Nvidia’s $700 Million Deal with Cassava Technologies to Establish AI-Ready Data Centers in Africa
Nvidia has made a groundbreaking move by entering into a US$700 million deal with Cassava Technologies to set up AI-ready data centers across key African markets. This partnership, announced in March 2025, marks Nvidia’s first direct infrastructure deployment on the continent. The aim is to provide access to Nvidia’s advanced graphics processing units (GPUs) in regions that have historically lacked the necessary computing capacity for AI development and data-driven industries.
Unlike China’s state-led investments in Africa’s digital infrastructure, Nvidia’s approach focuses on private-sector execution. Cassava will lead the way in designing and delivering data centers tailored to support AI development in sectors like healthcare, agriculture, and fintech.
Ziaad Suleman, CEO of Cassava Technologies for South Africa and Botswana, highlights the significance of this partnership for African enterprises. He notes that Africa has often received second-rate technology and believes that Nvidia’s support will bring high-performance computing capabilities to the continent’s AI developers and data-driven industries.
The project’s first phase kicked off in June 2025 with the delivery of 3,000 Nvidia GPUs to a Cassava-built data center in South Africa. Over the next few years, additional AI factories will be established, deploying 12,000 GPUs across new facilities in Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, and Morocco.
Eric Omorogieva, an analyst at the New Lines Institute, emphasizes the transformative potential of this partnership on local AI capabilities. With Nvidia’s dominance in the AI sector and its advanced GPUs powering top systems globally, African startups will now have access to these chips, bridging the computing gap and providing essential hardware for key sectors.
In addition to GPU deployment, Cassava has signed a memorandum of understanding with the South African AI Association to offer over 3,000 AI professionals direct access to the GPUs. This move aims to develop human capital alongside the growing technical infrastructure.
The Nvidia-Cassava collaboration targets Africa’s AI infrastructure deficit, with only 5% of African AI practitioners currently having access to the necessary computing power for advanced work. By introducing AI factories, local organizations will benefit from better system performance, improved scalability, and the ability to derive actionable insights from raw data.
This partnership also reflects changing global dynamics in African infrastructure development. While China has funded state-led initiatives through programs like Belt & Road, the United States is shifting towards “commercial diplomacy,” focusing on private investment and expanded trade for long-term digital partnerships.
Nvidia’s involvement in Africa’s data center space signifies a broader effort by U.S. companies to counter China’s influence in AI systems. With Nvidia’s cutting-edge chips and specialized infrastructure, African nations can now develop indigenous AI systems that can compete globally.
Overall, Nvidia’s partnership with Cassava Technologies is set to revolutionize AI development in Africa, empowering local enterprises and developers to harness the full potential of AI technology.
