Cascador has launched applications for its 2026 ScaleUp programme, targeting 12 growth-stage startups across Africa with a $5 million annual capital pipeline. The initiative will support ventures in agriculture, manufacturing, logistics and healthcare through its Catalytic Fund, offering flexible funding, leadership development and strategic guidance. Unlike typical tech-focused accelerators, Cascador prioritises real-economy businesses—both traditional and technology-enabled—that demonstrate proven traction. Trish Thomas, chief executive officer of Cascador, said entrepreneurs are "the engines of change" and that the programme is built to back founders transforming communities and markets.
Amanda Etuk, programme director, told BusinessDay the African startup ecosystem has skewed support toward purely tech ventures, leaving gaps in sectors critical to job creation and economic growth. She stressed that businesses in the real economy may not fit the traditional venture capital mould but are vital to supply chains and development. The 2026 cohort will receive training to navigate foreign exchange volatility, funding shortages and rising operational costs. Since 2019, Cascador has backed 70 ventures that raised $125 million collectively and created over 67,000 jobs in 2025 alone. David DeLucia, co-founder, said the programme helps entrepreneurs overcome structural barriers to scaling in Africa. Applications close on June 15, with the cohort set to begin training August 15. Open-house sessions will be held in Abuja and Lagos.
Cascador is betting on founders few investors trust—those building outside Silicon Valley-style tech bubbles. By focusing on real-economy startups that already have traction, not just potential, the $5 million pipeline challenges the myth that only app-based models can scale. This isn't charity capital: 70 ventures have already pulled in $125 million, proving that when real businesses get real support, they deliver jobs and revenue. For Nigeria, where agriculture and logistics remain underfunded despite their economic weight, Cascador's model could shift how investors define what's "investable."
