Cassava Technologies and Nvidia partner to launch Africa’s first AI factory, starting in South Africa with expansion plans across Egypt, Kenya, and Nigeria.
April 2025 — Johannesburg, South Africa — Cassava Technologies, the pan-African digital infrastructure firm founded by Zimbabwean billionaire Strive Masiyiwa, has announced a landmark partnership with Nvidia Corporation to launch Africa’s first artificial intelligence (AI) factory.
The initiative aims to revolutionize digital infrastructure across the continent, bringing cutting-edge AI computing power to African startups, researchers, and businesses.
🔧 Deployment Begins in South Africa
The AI factory’s first phase involves deploying Nvidia’s GPU-based supercomputing and AI software in Cassava’s data centers in South Africa, set to go live by June 2025. Expansion plans include Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria, significantly boosting AI capacity in key regional markets.
“Building digital infrastructure for the AI economy is a priority if Africa is to take full advantage of the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” said Strive Masiyiwa, Executive Chairman of Cassava Technologies.
💡 AI Infrastructure to Power African Innovation
This AI factory will support African companies in:
- Training large AI models faster
- Scaling machine learning applications
- Powering solutions in agriculture, healthcare, fintech, and logistics
- Reducing operational inefficiencies through smart automation
The facility will also become a resource hub for AI researchers and developers across the continent.
🌍 Strategic Leap for Africa’s Digital Future
Jaap Zuiderveld, Nvidia’s VP for EMEA, noted:
“AI is solving our biggest challenges—climate resilience, disease diagnosis, precision farming—and this factory ensures Africa is at the center of that innovation.”
As an Nvidia Cloud Partner, Cassava Technologies is positioned to deliver world-class AI tools alongside Nvidia’s enterprise-grade software stack.
🌐 Regional Significance and Long-Term Impact
The AI factory initiative is not just a milestone for South Africa—it marks a turning point for Africa’s emerging digital economy, aligning with long-term visions like:
- Kenya’s Digital Superhighway Plan
- Egypt Vision 2030 for AI governance
- Nigeria’s National Artificial Intelligence Policy
Cassava’s AI push also complements broader moves by tech leaders like Safaricom and MTN, who are investing in digital platforms across the continent.
🌟 Final Word
Cassava Technologies and Nvidia are not just building data centers—they are building Africa’s future. The AI factory, beginning in South Africa and expanding across the continent, is poised to unlock bold innovations, drive inclusive growth, and reshape how Africa competes in the global digital economy.
