Abuja, Nigeria Terra Industries, a pioneering defense technology company, has officially emerged from stealth, announcing $11.75 million in funding to build Africa’s first defense technology prime. The financing 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 notable angel investors including Micky Malka. Alex Moore, Defense Partner at 8VC and Board Director at Palantir, also joined Terra Industries’ board last year.
Addressing Africa’s Security Gap
Founded in 2024 by Nathan Nwachuku, 22, and Maxwell Maduka, 24, Terra Industries develops autonomous systems to help governments and critical infrastructure operators monitor, secure, and respond to threats across land, air, and maritime environments. Its technology is already deployed to protect power plants, mines, and other vital assets across multiple African countries. The company aims to close a widening gap where Africa’s rapid industrialization and infrastructure growth outpace the security measures needed to protect them.
A Unified Defense Technology Platform
Africa holds 30% of global critical mineral reserves and is investing nearly $100 billion annually in infrastructure, often in remote or unstable regions vulnerable to crime, terrorism, and illegal resource extraction. To address these risks, Terra Industries is building the continent’s first vertically integrated defense technology prime, combining autonomous drones, sentry towers, ground vehicles, and maritime surveillance systems under its proprietary ArtemisOS platform. ArtemisOS allows real-time threat detection, autonomous mission planning, and coordinated response across challenging environments where traditional security approaches struggle to scale.
Proven Impact and Expanding Scope
Terra Industries already protects infrastructure valued at approximately $11 billion, with contracts spanning power plants in Aba and northern Nigeria as well as gold and lithium mines in Nigeria and Ghana. While the company initially focused on industrial security, it is now expanding into multinational border security and counterterrorism amid rising regional instability. The funding will support scaling manufacturing, growing engineering and software teams, and deploying additional autonomous systems across allied African nations.
Expertise and African-Led Innovation
The founders bring deep technical knowledge and firsthand experience with Africa’s security challenges. Nwachuku, a former Physics Olympiad representative, built an edtech platform reaching hundreds of thousands worldwide before turning to industrial security, while Maduka served as a lead UAV engineer in the Nigerian Navy and founded a drone company acquired by an automotive manufacturer. Together, they lead a multidisciplinary team spanning software, manufacturing, and operations, drawing expertise from the Nigerian armed forces, global tech companies, and Western defense organizations.
Local Manufacturing and Data Sovereignty
Terra Industries designs and manufactures its systems in Africa, employing primarily local engineers in a 15,000-square-foot facility in Abuja, with plans to expand leadership roles in San Francisco and London. The company emphasizes that its technology is “built by African engineers, for African infrastructure,” creating skilled jobs, advanced manufacturing capacity, and retaining intellectual property on the continent. By competing directly with foreign defense systems, Terra offers stronger data sovereignty, integrated hardware-software solutions, and faster on-the-ground support than global incumbents.
With $11.75 million in new funding, Terra Industries is poised to scale its operations and accelerate the deployment of autonomous security systems across Africa. Its integrated defense platform positions the company to secure critical infrastructure, strengthen regional stability, and provide a technological edge to the continent as industrialization advances. By combining African talent, local manufacturing, and cutting-edge technology, Terra Industries is shaping the future of defense and infrastructure security in Africa.