Cascador Opens Applications for 2026 ScaleUp Program Targeting Africa’s Growth-Stage Founders
The Africa-focused accelerator is looking for 12 founders ready to scale, with access to up to $5 million in follow-on funding.
Cascador has opened applications for its 2026 ScaleUp Program. The Africa-focused accelerator is looking for 12 growth-stage founders to join an elite cohort designed to help them scale faster and raise more capital.
Applications close on June 15 while the program begins August 15.
The 12-week hybrid program combines two weeks of in-person sessions — including a kickoff and a live pitch day — with ten weeks of virtual learning for founders and their leadership teams. Selected founders will receive one-on-one support from investors, African and international experts, and strategic partners.
The pitch day carries a prize pool of $50,000.
Beyond the program itself, participants become eligible for follow-on funding through the Cascador Catalytic Fund. The fund deploys between $2 million and $5 million annually through local currency debt, equity, guarantees, and collateral investments, in partnership with Sterling Bank.
Cascador focuses on both technology-enabled ventures and real economy businesses. The program targets founders with proven traction who are on the cusp of significant scale.
The numbers behind the accelerator’s track record are notable. Since 2019, Cascador has supported 70 ventures that have collectively raised $125 million in capital. In 2025 alone, alumni created over 67,000 jobs and served more than 1.7 million customers.
“Entrepreneurs are the engines of change,” said Trish Thomas, CEO of Cascador. “This program is designed to empower impactful ventures on the cusp of scale for social good.”
Past alumni include Babatunde Akin-Moses of Sycamore, Joycee Awosika of ORÍKÌ, and Oluwaseyi Adefemi of Drive45 Mobility, who received N2 billion in funding in 2025 and won the Cascador Exemplary Award in 2024.
“The program challenged me to think bigger, refine my vision, and build systems that allow my business to grow sustainably,” Adefemi said.
The application process is two-stage. A preliminary application takes roughly 15 minutes to complete. Shortlisted candidates then move to a full application. Early applicants receive priority consideration, including personal interviews and early semi-finalist notification.
In-person open house events will be held on April 29 in Abuja and May 5 in Lagos, offering Q&A sessions with alumni and networking opportunities.
Further details and the application link for the Cascador 2026 ScaleUp Program are available here.
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