Two young African entrepreneurs are working to change how the continent protects its future. Nathan Nwachuku, 22, and Maxwell Maduka, 24, have raised $11.75 million for their Nigerian-based startup, Terra Industries, a defense technology company building autonomous systems to help governments and businesses monitor and respond to security threats across Africa.
The funding round was led by Silicon Valley venture firm 8VC, founded by Joe Lonsdale, with support from Valor Equity Partners, Lux Capital, SV Angel, and Nova Global. African investors, including Tofino Capital, Kaleo Ventures, and DFS Lab, also participated. The raise follows an earlier $800,000 pre-seed round and increased global attention after the startup featured on CNN.
Nathan Nwachuku said the idea for Terra Industries took shape after five years of building an education technology company. During that time, he watched Africa enter a phase of rapid industrial growth, expanding investment, and rising youth entrepreneurship. At the same time, insecurity continued to spread across many regions. Africa now records more terrorism-related deaths than any other part of the world, a trend he believes could slow or even reverse economic progress if left unchecked.
Founded in Abuja, Terra Industries develops technology designed to protect critical infrastructure on land, in the air, and at sea. The company builds long-range and short-range drones, smart surveillance towers, and ground-based autonomous vehicles. It is also working on maritime systems to safeguard offshore oil platforms and underwater pipelines. At the center of its operations is ArtemisOS, proprietary software that collects and analyzes real-time data from deployed systems, identifies potential threats, and alerts security agencies so they can respond quickly.
Nathan Nwachuku said the company aims to digitally geofence Africa’s most valuable assets, including power stations, mines, transport hubs, and energy facilities. He added that while many African armies already possess weapons, the continent still depends heavily on foreign powers for intelligence. Much of the strategic security data used by African governments comes from Western countries, China, and Russia. Terra Industries wants to reduce that dependence by building sovereign defense technology within Africa.
The startup has assembled a team with strong military and technical experience. About 40 percent of its engineers previously worked in the Nigerian military. Maduka, who serves as chief technology officer, also worked as an engineer in the Nigerian Navy and founded a drone company at the age of 19. Alex Moore, a defense technology investor at 8VC, sits on the company’s board, while Nigeria’s Vice Air Marshal Ayo Jolasinmi serves as an advisor.
Terra Industries recently secured its first federal government contract, although it has not disclosed details. The company also earns revenue from commercial clients that pay for system installations and annual data processing and storage services. It says it has generated more than $2.5 million in commercial revenue and currently protects assets valued at about $11 billion, including gold mines, power stations, and at least two hydroelectric plants, with most of its customers based in Nigeria.
With fresh funding, Terra Industries plans to expand across Africa, build additional defense manufacturing facilities on the continent, and grow its artificial intelligence capabilities. It will open software offices in San Francisco and London to access global engineering talent, but manufacturing will remain in Africa to support local jobs and regional supply chains.
According to Nathan Nwachuku, Africa’s long-term independence depends on its ability to protect its own resources and infrastructure. He described the current moment as a decisive period for the continent and said lasting progress will only come when Africa controls the systems that keep its economies and communities safe.
