outside of Kinshasa, who couldn’t make use of the hub and couldn’t connect as easily with their fellow entrepreneurs.
The extension of Orange Corners in 2024 was therefore a good moment in time to decide on an expansion to two new regions. In the end of 2024, Geerten Schurink (OCHQ), Francis Wilanga (NL Embassy in Kinshasa) and Shary Lima (Ingenious City) travelled to Kolwezi, Lubumbashi, Goma and Bukavu to identify which cities were most suitable for expansion.
In February 2025, the new cohort was selected and started their bootcamp in all three hubs.
Goma
The city of Goma is the capital of the North Kivu region, an area that’s unfortunately afflicted by the conflict with the M23 rebels. At the same time, the city is home to a young population that has become resilient to a challenging environment. Entrepreneurs turn these challenges into possibilities and aren’t backing away. The area is rich in natural resources and agricultural opportunities that can be grasped by starting businesses.
This resilience is showcased by Orange Corners partner Wakisha Holding, that started the bootcamp programme amidst all that’s happening in the region. In the words of Lucien Azmayawa, the pogramme manager of the OC hub in Goma: “In Goma, we live with constant insecurity, but it doesn’t stop our determination to build and innovate. Orange Corners brings a breath of hope to our entrepreneurial ecosystem. The programme equips us to turn our ideas into real solutions, even in a challenging context.”
The presence of Orange Corners, despite a complex and constantly evolving local context, actively contributes to strengthening community resilience. It’s also in line with the aim of the Congolese authorities who, while firmly condemning the occupation of certain regions by armed groups, recognise the importance of maintaining a humanitarian presence and development efforts to support affected populations.
Kolwezi
Kolwezi is the capital city of Lualaba, a region that is most famous for its thriving mining sector. Kolwezi is also known as the world capital of cobalt. Located in the heart of the Lualaba region, within the Katanga Copperbelt, the city plays a central role in the extraction of two strategic minerals: copper and cobalt. The city is currently mainly dependent on its mining practices, so is in high need of economic diversification. Orange Corners, together with its new partner La Création Hub aspires to support young entrepreneurs in creating this diversification, offering services and employment to the population.
According to Gédéon Ngoma, programme manager of the OC hub in Kolwezi: “The expansion of Orange Corners to Kolwezi marks a turning point for the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. By providing young innovators with access to training, mentorship and funding, it fosters sustainable business growth and strengthens the city’s economic foundation. We’re confident that this initiative will empower entrepreneurs to scale their startups into profitable, high-impact ventures, driving progress and prosperity in Kolwezi, the DR Congo, and beyond.”
Thanks to our proven methodology and strong local presence, Orange Corners can play a key role in fostering alternative economic hubs and anchoring youth entrepreneurship along the Lobito Corridor. This approach aligns well with the objectives of the EU Global Gateway strategy, which aims to strengthen local value chains and reduce dependence on raw materials. By supporting youth entrepreneurship in sectors such as agribusiness, renewable energy, green logistics, digital services and the circular economy, Orange Corners can contribute to the emergence of a diversified and resilient economic fabric.
With this expansion, Orange Corners DRC aims to offer entrepreneurs throughout the vast country the opportunity to develop theirs business and their skills. Especially now, in the most challenging times in the country.
