Africa’s first AI factory is now under construction, following a major partnership between Strive Masiyiwa’s Cassava Technologies and U.S. tech giant Nvidia, one of the world’s most valuable companies.
The project, launched in South Africa, has received its first shipment of high-performance graphics processing units (GPUs)—the computing core behind artificial intelligence. Cassava will deploy 3,000 Nvidia GPUs in its South African facility by June, with plans to install an additional 9,000 GPUs across Kenya, Nigeria, Morocco, and Egypt over the next four years.
“Collaborating with Nvidia gives us the advanced computing capabilities needed to drive Africa’s AI innovation while strengthening the continent’s digital independence,” said Masiyiwa, who co-chaired the 2025 Global AI Summit on Africa in Kigali.
Masiyiwa has positioned the AI factory as critical infrastructure for Africa’s participation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. With up to $720 million in investment under consideration, the project aims to empower startups, researchers, and small businesses with local access to cutting-edge AI tools—without having to rely on external infrastructure.
Nvidia will provide AI software through its Cloud Partner reference architectures, enabling scalable solutions built for African developers and enterprises.
“Our AI Factory empowers Africans to innovate locally,” Masiyiwa added. “The future comes from young people building apps, solutions, and startups—and now they can do it right here in Africa.”
Cassava President Hardy Pemhiwa emphasized the project’s regional scale, saying the rollout is central to unlocking the continent’s AI potential and boosting economic growth through digital transformation.
