Cassava Technologies has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the South African AI Association (SAAIA) to deliver AI solutions and GPU-as-a-service (GPUaaS) across the African continent.

The agreement grants SAAIA’s 3,000+ AI practitioners – including entrepreneurs, researchers, and business leaders – access to Cassava’s data centre GPUs to develop, test, and deploy local AI applications.

The partnership also includes joint efforts to strengthen the broader African AI ecosystem, focusing on capacity-building and innovation enablement.

“By extending our advanced AI infrastructure to SAAIA’s community, we’re empowering Africa’s AI professionals with the compute power they need to scale their ideas,” said Ziaad Suleman, CEO of Cassava Technologies South Africa and Botswana.

Cassava recently announced plans to establish Africa’s first AI factory, further reinforcing its commitment to driving digital transformation through localised AI infrastructure.

SAAIA – known for hosting AI Expo Africa – plays a key role in uniting AI stakeholders across commercial, government, academic, and NGO sectors while promoting responsible AI adoption and investment.

“Access to GPUaaS is a vital enabler for South Africa’s emerging AI startup scene,” said Dr. Nick Bradshaw, SAAIA founder and chairman. “This partnership is a critical step forward in supporting local entrepreneurs and expanding the continent’s smart tech capabilities.”