A new generation of African founders is moving fast to reshape the continent’s security future, and a Nigerian defense startup is now at the center of that shift. Terra Industries has raised $11.75 million in fresh funding, signaling growing global confidence in locally built defense technology designed specifically for Africa’s needs. The company was founded by 22-year-old Nathan Nwachuku and 24-year-old Maxwell Maduka, two Gen Z entrepreneurs determined to put African security back into African hands.
After spending five years building an education technology company, Nwachuku began to see a deeper structural problem holding Africa back. He believes the continent is on the edge of a major industrial transformation, driven by capital inflows, natural resources, and one of the youngest populations in the world. Yet insecurity and terrorism remain a critical brake on that progress, threatening infrastructure, investment, and long-term stability.
Africa continues to record more terror-related deaths than any other region globally. According to Nwachuku, this persistent insecurity risks stalling growth just as opportunity is accelerating. That realization pushed him to pivot from edtech into defense technology, an area he believes is foundational for sustainable development across the continent.
Together with Maduka, who now serves as CTO, Nwachuku launched Terra Industries, a defense company focused on autonomous systems and infrastructure protection. This week, the startup emerged from stealth mode with a $11.75 million funding round led by 8VC, the venture firm founded by Joe Lonsdale. The round also included participation from Valor Equity Partners, Lux Capital, SV Angel, and Nova Global.
Before this round, Terra had already raised $800,000 in pre-seed funding. Interest in the company increased sharply after a feature on CNN, according to Nwachuku. The cap table also includes African investors such as Tofino Capital, Kaleo Ventures, and DFS Lab, reinforcing Terra’s pan-African positioning.
The ambition behind Terra is bold. Nwachuku says the long-term goal is to build Africa’s first true defense prime, capable of designing and manufacturing autonomous defense systems that protect critical infrastructure and strategic resources from armed threats. Maduka, who previously served as an engineer in the Nigerian Navy and founded a drone company at 19, leads the company’s technical vision.
Terra’s internal team reflects its military focus. Around 40 percent of its engineers previously held similar roles within the Nigerian military. The company’s board and advisory group also bring deep defense experience, including Alex Moore from 8VC, who specializes in defense investments, and Nigerian Vice Air Marshal Ayo Jolasinmi, who serves as an advisor.
Headquartered in Abuja, Terra takes a multi-domain approach to security. Its systems are designed to protect infrastructure across land, air, and water. In the air, the company builds both long-range and short-range drones for surveillance and monitoring. On the ground, it deploys surveillance towers and autonomous ground vehicles to track and detect threats. Maritime systems are still under development, with a focus on protecting offshore oil rigs and underwater pipelines.
All of Terra’s hardware is powered by its proprietary software platform, ArtemisOS. The system collects, analyzes, and synthesizes data in real time, allowing threats to be detected early and flagged immediately to response forces such as military or security agencies. Once a threat is identified, ArtemisOS enables rapid interception before damage occurs.
Nwachuku emphasizes that Africa’s security challenge is not a lack of weapons. Many African militaries already possess significant firepower. The deeper issue, he argues, is a lack of sovereign intelligence. Much of the intelligence African nations rely on today comes from Western governments, China, or Russia, creating dependency and strategic blind spots.
Terra aims to change that dynamic by building locally controlled intelligence systems. The company wants to geofence Africa’s most important infrastructure and natural resources, ensuring that surveillance and threat detection are owned, operated, and understood by Africans themselves. Nwachuku describes Terra as the first truly pan-African defense company built with that mission at its core.
The startup has already begun translating its vision into revenue. Terra recently secured its first federal government contract, though details remain confidential. It generates income when governments and commercial clients purchase Terra systems and then pay annual fees for data processing and storage services. According to the company, Terra has already generated more than $2.5 million in commercial revenue.
Much of that revenue comes from protecting private infrastructure such as gold mines and power plants. Terra says it is currently securing at least two hydropower facilities and several smaller mining operations, with most customers based in Nigeria. In total, the company estimates it is protecting assets valued at roughly $11 billion.
With the new funding, Terra plans to scale aggressively across the continent. The company intends to build additional defense manufacturing facilities in multiple African countries, a move designed to increase capacity while creating skilled local jobs. While Terra will open software offices in San Francisco and London, all manufacturing will remain in Africa.
The startup also plans to expand its software capabilities and grow its artificial intelligence team, further strengthening ArtemisOS and its real-time intelligence features. Nwachuku believes that protecting infrastructure is the foundation for Africa’s long-term independence and economic resilience.
He describes the current moment as a struggle for the continent’s survival. In his view, breaking free from decades of stagnation requires absolute control over Africa’s core resources and infrastructure. For Terra Industries, defense is not just about security. It is about sovereignty, growth, and the future of an entire continent.
