Applications are now open for the 2026 edition of the Cascador ScaleUp Program, a 12-week business and leadership development initiative designed for growth-stage African founders preparing to scale their companies and deploy growth capital effectively.
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The programme supports founders with practical business guidance, leadership development, investor readiness support, and access to funding opportunities through the Cascador Catalytic Fund, which deploys up to $5 million annually.
Founders selected for the programme will participate in in-person and virtual sessions focused on strengthening strategy, improving operational discipline, and preparing businesses for long-term sustainable growth.
About the Cascador ScaleUp Program
Cascador ScaleUp is built for founders who already have traction and are entering a critical growth phase in their business journey.
The programme combines bespoke business analysis, strategic guidance, leadership coaching, and practical learning experiences tailored to each company’s stage and challenges.
The programme is structured to help founders refine their business model, improve governance and financial discipline, strengthen leadership capacity, and prepare for capital deployment.
The initiative supports businesses across multiple sectors, including technology-enabled ventures and companies operating within the real economy.
What Selected Founders Will Gain
Founders chosen for the programme will receive support in three major areas including strategy, capital readiness, and leadership development.
- Receive a tailored business health check, strategy support, and guidance to improve operations and scale effectively.
- Gain fundraising readiness support, financial discipline training, sustainable growth planning, and access to Cascador’s annual $5 million capital pool.
- Connect with experienced founders, advisors, and investors through mentorship, networking opportunities, and practical leadership sessions.
Additional benefits attached to the programme, include:
- A $5,000 founder stipend awarded upon successful completion
- Access to tailored business guidance
- Eligibility for funding opportunities through Cascador
- $50,000 in pitch prizes during the in-person intensive and Pitch Day
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the 2026 Cascador ScaleUp Program, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Business must have operated for at least two years
- Company must generate at least $70,000 annual revenue
- Venture must be based in or operating within Sub-Saharan Africa
- Preference will be given to businesses with meaningful social impact
- Applicants must commit fully to the programme schedule and participation requirements
- The programme is best suited for ambitious founders with proven product-market fit, strong teams, and businesses capable of absorbing and deploying growth capital effectively.
2026 Program Schedule
The 2026 programme will run across several phases beginning in August.
- Pre-programme remote preparation: August 17 to 28
- In-person kickoff in Lagos: August 31 to September 3
- Site visits: Week of September 7
- Weekly virtual education sessions: September 14 to October 31
- In-person intensive and Pitch Day in Lagos: November 2 to 6
Application Process
The application process will begin with a short preliminary application estimated to take about 15 minutes.
Selected founders will then be invited to complete a full application. Semi-finalists will submit additional materials, including financial records, before finalists are invited for interviews.
Successful cohort participants will be notified by August 1.
The organisers advised interested founders to apply early, noting that early applications increase the chances of receiving an invitation to Pitch Day scheduled for June 3.
How to Apply
Interested founders can submit their applications through the official Cascador application portal https://cascador.org/apply-2026/.
