A new generation of African entrepreneurs is stepping boldly into the defense technology space, raising significant capital to confront the continent’s persistent security challenges. Terra Industries, a Nigeria-based defense company founded by 22-year-old Nathan Nwachuku and his longtime collaborator, 24-year-old Maxwell Maduka, has emerged from stealth with an $11.75 million funding round. The investment signals growing confidence in locally built solutions to terrorism and infrastructure insecurity, issues that continue to threaten Africa’s economic growth despite its rapid industrialisation and youthful population.

Nwachuku, who previously spent five years building an edtech startup, said the idea for Terra Industries was born from a growing concern that insecurity could stall Africa’s progress. Africa records some of the highest terror-related fatalities globally, a reality that underscores the need for more responsive and sovereign defense systems. Terra Industries was created to design autonomous and intelligent infrastructure capable of helping governments and organisations detect, monitor, and respond to threats across land, air, and water.

The funding round was led by Joe Lonsdale’s 8VC, with participation from Valor Equity Partners, Lux Capital, SV Angel, and Nova Global, alongside African-backed firms such as Tofino Capital, Kaleo Ventures, and DFS Lab. The company had earlier raised an $800,000 pre-seed round and gained further investor attention after being featured on CNN. Based in Abuja, Terra Industries boasts a technically experienced team, including engineers with Nigerian military backgrounds, while Nigeria’s Vice Air Marshal Ayo Jolasinmi serves as an advisor. Maduka, the company’s Chief Technology Officer, previously served in the Nigerian Navy and founded a drone company as a teenager.

At the core of Terra’s operations is its proprietary software platform, ArtemisOS, which processes real-time intelligence data to detect and flag potential threats for rapid response. The company argues that Africa’s primary security gap is not weaponry, but intelligence independence, as many countries rely heavily on foreign powers for surveillance and threat assessment. Terra’s systems are already being deployed to protect critical assets such as hydroelectric power plants, mines, and other infrastructure, with the company reporting over $2.5 million in commercial revenue and assets worth approximately $11 billion under protection.

Looking ahead, Terra Industries plans to use the new funding to expand manufacturing and defense facilities across Africa, deepen its artificial intelligence capabilities, and scale its software operations globally through offices in San Francisco and London. However, the founders insist that production will remain rooted in Africa to support job creation and technological sovereignty. For Nwachuku, the mission is both economic and existential: safeguarding Africa’s core infrastructure, he believes, is essential to securing the continent’s future and breaking free from decades of dependency and vulnerability.

Source: Techcrunch