Cascador has chosen 10 Nigerian growth-stage businesses for its 2026 ScaleUp Programme, narrowing the field from more than 1,000 applications to a cohort focused on companies already operating across key parts of the real economy.
The 12-week accelerator began this week and brings together businesses working in areas including property technology, clean energy, healthcare, beauty, fitness, tourism, minerals and food production.
Ten Companies Join the 2026 Cohort
The selected businesses are Venco, SunFi, ColdHubs, EHA Clinics, Beauty Hut Africa, BEYOND Fitness, Ziba Beach Resort, Tulay Africa, Maanj Agric and Finger Chops.
Cascador said the selection reflects the growing range of Nigerian businesses developing commercial solutions while creating employment and serving consumers across important economic sectors.
The cohort also has a notable gender balance, with women leading 60% of the participating companies.
Founders were selected from five of Nigeria’s six geopolitical regions.
Founders to Receive Investor and Expert Support
The programme is designed to help established businesses move into their next phase of growth rather than simply provide early-stage startup training.
Participating founders will receive individual support from investors and international experts, as well as training focused on leadership, strategy and business growth.
Companies in the cohort will also have an opportunity to access additional capital through Cascador’s Catalytic Fund.
The fund can deploy as much as $5 million annually through a combination of local-currency debt, equity and guarantees.
The financing is being delivered in partnership with Sterling Bank, giving participating companies a potential route to follow-on capital as they scale.
Programme Combines Physical and Online Sessions
Cascador has structured the accelerator around both physical and virtual engagements.
The 12-week programme includes two weeks of in-person activities, covering the kickoff and pitch week, while another 10 weeks will be delivered virtually for founders and members of their leadership teams.
The programme will conclude with a Live Pitch Day.
At the event, participating founders will compete for a combined $50,000 in prize money.
Venco Wants to Take Its Technology Beyond Nigeria
For some companies, the programme represents an opportunity to accelerate domestic expansion.
For Venco, however, the ambition extends beyond Nigeria.
Chude Osiegbu, chief executive and co-founder of the proptech company, said the team wants to use the opportunity to expand its technology platform into additional cities and countries.
Venco’s platform is designed to make property-related processes more secure and efficient, and Osiegbu said the company wants to take those capabilities to more communities outside its existing market.
Finger Chops Eyes Bigger Food Manufacturing Ambition
Finger Chops brings a different growth story to the cohort.
The company has developed from a catering operation into a bakery serving households, retailers and institutions.
Its participation in the ScaleUp Programme is expected to support its longer-term ambition of becoming a major African food manufacturing business.
Chief executive Adenike (Oyebola) Fetuga said the opportunity moves the company closer to building a business centred on quality, locally sourced ingredients and stronger operational standards.
The company’s trajectory also highlights the type of established, real-sector businesses Cascador is targeting through the programme.
Cascador Points to the Real Economy as a Growth Opportunity
Cascador chief executive Trish Thomas said the latest cohort demonstrates the entrepreneurial capacity developing across Nigeria’s economy.
According to Thomas, the selected founders represent the ambition and resilience of entrepreneurs building businesses that are already creating jobs, generating economic value and supporting growth in strategically important sectors.
Rather than focusing solely on technology companies pursuing rapid digital expansion, the programme includes businesses operating in industries directly connected to everyday economic activity.
Programme Builds on Cascador’s Existing Track Record
The 2026 programme adds to Cascador’s longer-term efforts to help Nigerian businesses scale.
Since 2019, the organisation says it has supported more than 70 ventures.
Those businesses have collectively raised more than $125 million in capital.
Cascador also reported that its alumni delivered products and services to more than 1.7 million customers in 2025 alone, providing an indication of the commercial reach achieved by companies that have passed through its programmes.
What Happens Next for the Cohort?
The 10 companies will now go through the 12-week ScaleUp Programme, combining expert guidance, leadership development, investor engagement and strategic support.
The Live Pitch Day will provide the cohort with another opportunity to attract attention and compete for $50,000 in prizes, while qualifying businesses could potentially pursue additional financing through Cascador’s Catalytic Fund.
For the participating companies, the larger objective will be turning the programme’s mentorship and financing opportunities into measurable expansion, stronger operations and access to new markets.
Summary
Cascador has selected 10 Nigerian growth-stage companies from more than 1,000 applicants for its 2026 ScaleUp Programme.
The cohort spans sectors ranging from proptech and clean energy to healthcare, tourism, agriculture and food manufacturing.
With women leading 60% of the selected businesses and founders representing five of Nigeria’s six regions, the programme is also highlighting the geographical and gender diversity of the country’s growing business ecosystem.
The initiative combines 12 weeks of training and expert support with potential access to follow-on funding, as Cascador seeks to help established Nigerian businesses expand their operations and reach new markets.
