Cascador, Nigeria’s accelerator for mid-stage entrepreneurs, has announced the launch of its Catalytic Fund, a $2 million annual initiative providing tailored financial support to Cascador alumni companies.
According to the organisation, the initiative will provide debt and equity funding to mission-driven alumni companies to accelerate growth and impact. Since its founding in 2019, Cascador said it has supported over 60 entrepreneurs who have collectively raised more than $55 million in capital.
“The Catalytic Fund addresses the persistent capital gap many Nigerian entrepreneurs face despite having viable, impactful businesses,” said Dave DeLucia, Founder of Cascador. “We’re deploying capital where it can truly be catalytic — powering growth, improving access to alternative funding sources, and enabling sustainable scale.”
Applications opened February 14, with finalists scheduled to present at a Pitch Day event on May 14, 2025. The Cascador pitches will be evaluated by an elite investment committee based on impact, business viability, and financial assessment, focusing on entrepreneurs creating jobs, delivering social impact, and unlocking opportunities for underserved communities.
Cascador has established partnerships with leading Nigerian financial institutions. Sterling Bank will provide blended financing solutions through a custom lending program tailored to alumni needs, The partnership aims to provide affordable and sustainable loans to Cascador alumni through flexible repayment structures around business cash flows.
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