Cassava Technologies teams up with Nvidia to launch Africa’s first AI factory

Cassava Technologies, founded by Zimbabwean telecom mogul Strive Masiyiwa, has announced a groundbreaking collaboration with Nvidia to establish Africa’s first AI factory.

The initiative, which will integrate Nvidia’s advanced computing and AI software into Cassava’s South African data centers by June 2025, aims to equip African businesses, governments, and researchers with world-class AI infrastructure. This AI factory will provide crucial access to cutting-edge AI computing capacity, enabling the development of smarter AI products, streamlined operations, and enhanced competitiveness for African industries. By leveraging Nvidia’s powerful supercomputers and AI capabilities, the initiative will foster innovation and drive solutions across sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and financial services.

The factory’s location in South Africa will serve as the hub, with plans for expansion to other African countries, including Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria. The AI infrastructure will allow African businesses to develop, train, and deploy AI models while keeping sensitive data within the continent’s borders, ensuring compliance with local and global regulations. Masiyiwa emphasized that this collaboration is key to Africa’s participation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. “Our AI factory provides the infrastructure to scale innovation, empowering African startups and researchers to turn bold ideas into real-world breakthroughs without looking beyond Africa,” Masiyiwa said. This initiative positions Cassava as a pioneer in accelerating Africa’s digital future and strengthening the continent’s digital independence, with the potential to reshape its technological landscape.