NVIDIA has injected capital into Cassava Technologies as part of a $720 million funding round aimed at building the continent’s first AI factory and upgrading data centers with advanced supercomputing capabilities.
The investment , highlihts NVIDIA’s deepening commitment to emerging markets and positions Cassava—founded by Zimbabwean billionaire Strive Masiyiwa—as a pivotal player in bridging Africa’s digital divide through homegrown innovation.
Hardy Pemhiwa, President and Group CEO of Cassava Technologies, hailed the partnership as a transformative milestone. “Cassava is Africa’s leading technology company, driving the continent’s digital transformation with digital infrastructure and digital services; securing this investment is an important milestone that we expect to unlock additional value from and catalyze the further expansion of our digital infrastructure and services to bridge the digital divide on the continent,” Pemhiwa stated in the announcement.
The funding brings NVIDIA into an elite roster of backers that already includes Econet Group, British International Investment, the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC), Finnfund, the Fund for Export Development in Africa (Afreximbank/FEDA), Gateway Capital, Google LLC, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Public Investment Corporation, and Royal Bafokeng Holdings.
This influx of resources will accelerate Cassava’s rollout of NVIDIA-powered supercomputers across its data centers, enabling AI-driven solutions in sectors like healthcare, agriculture, and finance—critical for a continent where only 40% of the population has reliable internet access.
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Operating across Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, Cassava Technologies leverages a powerhouse portfolio of subsidiaries to deliver end-to-end digital ecosystems. Liquid Intelligent Technologies leads in fiber-optic connectivity, Africa Data Centres provides hyperscale cloud facilities, Liquid C2 specializes in cybersecurity, Cassava.ai focuses on artificial intelligence applications, and Sasai Fintech drives mobile financial services—all sector frontrunners that have collectively connected over 100 million users since 2020.
The NVIDIA tie-up, building on a March 2025 partnership announcement, marks the chipmaker’s first direct infrastructure deployment in Africa and aligns with Cassava’s vision of establishing the continent as a global AI hub. As Pemhiwa emphasized, the collaboration will empower local innovators, foster job creation in tech ecosystems, and ensure that Africa’s digital future is shaped by African ingenuity rather than imported solutions.
Industry analysts view this as a game-changer amid the global AI race, with Cassava poised to rival international giants like AWS and Azure on home turf. “This isn’t just funding—it’s a blueprint for sovereign AI infrastructure that could add $15 billion to Africa’s GDP by 2030,” noted a report from Tech in Africa.
With the investment fueling expansions in key hubs like Johannesburg and Lagos, Cassava reaffirmed its dedication to pan-African partnerships, promising continued collaboration with governments, customers, and stakeholders to democratize technology and propel sustainable growth across borders.
