Cascador partners Nigeria’s youth ministry to back young founders
The programme adds to the Nigerian government's efforts in supporting young entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses.
Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Youth Development (FMYD) has teamed up with Cascador, a platform for growth-stage founders, to launch the NiYA × Cascador Founders Program. The initiative aims to assist young entrepreneurs in building stronger businesses through a pilot cohort of 20 early-stage founders, with eight receiving up to ₦5 million ($3,600) each in non-dilutive funding.
Applications for the program open on August 19 and will be accepted on the NiYA website. The four-week program will cover business fundamentals, investment readiness, and pitch preparation, both in-person in Abuja and virtually. Upon completion, top-performing founders will receive an ERP solution and an additional funding at a NiYA/FMYD-organised Pitch Day.
The funding is non-dilutive, meaning founders will not have to give up equity in their businesses. NiYA and FMYD will handle founder sourcing, training, and the program's day-to-day delivery, while Cascador will define eligibility criteria, support investment-readiness training, judge pitches, and provide funding for the top performers.
The pilot program is part of NiYA's goal to train and empower seven million Nigerian youth within two years, with all 20 program graduates receiving NiYA alumni status and priority consideration for future opportunities. Cascador has previously supported 70 companies that have collectively raised over $125 million.
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