Cascador
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersLekki, Nigeria
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Cascador firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cascador
- Legal name
- Cascador / Empowering Economic Growth Foundation
- Website
- https://cascador.org/
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cascador industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Startup Accelerator
- NAICS
- Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate & Leadership Development (BPACANAA)
Keywords
Where Cascador is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lekki
- HQ country
- Nigeria
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cascador business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Not applicable (Non-profit): Cascador is described as a not-for-profit organization and entrepreneurial development program. Revenue generation is not the primary objective; instead, the organization focuses on deploying catalytic capital to entrepreneurs through its Catalytic Fund.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Program participation is free with stipend |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Cascador product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cascador runs a not-for-profit accelerator platform that provides a 12-week hybrid ScaleUp Program delivering leadership development, strategic guidance, and mentorship to growth-stage African founders with proven traction. It supplements the program with a Catalytic Fund deploying $2M-$5M annually in debt, equity, guarantees, and hybrid financing to alumni companies through a Sterling Bank partnership, and an annual Pitch Day event that connects alumni with investors and lenders. Program participation is provided at no charge, with a $5,000 professional development stipend awarded to participants.
Product overview
Cascador is an Africa-focused platform for growth-stage founders comprising interconnected products and services. The core offering includes the ScaleUp Program, a 12-week hybrid accelerator providing leadership development, strategic guidance, and network access; the Catalytic Fund, a $2M-$5M annual capital deployment vehicle offering debt, equity, and hybrid financing; and Pitch Day, an annual showcase event where alumni present to investors. The platform is complemented by an Alumni Network providing ongoing support and capital access, a Media Center for news and resources, and an Our Impact Dashboard tracking collective outcomes. Additional offerings include a free online course on starting a company and an online application system for program admissions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ScaleUp Program: Cascador's flagship 12-week hybrid program for growth-stage founders focusing on leadership development, strategic guidance, and access to capital.
- Catalytic Fund
- Pitch Day
Products and services
- ScaleUp Program A 12-week intensive hybrid accelerator program (2 weeks in-person sessions including kickoff and pitch week, plus 10 weeks of virtual sessions) for growth-stage founders with proven traction. The program provides bespoke 1:1 support from investors and strategic partners, leadership development, strategic guidance, and network access. Up to three executive members from each company are eligible to participate.
- Catalytic Fund A growth capital fund deploying $2M to $5M annually through tailored financing solutions including debt, equity, guarantees, and collateral investments. Available exclusively to ScaleUp alumni, structured in partnership with Sterling Bank to meet the specific needs of growth-stage businesses with reduced collateral requirements and tailored repayment terms.
- Pitch Day An annual capital deployment event where selected alumni present their ventures to a distinguished panel of judges, investors, and lenders. The event features funding announcements and prize awards including the NSIA Prize for Innovation and Best Pitch awards totaling $20,000 in prizes, with 300+ investors, lenders, mentors, and ecosystem builders in attendance.
- Alumni Network Ongoing alumni engagement platform providing continued access to support, visibility, strategic introductions, and pathways to capital for program graduates. Alumni are eligible to apply to the Catalytic Fund and participate in annual Pitch Day events. The network includes 70+ founders supported since 2019.
Quantifiable outcome
- Alumni companies have raised $125M+ cumulatively since 2019
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Cascador
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Cascador technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Cascador partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- United States Diplomatic Mission in NigeriaminorThe U.S. Consular General used Cascador's Pitch Day as a platform to reaffirm America's commitment to Nigeria as a commercial partner. The Mission hosted the 2025 VIP Reception following Pitch Day.
- Lagos Business SchoolcoreLagos Business School serves as the venue for in-person program residencies including the week-long residency component of the ScaleUp Program. Chidi Okoro serves as both Strategy Head at Lagos Business School and Executive Director of Cascador, creating an institutional link.
