Cascador ScaleUp Program 2026: Scale Your Business in Nigeria and Africa
Are you a founder in Nigeria or Sub-Saharan Africa with a growing business ready for the next big leap? The Cascador ScaleUp Program 2026 offers growth-stage founders a chance to build stronger leadership skills, sharpen business strategies, and prepare for major funding. This 12-week program targets companies with proven traction and helps them scale with confidence.
What Is the Cascador ScaleUp Program?
The Cascador ScaleUp Program supports founders who have already achieved market fit and meaningful traction. It runs for 12 weeks and mixes in-person events, virtual sessions, expert advice, and peer support. Founders work on leadership growth, operations, governance, and financial planning to handle larger capital responsibly.
Participants gain clear strategies, better networks, and readiness to raise $2-5 million in debt or equity from the Cascador Catalytic Fund. The program fits founders at the scale stage, where they need discipline and competitive edge to expand.
Who Can Apply?
Eligibility focuses on established businesses from Nigeria or other Sub-Saharan African countries. You must be a business founder or co-founder with at least two years of operation. Annual revenue needs to hit $70,000 USD or more, which equals about ₦100 million.
Full commitment to the program is key. Your operations should handle growth capital well, and you must show traction with proven market fit.
Key Program Benefits
This program provides real tools for scale. Travel, lodging, and meals cover in-person parts, so founders face no extra costs there. Each participant gets a $5,000 stipend for personal development.
Prizes total $50,000 at Pitch Day for top performers. Graduates qualify to apply for the Cascador Catalytic Fund, which offers $2-5 million USD each year. The mix of learning formats builds skills fast.
2026 Program Schedule
The timeline starts with remote prep from August 17-28. In-person kick-off happens in Lagos from August 31 to September 3. Site visits follow the week of September 7.
Weekly virtual education runs from September 14 to October 31. The program ends with an in-person intensive and Pitch Day in Lagos from November 2-6. Applications close on June 15, 2026, at 5 pm WAT.
How to Get Started
Visit the official Cascador website to apply now. Check the full details and submit before the deadline. This program equips founders to lead bigger teams and secure growth capital.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Cascador ScaleUp Program?
It’s a 12-week program for growth-stage founders in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa. It helps build leadership skills, business strategies, and prepares you for major funding.
Who can apply for the program?
Founders or co-founders from Nigeria or Sub-Saharan Africa with businesses operating at least two years, annual revenue of $70,000 USD or more, and proven market traction.
What benefits does the program provide?
It covers travel, lodging, and meals for in-person events, offers a $5,000 stipend, $50,000 in prizes, and access to $2-5 million from the Cascador Catalytic Fund.
What is the application deadline and program schedule?
Applications close on June 15, 2026, at 5 pm WAT. The program starts with remote prep on August 17-28, 2026, and ends with Pitch Day on November 2-6, 2026.