Cascador and NSIA Partner to Accelerate Innovation and Scale Nigerian Businesses

Cascador and NSIA Partner to Accelerate Innovation and Scale Nigerian Businesses

by | Mar 31, 2025 | Press Release

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Cascador,  a premier accelerator for mid-stage Nigerian entrepreneurs, and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (‘NSIA’ or ‘The Authority’) – one of the premier investment institutions of the Federation with a three-fold mandate to create a savings base for future generations of Nigerians and a catalyst towards positive socio-economic outcomes through strategic domestic infrastructure investments, providing fiscal support in times of economic distress – have formed a strategic partnership to drive innovation and support homegrown solutions with the potential for transformative impact.

This collaboration represents a major step in both organizations’ shared mission to accelerate sustainable economic growth, expand opportunities for Nigerian entrepreneurs and reposition them for global relevance.

By leveraging NSIA’s institutional expertise and Cascador’s track record of developing high-impact entrepreneurs, this partnership unlocks new opportunities for Nigerian business leaders tackling pressing societal challenges, said Dave DeLucia, Founder of Cascador.

NSIA remains committed to expanding economic opportunities and advancing innovation as a key component of National development. We believe that supporting high-potential entrepreneurs is pivotal to driving sustainable economic growth.

Correspondingly, our collaboration with Cascador aligns with our overall strategy to meaningfully create value in Nigeria, said Aminu Umar-Sadiq, Managing Director of NSIA.

Enhanced Opportunities for Entrepreneurs

The partnership comes as Cascador launches its $2 million annual Catalytic Fund designed to provide growth capital to alumni of its program, and follows NSIA’s launch of the third edition of the NSIA Prize for Innovation programme tailored to support early stage businesses within Agriculture, Healthcare and Education. NSIA’s involvement will further enhance the support available to promising entrepreneurs.

Applications for Cascador’s Catalytic Fund were open only to Cascador alumni who had completed the program. Cascador has produced six cohorts of mission driven entrepreneurs since 2019. The program will culminate in a Pitch Day Event on May 14, 2025, where finalists will present their ventures to a distinguished panel of judges and investors, including representatives from NSIA. 

A $10,000 NSIA Prize for Innovation will be awarded at the event to the Cascador alumni whose business proposition best exemplifies the spirit of creativity and innovation that NSIA is fostering across Nigeria through the NSIA Prize for Innovation – an initiative focused on encouraging youth entrepreneurship through funding, mentorship, peer to peer knowledge exchange and high impact networking.

Cascador Supports the Third Edition of the NSIA Prize for Innovation (NPI 3.0).

The NSIA Prize for Innovation is a multi-year initiative dedicated to supporting early-stage businesses with the potential for transformative impact. The competition, which is currently open for applications until 5th April, 2025, aims to identify, build, and finance early-stage innovative solutions that have the potential to catalyze economic growth, enhance the nation’s productive capacity, and create jobs.

NPI 3.0 offers Nigerian innovators the opportunity to win:

  • A combined prize value of $220,000 
  • Dedicated Cascador Prize for Impact valued at $45,000($15,000 to three winners) with winners selected by Cascador representatives at the award ceremony for NPI finalists
  • Five-week, all-expenses-paid training program in Silicon Valley, USA
  • Enhanced visibility for portfolio companies through joint promotional activities
  • Access to NSIA’s extensive network of partners and resources

This year’s focus sectors include Healthcare, Education, and Agriculture—areas critical to Nigeria’s development and aligned with both organizations’ impact objectives.

Trish Thomas, CEO of Cascador, discussed the financial incentives for entrepreneurs, saying,

Both Cascador and NSIA believe in the power of innovation to create an impact in Nigeria. We are sponsoring prizes in each competition to motivate finalists for the NSIA Prize for Innovation and the Cascador Catalytic Fund to focus on leveraging imagination and drive to solve tough challenges. Our intent is that these prizes accelerate efforts in the business community to make a positive impact on the world.

Cascador 2025 program applications open April 1st. To learn more about Cascador and to apply, visit here. Submissions for the NSIA Prize for Innovation close on April 5th. For more information and to apply, visit here.

Article first published here: Cascador and NSIA Partner to Accelerate Innovation and Scale Nigerian Businesses | BellaNaija

Amanda Etuk joins Cascador as new programme director

Amanda Etuk joins Cascador as new programme director

by | Mar 31, 2025 | Press Release

 

February 12, 2025

Cascador, the preeminent accelerator program for mid-stage Nigerian entrepreneurs, has announced the appointment of Amanda Etuk as its new programme director.

According to a statement by the company, Etuk, a former Cascador participant and co-founder of Messenger, a financing platform for last-mile logistics operators, brings firsthand experience with the transformative impact of the program to her new role.

The appointment marks a significant milestone in Cascador’s mission to develop transformational leaders in Nigeria.

“I’ve always wanted to help people – it’s one of my values. Being able to support entrepreneurs who face the same challenges I did, while working with an organisation deeply committed to their success, feels like a match made in heaven. We’re not just providing funding; we’re building a sustainable ecosystem where entrepreneurs can thrive and pay it forward,” Etuk said.

The appointment also represents a remarkable professional journey for Etuk herself. “Now I’m the program director for one of the largest impact investment funds in Africa – that’s pretty good growth,” she reflected.

“I get to speak to some of the brightest minds in the Nigerian ecosystem, hear insights from top mentors, and learn about properly managing and financing organisations. These are insights that people pay thousands to get in MBA programs, and I got that through Cascador. Now I have the privilege of helping others access these same opportunities.”

Dave DeLucia, founder of Cascador, emphasised the significance of having a former participant join the leadership team saying “Amanda’s transition from participant to program director perfectly illustrates our mission of developing transformational leaders. Her insights will be invaluable as we continue to evolve our program to meet the needs of Nigerian entrepreneurs.”

In her role, Etuk will focus on enhancing program design, strengthening alumni support, and building a more robust entrepreneurial community. She brings a unique perspective to the position, having experienced the challenges entrepreneurs face firsthand.

“Sometimes there are barriers between a founder and an investor, or a founder and a mentor,” Etuk explained. “But when you have a peer who understands what you’re going through, there’s no barrier to communication. In this role, I can be balanced and fair and communicate what is the greatest need for the entrepreneur at any given time.”

Amanda embodies everything we look for in both our participants and our team, according to Trish Thomas, co-director at Cascador.

He noted that her experience as an entrepreneur, combined with her passion for supporting others and deep understanding of the Nigerian entrepreneurial ecosystem, makes her uniquely qualified to help shape the future of our program.

“Her appointment represents our commitment to not just developing great entrepreneurs, but creating a sustainable ecosystem of leaders who give back to their community.”

Chidi Okoro, Cascador’s co-director and head of strategy at Lagos Business School, added that having refined their approach to supporting Nigerian startups over the past six years, bringing Amanda onto the team marks an exciting new chapter.

“Her understanding of both sides of the entrepreneurial journey will help us create even more meaningful connections between our curriculum and the market challenges our participants face.”

Looking ahead, Etuk has ambitious plans for expanding Cascador’s impact, drawing on lessons from her own experience in the program. “One thing I took away from Cascador that transformed me wasn’t just business advice – it was the importance of character in building something meaningful,” Etuk reflected.

“How you respond to messages, how people feel after interacting with you, the discipline of timeliness – these soft skills are just as crucial as business acumen. You can get business information from anywhere, but watching someone personify the principles they teach is invaluable.”

Article first published here: Amanda Etuk joins Cascador as new programme director – Businessday NG