Strive Masiyiwa’s Cassava wins NVIDIA’s investment

Cassava Technologies, a leading pan-African technology company owned by Zimbabwe’s richest man, Strive Masiyiwa, has secured a strategic investment from U.S. chipmaker NVIDIA.

The funding underscores the growing confidence in Africa’s expanding digital economy and Cassava’s central role in shaping that landscape.

Strengthening Africa’s digital backbone

Hardy Pemhiwa, president and group chief executive officer of Cassava Technologies, said the investment marks an important step in advancing the company’s mission to expand digital access and infrastructure across Africa. 

“Cassava is Africa’s leading technology company, driving the continent’s digital transformation with digital infrastructure and digital services,” Pemhiwa said. “Securing this investment is a milestone that will help unlock additional value and accelerate our work to bridge the digital divide across the continent.” 

Broad investor backing

The new funding positions Cassava to deepen its reach in markets where reliable digital infrastructure remains limited, while also expanding its footprint in data services, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence.

Cassava’s investors now include a strong mix of global and regional institutions such as Econet Group, British International Investment, Finnfund, the Fund for Export Development in Africa, Gateway Capital, Google, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Public Investment Corporation, Royal Bafokeng Holdings, and NVIDIA. 

Building Africa’s AI future

With operations across Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, Cassava’s portfolio spans several business units—Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Africa Data Centres, Liquid C2, Cassava.ai, and Sasai Fintech—all recognized as leaders in their sectors.

The company continues to collaborate with global partners to strengthen connectivity and cloud access across underserved regions.

Masiyiwa, worth $1.3 billion, has long been an advocate for Africa’s digital independence. His company, Cassava, recently announced plans to build five artificial intelligence factories across Africa within the next year.

Earlier this year, the company revealed it would launch Africa’s first AI factory—powered by NVIDIA’s computing technology. It reflects Masiyiwa’s broader vision of using innovation and partnerships to close Africa’s technology gap and prepare its economies for the next wave of digital transformation.