Amanze Chinonye
Terra Industries, a Nigerian-founded defence technology startup, has raised $11.75 million in seed funding as it steps out of stealth and positions itself to become Africa’s first vertically integrated defence technology prime, focused on locally built autonomous security systems for critical infrastructure.
The funding round was led by U.S. venture capital 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 investors including Micky Malka. Alex Moore, an 8VC partner and Palantir board director, joined Terra’s board last year, strengthening the company’s strategic and defence-sector depth.
Founded in 2024 by Nathan Nwachuku (CEO) and Maxwell Maduka (CTO), Terra Industries develops autonomous defence and surveillance systems that integrate hardware and software into a single platform designed for African operating environments. Its proprietary command-and-control software, ArtemisOS, powers a range of systems including long- and mid-range drones, autonomous sentry towers, unmanned ground vehicles, and maritime surveillance platforms.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelUnlike many African security deployments that rely heavily on imported systems, Terra manufactures its technology locally. The company operates a 15,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Abuja, one of the largest drone and autonomous systems factories on the continent, and employs predominantly African engineers and operators.
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Terra says its systems are already deployed to protect critical infrastructure assets valued at about $11 billion, including the Geometric Power Plant in Aba, hydropower facilities in northern Nigeria, and gold and lithium mining operations in Nigeria and Ghana.
While the company began with infrastructure protection, it is now expanding into cross-border security and counterterrorism deployments as instability persists across parts of West and Central Africa.
Africa’s infrastructure boom backed by rising investment in energy, mining, and transport has exposed a parallel challenge: securing assets spread across vast, remote, and often volatile regions. Terra’s strategy centres on data sovereignty, rapid deployment, and locally supported systems, offering an alternative to foreign defence vendors whose solutions are often expensive, slow to deploy, and tightly controlled offshore.
“Africa cannot depend indefinitely on imported defence systems to protect its most strategic assets,” said Nathan Nwachuku, co-founder and CEO. “Our focus is building sovereign capability technology that is designed, manufactured, and operated from within the continent.”
With the new funding, Terra plans to expand manufacturing capacity, grow its engineering and AI teams, and scale deployments across additional African markets. The company also plans to build out software and commercial leadership teams in San Francisco and London, while keeping core manufacturing and system design anchored in Africa.
“This is not just about security,” said Maxwell Maduka, co-founder and CTO. “It’s about building advanced manufacturing capability, retaining intellectual property, and proving that Africa can design and produce world-class defence technology.”
Investors say Terra’s model combining local manufacturing, proprietary software, and autonomous systems sets it apart in a sector where African startups are rare.
“Nathan and Maxwell have built a team capable of competing globally while solving a deeply local problem,” said Alex Moore, Partner at 8VC.
As African governments and infrastructure operators increasingly prioritise sovereign control, resilience, and rapid response, Terra Industries’ emergence signals a shift toward locally built defence technology as a strategic pillar of the continent’s security architecture.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
