Cassava Technologies has announced an ambitious \$720 million investment to establish five Artificial Intelligence factories across Africa within the next year. Founded by Strive Masiyiwa, the pan-African tech group aims to expand what it calls the “Sovereign AI Cloud,” a bold initiative that places Africa at the forefront of the global AI economy. The factories will be located in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and Morocco, giving each major market access to its own advanced AI infrastructure.
At the core of this rollout is Cassava’s strategic partnership with Nvidia, which will power the AI factories with cutting-edge GPU technology. The first facility in South Africa will feature 3,000 Nvidia GPUs, much of which has already been pre-booked by African developers and researchers. This reflects the growing demand for accessible, high-performance AI infrastructure on the continent, a resource that has often been out of reach due to heavy reliance on overseas providers.
Beyond standalone infrastructure, the AI factories integrate into Cassava’s wider ecosystem, which includes Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Africa Data Centres, and Liquid C2. These subsidiaries already provide connectivity, cloud hosting, and cybersecurity services, enabling the group to deliver a complete digital backbone for Africa’s future. Earlier this year, Cassava also launched Cassava AI, a dedicated unit focused on partnerships and product development, working alongside AWS, Microsoft, Google, and Anthropic to expand AI access across the continent.
The investment is about more than technology—it’s about digital sovereignty and economic empowerment. By building localized AI capacity, Africa reduces dependency on foreign infrastructure, opening the door for innovation that is homegrown and contextually relevant. From developing African language models to building AI-powered financial tools and healthcare solutions, the continent will be better equipped to drive solutions tailored to its unique challenges.
Strive Masiyiwa has also hinted at a new concept, the “Distributed AI Cloud,” which aims to link infrastructure across multiple African regions into a unified digital framework. This could accelerate Africa’s participation in the fourth industrial revolution while enhancing competitiveness in global markets. The initiative signals that Africa is no longer just a consumer of AI technology but a proactive builder of digital ecosystems with transformative potential.
With five AI factories set to launch within a year, Cassava Technologies is positioning itself as both architect and catalyst of Africa’s AI-driven future. This move not only strengthens Africa’s digital backbone but also sets the stage for the continent to emerge as a global player in innovation, research, and technological development.
