Lagos, Nigeria – Cascador, a Nigerian-based entrepreneurial development programme, has awarded a total of $45,000 in grant funding to three promising Nigerian startups PromisePoint, FriendnPal, and D-Olivette at the 2025 NSIA Prize for Innovation (NPI) Pitch Day, in recognition of their pioneering work in agriculture, mental health, and clean energy.

The funding, distributed as $15,000 to each startup, was announced during the third edition of the NPI Demo Day hosted by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) in Abuja. The annual event showcases high-impact, investment-ready ventures with the potential to drive inclusive economic growth across the country.

This year’s pitch day featured 10 finalists presenting scalable solutions to critical national challenges. Cascador, which partnered with NSIA for the initiative, said the winners exemplify the power of innovation to uplift underserved communities.

Empowering Rural Agriculture

PromisePoint, one of the winners, is a women-led agribusiness that processes cassava and supports rural development. The company has trained more than 10,000 smallholder farmers and recently secured a N1 billion supply agreement with Nestlé Nigeria.

“Winning the Cascador Prize is not just recognition; it’s validation of our belief that rural women can power Nigeria’s food future,” said Bukola Farinde, Founder of PromisePoint.

Advancing Mental Health Access

Also recognised was FriendnPal, a multilingual, AI-driven mental health platform that aims to bridge the gap in access to care across Africa. Its founder, Esther Eruchie, drew inspiration from personal experience, dedicating the platform to making mental healthcare more inclusive and affordable.

“We built our platform to serve people like my mother Africans who deserve dignified, affordable mental health care,” said Eruchie. “This prize will help us reach more users faster, with deeper impact.”

Turning Waste into Clean Energy

The third recipient, D-Olivette, deploys artificial intelligence to operate biodigester systems that convert agricultural waste into clean energy and organic fertiliser. The startup is tackling Nigeria’s waste management and energy challenges with innovative green technology.

“Nigeria’s waste crisis is actually a clean energy opportunity,” said Tunde Adeyemi, CEO of D-Olivette. “This recognition from Cascador will help us scale access to biodigesters and clean power for more farms and rural households.”

Backing Purpose-Driven Innovation

Commenting on the awards, Cascador Co-Director Trish Thomas said the winners reflect the impact of supporting entrepreneurs committed to social good.

“They’re building companies that uplift society, empower individuals, and deliver real results on the ground,” she said.

Cascador Executive Director and NPI judge Chidi Okoro added that the ventures represent a new wave of businesses merging innovation with impact.

“Their work not only solves critical problems it creates pathways to resilience, inclusion, and prosperity,” he said.

The 2025 NPI Pitch Day reaffirms the role of public-private partnerships in strengthening Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem and scaling solutions that can shape the country’s future.