Strive Masiyiwa

Strive T. Masiyiwa

Strive T. Masiyiwa is a Zimbabwean technology and telecommunications entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist. He is the founder and executive chairman of Cassava Technologies and Econet Group, and holds governance roles with organizations including the Gates Foundation, Netflix and the UK's Advanced Research and Invention Agency.

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About Strive Masiyiwa

Profile information current to 2026-08-23.

Zimbabwe · Technology and telecommunications entrepreneur, Investor, Philanthropist

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Known for: Telecommunications and technology enterprise in Africa; Corporate, nonprofit and public-sector governance; Education-focused philanthropy
Country: Zimbabwe

Technology and telecommunications entrepreneur
Investor
Philanthropist

At a glance

Masiyiwa is the founder and executive chairman of Cassava Technologies.
He pursued the establishment of Econet Wireless in Zimbabwe during the state telecommunications monopoly, with the company receiving a licence after extended litigation.
He and his wife, Tsitsi Masiyiwa, co-founded Higherlife Foundation in 1996.
His governance work includes service with the Gates Foundation, Netflix and the UK's Advanced Research and Invention Agency.

Background and early career

Born in Zimbabwe in 1961, Masiyiwa completed a degree in electrical and electronic engineering at Cardiff University. After spending part of his childhood outside Zimbabwe, he returned to the country in 1984, worked briefly as a telecommunications engineer and established his first business in 1986.

Telecommunications and technology enterprise

Masiyiwa began pursuing the establishment of Econet Wireless in Zimbabwe in 1993, when telecommunications remained under a state monopoly. A New York University School of Law account says Zimbabwe's Supreme Court granted Econet a licence in 1997 after extended litigation. He subsequently became known as the founder and executive chairman of Econet Group and Cassava Technologies.

Education-focused philanthropy

Masiyiwa and his wife, Tsitsi Masiyiwa, founded Higherlife Foundation in 1996. His philanthropic work is particularly associated with support for education.

Governance and public recognition

Masiyiwa has served on the Gates Foundation board of trustees since January 2022 and is also identified as an independent Netflix director and a member of its Nominating and Governance Committee. In April 2025, he became a non-executive director of the UK's Advanced Research and Invention Agency. He was elected an International Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2023 and was named a W. E. B. Du Bois Medal recipient in 2024.

Timeline

1984 Returned to Zimbabwe and worked briefly as a telecommunications engineer.
1986 Established his first business.
1993 Began pursuing the establishment of Econet Wireless in Zimbabwe amid a state telecommunications monopoly.
1996 Co-founded Higherlife Foundation with Tsitsi Masiyiwa.
1997 Zimbabwe's Supreme Court granted Econet Wireless a licence to operate following extended litigation.
2022-01 Began service on the Gates Foundation board of trustees.
2023 Was elected an International Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
2024 Was named a W. E. B. Du Bois Medal recipient by Harvard University's Hutchins Center.
2025-04-01 Was appointed a non-executive director of the UK's Advanced Research and Invention Agency.

Additional verified details

Current context

Founder and Executive Chairman of Cassava Technologies. Cassava Technologies' February 2026 biography and corporate about page identify Masiyiwa in this role.
Founder and Executive Chairman of Econet Group. The Gates Foundation and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences identify him in this role.
Member of the Gates Foundation board of trustees. The Gates Foundation states that he has served on its board of trustees since January 2022.
Independent director of Netflix and member of its Nominating and Governance Committee.
Non-executive director of the UK's Advanced Research and Invention Agency. ARIA's 2024–25 annual report records his appointment from 1 April 2025.

Biographical facts

Masiyiwa was born in Zimbabwe in 1961.
He completed a degree in electrical and electronic engineering at Cardiff University.
He returned to Zimbabwe in 1984, worked briefly as a telecommunications engineer and established his first business in 1986.
Masiyiwa and his wife, Tsitsi Masiyiwa, founded Higherlife Foundation in 1996.

Connections

Affiliations

Affiliations associated with Strive Masiyiwa.

Cassava Technologies Founder and Executive Chairman present
Econet Group Founder and Executive Chairman present
Higherlife Foundation Co-founder 1996
Gates Foundation Board of trustees member 2022-01–present
Netflix Independent director; member of the Nominating and Governance Committee present
Advanced Research and Invention Agency Non-executive director 2025-04-01–present