Via both billionaires’ companies, Masiyiwa’s Cassava Technologies, and Huang’s Nvidia, one of the largest companies in America currently by valuation, the construction of Africa’s first AI factory is now in full effect.
Currently, graphics processing units (GPUs) have been deployed to South Africa, the first recipients of the units in Africa.
What Strive Masiyiwa about the AI factory
“Collaborating with Nvidia gives us the advanced computing capabilities needed to drive Africa’s AI innovation while strengthening the continent’s digital independence,” Masiyiwa stated in a press release.
“The future comes from young people building apps and solutions, small businesses every day across this continent using AI,” Masiyiwa said at the Global AI Summit on Africa 2025 in Kigali in April, where he was a co-chair.
“They are the digital natives, and we have just given them the ability to do what they do best.”
Founded by Zimbabwean telecoms tycoon Strive Masiyiwa, the pan-African tech company aims to roll out Nvidia’s accelerated computing systems and AI software across key markets including South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, and Morocco.
Recent reports indicate that Nvidia will embed its AI software utilizing NVIDIA Cloud Partner reference architectures and deploy hundreds of GPUs, which power its high-performance supercomputers.
“Building digital infrastructure for the AI economy is a priority if Africa is to take full advantage of the fourth industrial revolution,” added Masiyiwa in the press statement.
“Our AI Factory provides the infrastructure for this innovation to scale, empowering African businesses, startups, and researchers with access to cutting-edge AI infrastructure to turn their bold ideas into real-world breakthroughs—and now, they don’t have to look beyond Africa to get it.”
According to Hardy Pemhiwa, president of Cassava, as seen on Forbes, 3,000 Nvidia GPUs will be installed in their South African plant in June, with an additional 9,000 to be installed throughout the following three to four years in Kenya, Nigeria, Morocco, and Egypt.
