Terra Industries, a Nigerian defense technology company specializing in autonomous systems, has announced the successful close of an $11.75 million funding round to scale its operations across Africa.
The investment marks a significant milestone for the continent’s burgeoning tech ecosystem, signaling a shift toward high-stakes hardware and sovereign security solutions.
The funding round was led by the prominent U.S. venture capital firm 8VC, which was founded by Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale. The deal also saw participation from a heavyweight roster of Silicon Valley investors, including Valor Equity Partners, Lux Capital, SV Angel, and Silent Ventures, as well as notable angel investors like Micky Malka. As part of the investment, Alex Moore, a partner at 8VC and a board member at Palantir, has joined the Terra Industries board, further bridging the gap between Nigerian innovation and global defense-tech expertise.
Founded in 2024 by 22-year-old Nathan Nwachuku and 24-year-old Maxwell Maduka, Terra Industries (formerly known as Terrahaptix) has quickly established itself as a pioneer in the “defense prime” model on the continent. The company designs and manufactures long-range drones, autonomous sentry towers, and unmanned ground vehicles at its 15,000-square-foot facility in Abuja. These systems are unified by ArtemisOS, a proprietary software platform that allows for real-time threat detection and coordinated autonomous responses in land, air, and maritime environments.
CEO Nathan Nwachuku noted that the company’s mission is to provide African nations with sovereign intelligence, reducing the long-standing reliance on foreign defense contractors from the West, China, and Russia. This strategy has already proven commercially viable; the startup reports more than $2.5 million in revenue and currently protects critical infrastructure valued at roughly $11 billion, including hydropower plants and mining operations in Nigeria and Ghana.
“Africa is industrializing faster than any other region, with new mines, refineries, and power plants emerging every month. But none of that progress will matter if we don’t solve the continent’s greatest Achilles heel, which is insecurity and terrorism. Our mission is to give Africa the technological edge to protect its industrial future and defeat terrorism.” he said.
The fresh capital is earmarked for several strategic goals, including the expansion of manufacturing capacity in Abuja and the growth of engineering teams in San Francisco and London. Beyond industrial security, Terra Industries plans to deploy its autonomous systems for cross-border surveillance and counter-terrorism efforts, addressing the security gaps created by Africa’s rapid industrialization and the vulnerability of remote infrastructure.
CTO Maxwell Maduka, a former Nigerian Navy drone engineer, emphasized that the technology is built by African engineers specifically for African terrain.
“This is African technology, built by African engineers, for African infrastructure. We are creating skilled jobs, building advanced manufacturing capacity, and ensuring the intellectual property behind Africa’s security stays on the continent.” he said.
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