Cassava Technologies Partners with SAAIA to Empower Africa's AI Ecosystem

Cassava Technologies, a prominent pan-African digital infrastructure and technology company, has entered into a strategic partnership with the South African Artificial Intelligence Association (SAAIA) to accelerate the development and deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions across Africa. Through a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the two organizations will collaborate to provide GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS) and bolster the continent’s growing AI ecosystem.

This landmark partnership aims to democratize access to high-performance computing infrastructure for AI practitioners across South Africa and beyond—addressing a long-standing challenge faced by African entrepreneurs and researchers in the AI space.

Unlocking AI Innovation through GPUaaS

As part of the agreement, Cassava Technologies will offer GPU capacity from its advanced data centres to over 3,000 AI professionals affiliated with SAAIA, including startups, academics, researchers, and business leaders. These resources will support the development, training, and deployment of scalable AI models tailored to local and regional needs.

The use of GPUaaS will allow startups and developers to harness the raw computing power needed for machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and deep learning—without the prohibitive cost of building or maintaining local hardware infrastructure.

“By extending our advanced AI infrastructure and capabilities to SAAIA’s growing community of AI professionals, we’re enabling greater access to the compute power required to build, test, and scale innovative local solutions,” said Ziaad Suleman, CEO of Cassava Technologies South Africa and Botswana. “This partnership will deliver meaningful value to both organisations and, more importantly, to the business and research communities driving AI development on the continent.”

Supporting Responsible AI Development

The collaboration reflects a mutual commitment to the responsible growth of AI in Africa. SAAIA, the country’s premier AI industry body, has been instrumental in unifying stakeholders from across academia, industry, government, and civil society under a shared mission to drive ethical and inclusive AI adoption. Its signature event, the AI Expo Africa, is the largest gathering of AI professionals on the continent, serving as a platform for trade, investment, and collaboration.

“Supporting local AI entrepreneurs is a key pillar of SAAIA,” said Dr. Nick Bradshaw, Founder and Chairman of SAAIA. “Access to GPU-as-a-Service is a critical enabler for scaling the emerging AI startup ecosystem in South Africa. We are pleased to be partnering with Cassava Technologies in strengthening AI capabilities and infrastructure.”

The partnership will also involve joint initiatives and programs aimed at promoting AI education, research, policy engagement, and cross-sector collaboration throughout the African region.

Cassava’s Vision: AI for a Digitally Empowered Africa

The alliance follows Cassava’s recent announcement of plans to launch Africa’s first AI factory—a significant investment that will provide local businesses, government institutions, and academic researchers with access to cutting-edge AI computing capacity. The factory is part of Cassava’s broader strategy to foster digital inclusion, enhance data sovereignty, and build Africa’s indigenous AI capability.

Cassava Technologies operates across more than 30 countries and has earned recognition as a leader in cloud computing, cybersecurity, broadband connectivity, and data centre infrastructure. Through partnerships like this, the company is reinforcing its mission to be the leading digital solutions provider in Africa, enabling Africans to thrive in the rapidly evolving global digital economy.

This collaboration marks another step forward in building a resilient and self-sustaining African AI ecosystem, capable of producing homegrown innovations that address local challenges in healthcare, education, agriculture, climate resilience, and more.

A New Era of Collaboration

As the global spotlight turns toward Africa’s potential as the next frontier for technological advancement, partnerships like that of Cassava Technologies and SAAIA highlight the importance of strategic investment, collaborative ecosystems, and accessible infrastructure in turning potential into progress.

With initiatives that bridge the gap between talent and technology, this partnership is set to be a catalyst in Africa’s journey to become a globally competitive force in artificial intelligence and digital innovation.