Terra Industries, a defense technology startup co-founded by young Nigerians Nathan Nwachuku, 22, and Maxwell Maduka, 24, has successfully raised $11.75 million to combat rising insecurity across Africa. The funding round was led by US venture capital firm 8VC, with participation from notable investors including Valor Equity Partners and Lux Capital, signaling strong global confidence in the duo’s vision to protect the continent’s critical infrastructure through autonomous innovation.
Okay News reports that the company, which has now emerged from stealth mode, is building a vertically integrated platform powered by its proprietary “ArtemisOS” software to manage security threats in real-time.
This technology drives a suite of defensive tools—including long-range drones and autonomous sentry towers—which are already being deployed to secure high-value assets such as the Geometric Power Plant in Aba and mining operations in Ghana. Additionally, the startup revealed it has secured a separate $1.2 million, five-year contract to protect two hydroelectric power plants in northern Nigeria.
CEO Nathan Nwachuku emphasized that while Africa is undergoing rapid industrialization with billions of dollars invested in infrastructure annually, these advancements are constantly threatened by terrorism and organized crime in remote regions. He described insecurity as the continent’s “greatest Achilles heel,” arguing that homegrown, high-tech security solutions tailored to the African terrain are essential to safeguard the region’s economic future.
The newly acquired capital is earmarked for expanding Terra Industries’ manufacturing capabilities and growing its engineering teams to meet the increasing demand for effective security systems. With high-profile backing and board members like Alex Moore of Palantir, the startup aims to scale its operations beyond private sector asset protection into multinational border security and counterterrorism, providing a robust technological shield for Africa’s development.
