Cascador has selected 10 Nigerian growth-stage companies for its 2026 ScaleUp Programme, choosing them from more than 1,000 applications for the 12-week accelerator, which kicked off this week.
The selected companies are Venco, SunFi, ColdHubs, EHA Clinics, Beauty Hut Africa, BEYOND Fitness, Ziba Beach Resort, Tulay Africa, Maanj Agric and Finger Chops, spanning proptech, clean energy, healthcare, beauty, wellness, tourism, minerals and food production.
Cascador’s offer to the 2026 cohort
Founders in the programme will receive one-on-one support from investors and international experts, along with leadership and strategy training. They 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, delivered in partnership with Sterling Bank.
The 12-week programme runs two weeks of in-person sessions, including a kickoff and pitch week, alongside 10 weeks of virtual sessions for founders and their leadership teams. It culminates in a Live Pitch Day, where founders will compete for a share of $50,000 in prizes.
Also read: Nigerian startups raised $113.7 million in disclosed funding in June 2026
Women lead 60% of this year’s cohort, and founders were drawn from five of Nigeria’s six regions, according to Cascador.
For Venco, the backing is about extending reach beyond Nigeria’s borders. “We’re incredibly proud to be part of Cascador’s 2026 ScaleUp Program,” said Chude Osiegbu, chief executive and co-founder of the proptech platform. “Our goal is to bring our secure and efficient technology platform to more communities across new cities and countries.”
Cascador frames the cohort as evidence of Nigeria’s real economy maturing. “The founders in our 2026 ScaleUp program reflect the ambition, resilience and entrepreneurial talent driving Nigeria’s economy forward,” said chief executive Trish Thomas. Their businesses, she said, are “already creating jobs, generating value and spurring growth across some of the country’s most important sectors.”
Meanwhile, Finger Chops’ inclusion traces a longer arc, from a catering business to a bakery supplying households, retailers and institutions.
“Being selected for Cascador’s 2026 ScaleUp Program brings us closer to making that vision a reality,” said chief executive Adenike (Oyebola) Fetuga, referring to plans to build “a leading African food manufacturing company rooted in quality, locally sourced products and operational excellence.”
Since 2019, Cascador has supported more than 70 ventures, which have collectively raised over $125 million in capital. In 2025 alone, the platform’s alumni delivered products and services to more than 1.7 million customers.
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