Cassava Technologies, owned by Zimbabwean billionaire Strive Masiyiwa, has partnered with Zindi, Africa’s largest network of data scientists, to propel artificial intelligence (AI) development and expand GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS) across Africa. This collaboration aims to enhance digital transformation through scalable AI solutions, with Zindi utilizing Cassava’s high-performance GPU infrastructure to train and deploy AI models tailored for local challenges.

Hardy Pemhiwa, President and Group CEO of Cassava Technologies, emphasized the need to empower Africa’s AI ecosystem with infrastructure and skills. Celina Lee, CEO and co-founder of Zindi, highlighted that the partnership will bridge the gap between local innovation and the necessary compute power for scaling, creating employment opportunities and new digital skills. The initiative focuses on developing African datasets and accelerating machine learning applications in healthcare, fintech, and agriculture.

This agreement follows Cassava Technologies' launch of its AI unit in 2024 and plans for Africa’s first AI factory, a $720 million project set to launch in South Africa by June 2025. This facility will provide AI computing for businesses, governments, and researchers, driving innovation in healthcare and fintech. Expansion to Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, and Morocco is planned, marking a pan-African AI strategy.

The collaboration aims to make powerful computing tools more accessible to African developers. Cassava will offer GPU-as-a-Service through its data centers, while Zindi will host competitions and connect data scientists to job opportunities. Both organizations will explore leveraging each other’s platforms and ecosystems to nurture AI talent and innovation across the continent.

Through this partnership, Cassava and Zindi are dedicated to advancing responsible AI adoption, innovation, and growth in Africa. Cassava Technologies, a global technology leader with African heritage, provides a range of digital services and infrastructure. Zindi, a global AI community platform, focuses on making data science and AI skills accessible, boasting a network of over 80,000 data scientists from more than 180 countries.