Cascador, a Nigeria-focused platform for growth-stage entrepreneurs, has selected 10 Nigerian companies for its 2026 ScaleUp Program, a 12-week accelerator focused on helping businesses sharpen their strategy and prepare for their next stage of growth.

The selected companies operate across sectors, including proptech, clean energy, agriculture, healthcare, beauty and wellness, tourism, minerals and food production, and were chosen from more than 1,000 applicants, according to the company.

This marks Cascador’s latest effort to build a pipeline of Nigerian businesses ready to scale but still require capital and leadership support. It comes two weeks after Cascador partnered with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Youth Development (FMYD) through the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA) to launch a program to help youth entrepreneurs build stronger businesses.  

“The next chapter of Nigeria’s entrepreneurial story will be about what happens when proven businesses get the support they need to scale,” said David DeLucia, Co-Founder of Cascador. “That is the opportunity this cohort brings, where visionaries, innovators and impact-driven leaders can grow their businesses sustainably with lasting economic value.”  

The selected businesses include Venco, a digital platform for managing payments, utilities, communications and operations in multi-tenanted communities; SunFi, a clean energy financing platform; ColdHubs, which operates solar-powered cold storage to help farmers, traders and food businesses reduce post-harvest losses; EHA Clinics, a healthcare company providing integrated primary care, digital, pharmacy and home-care services; and Beauty Hut Africa, a technology-enabled beauty retail and distribution company.

Others are BEYOND Fitness, a wellness company; Ziba Beach Resort, an experience-led leisure and tourism business; Tulay Africa, which connects global industrial buyers with African producers of export-grade critical minerals; Maanj Agric, which connects smallholder farmers to financing; and Finger Chops, a bakery producing and distributing bread to households across Nigeria.

The 10 companies selected for the 2026 ScaleUp Program will go through a 12-week hybrid programme that combines two weeks of in-person sessions with 10 weeks of virtual sessions for founders and their leadership teams.

The in-person component will include the programme kickoff and pitch week, while participants will receive one-on-one support from investors, African and international experts, and strategic partners.

“The founders in our 2026 ScaleUp program reflect the ambition, resilience and entrepreneurial talent driving Nigeria’s economy forward,” said Trish Thomas, chief executive officer of Cascador. “Their businesses are already creating jobs, generating value and spurring growth across some of the country’s most important sectors. Our focus now is helping them scale further and unlock their full potential, giving them the training, mentorship, networks and leadership skills needed to power their next phase of growth.”

In an interview with TechCabal in April, the company noted that founders will undergo detailed assessments of their businesses across areas including finance, operations, legal and technology over the 12 weeks, allowing Cascador to identify gaps that could limit their growth. Cascador said that this support is tailored to each company rather than being generic. 

The programme is also designed to give founders access to Cascador’s network of advisors, venture capital firms, strategic partners and banking relationships. By the end of the program, founders are expected to have a clearer customer focus and stronger business operation models, the company noted. 

Selected businesses will also be eligible for follow-on funding through Cascador’s Catalytic Fund, which deploys up to $5 million annually in growth capital through local-currency debt, equity and guarantees. The programme will end with a live Pitch Day, where participants will compete for $50,000 in awards.

Since launching operations in 2019, Cascador said it has supported over 70 ventures that have collectively raised $125 million in capital. Cascador’s past cohorts include digital lending platform Sycamore, energy company Koolboks, mobility and logistics solutions Fex Delivery and Drive45 Mobility, and payments infrastructure provider Lenco.    

Cascador plans to run another ScaleUp cohort in spring 2027, with applications expected to open in November 2026.

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