Terra Industries (formerly known as Terrahaptix) has officially emerged from stealth mode, announcing a record-breaking $11.75 million seed funding round. This investment, led by Silicon Valley’s 8VC, marks a pivotal moment for African sovereign security, positioning Terra as the continent’s first “defense prime”—a vertically integrated technology provider similar to the U.S. firm Anduril.
The company is led by two young visionaries: Nathan Nwachuku (22), a former Physics Olympiad representative and edtech founder, and Maxwell Maduka (24), a former Nigerian Navy UAV engineer who previously sold his first drone startup to an automotive firm.
1. Strategic Backing from Global Defense Giants
The funding round is notable for its direct connection to the world’s most successful modern defense firms.
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Lead Investor: 8VC, founded by Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale.
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Board Leadership: Alex Moore, a defense partner at 8VC and director at Palantir, has joined Terra’s board.
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Consortium: Participants include Valor Equity Partners, Lux Capital, SV Angel, and Silent Ventures, alongside African-focused funds like Tofino Capital and DFS Lab.
2. The Technology: ArtemisOS and Multi-Domain Autonomy
Terra’s strategy centers on “ArtemisOS,” a proprietary AI-powered operating system that orchestrates a family of autonomous hardware to detect and respond to threats in real-time.
| System Category | Products | Primary Function |
| Air | Archer VTOL & Iroko UAV | Long-range surveillance and first response. |
| Land | Duma UGV | Autonomous ground vehicle for patrols and cargo. |
| Perimeter | Kallon Sentry Tower | Solar-powered towers tracking threats up to 3km away. |
| Maritime | Proprietary Systems | Monitoring offshore rigs, ports, and subsea pipelines. |
3. Real-World Impact and Deployments
Terra’s systems are not just concepts; they are already protecting critical infrastructure valued at $11 billion across Africa.
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Energy: Securing the Geometric Power Plant in Aba, hydropower plants in Northern Nigeria, and various gas pipelines.
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Mining: Protecting high-value lithium and gold mining sites in Nigeria and Ghana.
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Success Rate: In 2025, Terra successfully beat an established Israeli defense firm to secure a $1.2 million contract to protect strategic hydropower dams.
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Financial Traction: The startup has already generated over $2.5 million in commercial revenue and recently secured its first undisclosed federal government contract.
4. Expansion and 2026 Vision
Headquartered in Abuja, Terra operates a 15,000-square-foot manufacturing facility—currently the largest drone factory on the continent.
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Job Creation: The engineering team is composed primarily of African talent, including many veterans of the Nigerian Army and Navy.
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Global Footprint: While manufacturing remains on the continent to ensure data sovereignty and local expertise, the company is opening software and business development offices in San Francisco and London.
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Mission: “To give Africa the technological edge needed to protect its own future.”
“This is African technology, built by African engineers, for African infrastructure. We are keeping the critical security know-how on the continent.” — Maxwell Maduka, CTO
