Venco, ColdHubs, Eight Others Make Cascador’s 2026 ScaleUp Programme Cohort

Cascador, a Nigeria-focused platform that unlocks the potential of the region’s most transformative entrepreneurs, has announced 10 startups that will benefit from its 12-week 2026 ScaleUp Programme.

The 10 selected Nigerian growth-stage companies represent an elite class of businesses driving healthcare access, food security, clean energy, and job creation across the country.

Chosen from more than 1,000 qualified applications, this cohort reflects Cascador’s strategic shift toward ambitious growth-stage businesses poised for scale, with proven traction from Nigeria’s real economy and tech-driven industries.

The 10 companies are Venco, which brings payments, utilities, communications and operations for multi-tenanted communities onto one digital platform; SunFi, a startup powering solar adoption through a digital platform for financing, distribution, installation and management of clean-energy products and services; ColdHubs, which is helping farmers, traders and food businesses reduce post-harvest losses through solar-powered cold storage; EHA Clinics, a medical startup which is expanding access to comprehensive primary healthcare through integrated digital, pharmacy and home-care services; and Beauty Hut Africa, which is building Africa’s beauty commerce infrastructure through technology-enabled retail and distribution of local and global beauty products.

Others include BEYOND Fitness, which is combining fitness, recovery and community to create premium wellness experiences for professionals and teams; Ziba Beach Resort, a firm building experience-led leisure destinations that unlock the potential of Nigeria’s domestic tourism market; Tulay Africa, which is connecting global industrial buyers with African producers to build a reliable supply of export-grade critical minerals; Maanj Agric, an agritech startup connecting smallholder farmers to financing, climate-smart inputs, storage and markets through a coordinated farming network; and Finger Chops which produces and distributes high-quality bread at scale to households, retailers and institutions across Nigeria.

According to a statement, 60 per cent of businesses in this year’s cohort are led by women and founders from 5 out of 6 regions across Nigeria.

“The diversity of the cohort, combined with the depth of Cascador’s influential network of faculty, mentors and advisors, creates opportunities to foster new partnerships, broaden networks, expand market access and unlock growth beyond their individual businesses,” the statement read, in part.

“The founders in our 2026 ScaleUp program reflect the ambition, resilience and entrepreneurial talent driving Nigeria’s economy forward. Their businesses are already creating jobs, generating value and spurring growth across some of the country’s most important sectors. Our focus now is helping them scale further and unlock their full potential, giving them the training, mentorship, networks and leadership skills needed to power their next phase of growth,” said Mrs Trish Thomas, CEO of Cascador.

Since 2019, Cascador has supported 70 ventures that have collectively raised $125 million in capital. In 2025 alone, Cascador’s alumni delivered essential products and services to more than 1.7 million customers.

“We’re incredibly proud to be part of Cascador’s 2026 ScaleUp Program. The mentorship, resources and networks the program provides will accelerate our growth to transform how residential and commercial communities operate across Africa. As we scale, our goal is to bring our secure and efficient technology platform to more communities across new cities and countries, giving the managers who run them better tools to serve their residents,” said Mr Chude Osiegbu, CEO and Co-Founder of Venco.

The 2026 ScaleUp Program will include bespoke 1:1 support from investors, African and international experts, and strategic partners, as well as eligibility for follow-on funding through Cascador’s Catalytic Fund, which deploys up to $5 million annually in growth capital through local currency debt, equity, and guarantees in partnership with Sterling Bank.

The 12-week programme is structured into 2 weeks of in-person sessions, including the programme kickoff and pitch week, packaged with 10 weeks of virtual sessions for founders and their leadership teams.

This will be followed by a Live Pitch Day, for the chance to be awarded $50,000 in prizes

“Finger Chops has been able to grow from a catering service into a trusted full-scale bakery serving communities and businesses. But our vision does not stop there; we want to build a leading African food manufacturing company rooted in quality, locally sourced products and operational excellence. Being selected for Cascador’s 2026 ScaleUp Program brings us closer to making that vision a reality, and we look forward to all the opportunities it brings,” said Mrs Adenike (Oyebola) Fetuga, CEO of Finger Chops.

“The next chapter of Nigeria’s entrepreneurial story will be about what happens when proven businesses get the support they need to scale. That is the opportunity this cohort brings, where visionaries, innovators and impact-driven leaders can grow their businesses sustainably with lasting economic value,” said Mr David DeLucia, Co-Founder of Cascador.

Lagos Commences Phased Activation Plan for Imota Industrial Hub

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.