KEY POINTS
- Terra raised $11.75 million to scale African defense technology.
- Funding supports autonomous security for critical infrastructure.
- Systems already protect assets valued at about $11 billion.
Nigerian defense technology startup Terra Industries has raised $11.75 million as it emerges from stealth, aiming to position itself as Africa’s first homegrown defense technology prime focused on autonomous security for critical infrastructure.
The funding round was led by U.S. venture firm 8VC, founded by Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale, with participation from Valor Equity Partners, Lux Capital, SV Angel, Leblon Capital, Silent Ventures, Nova Global and angel investor Micky Malka. Alex Moore, a defense partner at 8VC and a Palantir board director, joined Terra’s board last year.
Founded in 2024 by Nathan Nwachuku and Maxwell Maduka, Terra designs and manufactures autonomous systems deployed across land, air and maritime environments. The company says its technology already secures infrastructure assets valued at about $11 billion across Nigeria and Ghana.
African defense technology attracts global capital
Alex Moore said Terra is addressing a longstanding constraint on investment across the continent. “Nathan and Maxwell have assembled a strong team to take on one of Africa’s most pressing challenges,” he said, citing insecurity around industrial and energy assets.
Terra said it will use the $11.75 million to expand manufacturing capacity, hire engineering and software talent, and scale deployments of its autonomous platforms across allied African countries.
According to Billionaires Africa, Africa holds roughly 30 percent of global critical mineral reserves and invests close to $100 billion annually in infrastructure. Much of that spending targets remote or high risk regions, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Sahel, where militant activity, illegal mining and organized crime disrupt operations and deter capital.
Nwachuku, Terra’s chief executive, said the pace of industrialization has outstripped security capacity. “Africa is industrializing faster than any other region,” he said. “That progress is fragile if infrastructure remains exposed.”
African defense technology built for local risks
Terra’s vertically integrated platform includes drones, autonomous sentry towers, unmanned ground vehicles and maritime surveillance tools, linked through its proprietary ArtemisOS software. The system further enables real time threat detection, automated mission planning and coordinated responses across difficult terrain.
Current deployments include the Geometric Power Plant in Aba, two hydropower plants in northern Nigeria, and gold and lithium mining sites in Nigeria and Ghana. The company is also expanding into cross-border security and counterterrorism as regional risks intensify.
Furthermore, Chief Technology Officer Maxwell Maduka said the company’s focus extends beyond hardware. “This is African technology, built by African engineers, for African infrastructure,” he said, adding that Terra aims to retain advanced manufacturing and security expertise on the continent.
Terra also operates a 15,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Abuja and plans to expand engineering leadership and business development teams in San Francisco and London.
