In a landmark deal that signals the maturation of Nigeria's tech ecosystem, defense technology startup Terra Industries has emerged from stealth with $11.75 million in funding led by Joe Lonsdale's 8VC. The company, founded by 22-year-old Nathan Nwachuku and 24-year-old Maxwell Maduka, is building autonomous systems to protect critical infrastructure across Africa.
The Investment
Funding Details
Lead Investor: 8VC (Joe Lonsdale)
Other Investors: Valor Equity Partners, Lux Capital, SV Angel, Nova Global
African Investors: Tofino Capital, Kaleo Ventures, DFS Lab
Previous Round: $800,000 pre-seed
What Terra Industries Does
Terra designs and manufactures autonomous defense systems to protect critical infrastructure from armed attacks. The company takes a multi-domain approach, developing solutions for air, ground, and maritime environments.
Product Portfolio
Air Domain: Long-range and short-range surveillance drones
Ground Domain: Surveillance towers and autonomous ground vehicles
Software: ArtemisOS - proprietary real-time threat detection and analysis platform
Commercial Traction
Terra has already generated over $2.5 million in commercial revenue and is protecting assets valued at approximately $11 billion. Current clients include at least two hydroelectric power plants and several mining operations.
Why This Matters for Foreign Investors
The Terra Industries deal highlights several important trends for international investors considering Nigeria:
- Top-tier US investors like 8VC, Lux Capital, and SV Angel are actively investing in Nigerian startups
- As foreign investment in Nigerian infrastructure grows, demand for security solutions will increase
- The defense tech sector represents a new frontier for venture capital in Africa
I-STRATA Advisory
For investors interested in Nigeria's emerging defense tech sector or seeking to protect their African infrastructure investments, I-STRATA provides introductions to key players, due diligence support, and ongoing advisory services.