About EEGF

 

Who We Are

The Empowering Economic Growth Foundation (EEGF) is a US-based, private operating foundation and the strategic force behind Cascador. As Cascador’s parent organization and sole capital source, EEGF sets the mission, provides the capital, and builds the infrastructure that makes Cascador’s work possible across Sub-Saharan Africa.

EEGF exists to fuel bold ideas and the entrepreneurs who bring them to life. Our belief is simple: when you equip the right leaders with the right resources, lasting impact follows.

Vision & Mission

Vision

A future where every transformative entrepreneur has access to the financial and non-financial resources needed to build sustainable businesses and drive social impact.

Mission

To strengthen Sub-Saharan Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by developing and funding high-potential founders, and the capital markets that support them.

How EEGF and Cascador Work Together

EEGF and Cascador form one model, with three distinct roles:

1.EEGF powers the mission — setting strategy, providing capital, and owning the infrastructure behind the work. 2.Cascador catalyses the transformation — the team executing the program on the ground, anchored in Nigeria. 3.Entrepreneurs create the impact — the founders EEGF and Cascador exist to support.

Because EEGF operates Cascador directly rather than making grants to outside organizations, Cascador is the public expression of EEGF’s mission — the program, the team, and the relationships founders engage with day to day.

How We Deploy Capital

EEGF is a private operating foundation, not a grant-making foundation. We run our own programs, manage our own capital portfolio, and deploy funding exclusively through the Cascador Catalytic Fund to Cascador alumni.

We do not accept unsolicited grant applications, funding proposals, or capital requests from outside organizations or causes.

Why Africa

Cascador is rooted in Sub-Saharan Africa, with Nigeria at its core

Sub-Saharan Africa is home to some of the most dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystems in the world, and Nigeria — Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation — sits at the center of that opportunity. Entrepreneurs across the region bring grit, talent, and a strong respect for education, making it a powerful place to support bold ideas and meaningful progress. Backed by EEGF, and built on years of on-the-ground experience in Nigeria, Cascador operates with a focused commitment to the immense potential of founders across Sub-Saharan Africa, helping them scale innovative ideas into ventures that deliver lasting impact.

Sub-saharan africa

Our Team

Trish Thomas

Executive Director

Martin Mbonu

Portfolio Manager

Sara Sullivan Keeton

Finance & Administration

“Entrepreneurs across the region bring grit, talent, and a strong respect for education — making Sub-Saharan Africa a powerful place to support bold ideas.”

— Trish Thomas, Executive Director, EEGF