Terra Industries Raises $11.75M From US Investors to Build Africa’s Defence Tech at Home

Did you know that one of Africa’s biggest seed rounds just happened… in defence tech?

Terra Industries, an African defence technology startup co-founded by Nigerians Nathan Nwachuku (22) and Maxwell Maduka (24), believes Africa’s defence should be built- not imported.

The founders announced on X that the company has raised $11.75 million in seed funding, one of the largest seed rounds ever raised by an African defence startup. The raise also surpasses Kuda’s $10 million seed round in 2020, making it one of the biggest by a Nigerian startup.

Terra was founded to give Africa the technological edge needed for resource protection and counterterrorism, with a focus on building defence systems on the continent.

The company, formerly known as Terrahaptix, builds autonomous defence systems to protect critical infrastructure. Even though Terra only just came out of stealth, it already secures assets worth $11 billion across the continent.

Yes- billion, with a “B.”

The $11.75 million seed round led by 8VC, a VC led by Palantir co-founder @JTLonsdale. Other investors include Valor Equity Partners, Lux Capital, SV Angel, and Silent Ventures. Alex Moore, a board director at Palantir, also invested and is joining Terra’s board.

Building Defence Systems and Drones For Africa

“We need to protect Africa’s critical infrastructure from terrorist attacks,”

- Nathan Nwachukwu

Terra Industries is building Africa’s first defense technology prime – a unified, vertically integrated platform of autonomous systems designed for the continent’s scale, terrain, and operating realities.

Terra’s portfolio includes long- and mid-range drones, autonomous sentry towers, unmanned ground vehicles, and maritime surveillance systems, all powered by ArtemisOS, Terra’s proprietary software platform. ArtemisOS enables real-time threat detection, autonomous mission planning, and coordinated response across vast and difficult environments where traditional security models struggle to operate and scale.

And here’s the wild part: Terra has built the largest drone factory in Africa. The 15,000-square-foot facility in Abuja, Nigeria, is where the company manufactures its defence hardware.

Terra once tried to distance itself from the defence label, but not anymore. According to CEO Nathan Nwachuku, the company is fully embracing its role as a defence startup

With fresh funding and serious backing, Terra Industries is betting that Africa’s defence tech future can- and should- be built at home.

Giving Africa the Tech Edge

In another article back in 2024, Nathan Nwachuku, one of the co-founders, explained that the idea behind starting Terrahaptix with Maxwell Maduka was simple: build something from Africa that truly matters.

“I think I’m a Pan-Africanist,”. “I want to see Africa work in my lifetime.”

-Nathan Nwachuku

That mission hasn’t changed. But it has expanded.

Today, the company- now known as Terra Industries- is focused on a much bigger problem: security. As Africa industrialises at an unprecedented pace, Terra believes protecting that progress is just as important as building it.

“Africa is industrialising faster than any other region, with new mines, refineries, and power plants emerging every month,” Nwachuku said. “But none of that progress will matter if we don’t solve the continent’s greatest Achilles heel: insecurity and terrorism. Our mission is to give Africa the technological edge to protect its industrial future and defeat terrorism.”

Not everyone is convinced. Some critics have questioned whether a company backed by foreign investors can truly deliver on that promise. Nwachuku pushes back on that narrative, pointing out that Terra still counts African investors from the earliest $640,000 raise among its backers.

Also Read: 5 Incredible AI Startups to Watch

Maxwell Maduka, Terra’s co-founder and CTO, is even more direct about where the company’s priorities lie.

“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.”

- Maxwell Maduka, co-founder and CTO of Terra Industries.

For Terra Industries, the goal isn’t just to build defence technology- it’s to make sure Africa owns the tools that protect its future.

2026 is shaping up to be a massive year for tech in Africa- not because more money is coming in, but because founders are building painkillers that solve real, urgent problems.

We can’t wait to see all the amazing things builders & creators in Africa have in store for us.

Do you think Africa is ready?

Share your thoughts in the comments below.