- Future AfricaminorFuture Africa is a partner organization supporting Cascador's ecosystem. Iyin Aboyeji, founder of Future Africa, serves on the Investment Committee and judging panel for Pitch Day.
- VerrakiminorVerraki is listed as a partner organization supporting Cascador's ecosystem and founders.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Cascador competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Co-creation Hub (CcHUB): Nigeria-based innovation hub providing programs, capital, and workspace to African entrepreneurs. Closely comparable Lagos-rooted ecosystem-builder positioning, though broader in scope (incubation, research, policy) than Cascador's growth-stage focus.
- Founders Factory Africa: Pan-African venture builder and accelerator providing investment, operational support, and network access to African startups. Comparable African focus and accelerator-plus-capital model, though structured as a venture builder rather than cohort accelerator.
- MEST Africa: Pan-African entrepreneur training program and seed fund headquartered in Accra with hubs across Africa, providing 12-month training plus $50K-$250K seed funding — a closely comparable model combining capability building with catalytic capital.
- Westerwelle Foundation: German-based foundation operating emerging market entrepreneurship programs in Tunisia and other African/Latin American markets. Provides training and capacity building to growth-stage founders — closely comparable foundation-led accelerator model.
- Sinapis: Africa-focused entrepreneurship accelerator providing training, mentorship, and capital to growth-stage African entrepreneurs. Comparable mission and accelerator-plus-capital model with East African (Kenya) presence.
- Seedstars: Global emerging markets accelerator active across 30+ African countries, providing training, competition, and investment to early-stage startups. Comparable African footprint and accelerator-plus-capital model, though earlier-stage focus.
- ARM Labs Lagos Techstars Accelerator: Lagos-based accelerator run by ARM and Techstars providing a 13-week mentorship-driven program with $120K investment. Directly comparable to Cascador's Lagos-centric, mid-stage founder focus — notably, Cascador's new COO previously led this program.
- Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme: Pan-African entrepreneurship program providing training, mentorship, and seed capital ($5,000) to African entrepreneurs. Highly comparable to Cascador in mission, structure, and pan-African focus, though TEF accepts a broader range of stages.
Others
- African Leadership Academy: Pan-African institution developing ethical African leaders through secondary and post-secondary programs. Thematically aligned with Cascador's leadership development mandate, but targets younger students rather than growth-stage founders.
Broad incumbents
- Y Combinator: Global leading accelerator providing seed investment, mentorship, and networking in exchange for equity. Operates a for-profit model that African founders join remotely; broader in stage and geography but a comparable accelerator-plus-capital archetype.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Cascador social profiles
Digital presenceCascador financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cascador leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Cascador funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cascador M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments35 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cascador
What does Cascador do?
Cascador runs a not-for-profit accelerator platform that provides a 12-week hybrid ScaleUp Program delivering leadership development, strategic guidance, and mentorship to growth-stage African founders with proven traction. It supplements the program with a Catalytic Fund deploying $2M-$5M annually in debt, equity, guarantees, and hybrid financing to alumni companies through a Sterling Bank partnership, and an annual Pitch Day event that connects alumni with investors and lenders. Program participation is provided at no charge, with a $5,000 professional development stipend awarded to participants.
Is Cascador a public or private company?
Cascador is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Cascador founded?
Cascador was founded in 2019.
Where is Cascador based?
Cascador is headquartered in Lekki, Nigeria, in the Africa region.
How does Cascador make money?
One revenue line is on record: not applicable (Non-profit).
Who are Cascador's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Co-creation Hub (CcHUB), Founders Factory Africa, MEST Africa, Westerwelle Foundation, Sinapis, Seedstars, ARM Labs Lagos Techstars Accelerator and Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme. African Leadership Academy is listed as an others. Y Combinator is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Cascador have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cascador.
What industry is Cascador in?
Cascador's product category is Startup Accelerator. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACANAA, Corporate & Leadership Development. Its NAICS code is 611430 and its SIC code is 8742.