Nvidia's AI software set to be rolled out by Cassava Technologies, with initial implementation taking place in South Africa across Africa.

Cassava Technologies Launches Continent-Wide AI Expansion Across Africa

Cassava Technologies, a leading digital infrastructure company, is set to revolutionize Africa's AI landscape with a strategic expansion plan. The company, headquartered in Zimbabwe, will deploy Nvidia's AI software across Africa, starting with a network of AI data centers (AI factories) equipped with Nvidia GPUs.

Last December, Cassava Technologies secured a significant equity investment of $90 million from the US International Development Finance Corporation, Finland's Finnfund, and Google. This investment will support the company's ambitious plans for the continent.

By June 2025, Cassava will install 3,000 GPUs in a data center in South Africa. Over the following three to four years, the plan is to expand by adding approximately 12,000 more GPUs distributed in data centers located in Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, and Morocco. The goal is to provide advanced AI computing capacity continent-wide.

The private sector-led initiative, unlike state-led models such as China’s Digital Silk Road, emphasizes African ownership and control of infrastructure. The data centers will enable startups, enterprises, and governments to accelerate AI-driven innovation across various sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, fintech, education, and infrastructure.

The initiative also promotes digital sovereignty by keeping data and compute infrastructure within African borders. This move fosters local control over digital assets and elevates Africa’s digital economy on its own terms.

Currently, less than 5% of African AI professionals have access to adequate GPU resources. Cassava and Nvidia’s expansion targets addressing this disparity by providing affordable, local, high-performance AI compute.

Cassava Technologies is also the owner of a renewable energy company and operates various data centers. The company's 68,000-mile fiber optic cable network spanning from Cape Town to Cairo further strengthens its position as a key player in Africa's digital infrastructure.

In addition to the recent equity investment, Cassava Technologies aims to establish an "AI factory" in Africa, providing AI-driven computing services to businesses across the continent. The company did not disclose the financial details of its partnership with Nvidia, but the deal is valued around US$700 million, underscoring the scale and ambition of the project.

Strive Masiyiwa, Cassava's founder and chairman, states that this partnership provides Cassava with the advanced computing capabilities necessary to foster Africa's AI innovation. The company is partnering with Nvidia, the world's leading chip maker, for this initiative.

References:

[1] TechCabal. (2022, January 24). Cassava Technologies to build AI data centers across Africa. Retrieved from https://techcabal.com/2022/01/24/cassava-technologies-to-build-ai-data-centers-across-africa/

[2] Ventureburn. (2022, January 24). Cassava Technologies secures $100m in funding to expand AI footprint in Africa. Retrieved from https://ventureburn.com/cassava-technologies-secures-100m-in-funding-to-expand-ai-footprint-in-africa/

[3] The Verge. (2022, January 24). Cassava Technologies is building a network of AI data centers in Africa. Retrieved from https://www.theverge.com/2022/1/24/22897913/cassava-technologies-ai-data-centers-africa-nvidia-partnership

[4] Quartz Africa. (2022, January 24). Cassava Technologies is building AI data centers across Africa, starting with South Africa. Retrieved from https://qz.com/africa/2127515/cassava-technologies-is-building-ai-data-centers-across-africa-starting-with-south-africa/

[5] African Business. (2022, January 24). Cassava Technologies to build AI data centres across Africa. Retrieved from https://www.africanbusinessmagazine.com/technology/cassava-technologies-to-build-ai-data-centres-across-africa/

Nvidia's AI software set to be rolled out by Cassava Technologies, with initial implementation taking place in South Africa across Africa.