African defence technology startup Terra has secured $22 million in a follow-on funding round completed in under two weeks, just a month after closing an $11.8 million round. The rapid rise brings Terra’s total funding to $34 million, pushing its valuation above $100 million, a rare milestone for a hardware startup founded only two years ago, as reported by Business Insider Africa.
Founded in 2024 by 22-year-old CEO Nathan Nwachuku and 24-year-old co-founder Maxwell Maduka, Terra builds autonomous defence systems, including drones, sentry towers, and unmanned ground vehicles, powered by its proprietary software platform, ArtemisOS.
These systems are deployed across multiple African countries to secure infrastructure assets valued at approximately $11 billion, with commercial contracts worth tens of millions of dollars and over $2.5 million in revenue already generated.
The follow-on round was led by Lux Capital, with repeat participation from 8VC, Nova Global, and Silent Ventures, and new investors including Belief Capital, Tofino Capital, and Resilience17 Capital, founded by Flutterwave CEO Olugbenga Agboola. Angel investors Jordan Nel and Hollywood actor Jared Leto also participated. Lux Capital, which recently raised $1.5 billion, is known for backing major U.S. defence technology firms.
“Africa is industrialising faster than any other region,” Nwachuku said. “But none of that progress will matter if we don’t solve the continent’s greatest Achilles’ heel, which is insecurity and terrorism.”
Terra is positioning itself as a locally integrated alternative to imported defence systems from Russia, China, and Western suppliers, which are often expensive to maintain and carry geopolitical risks. Its technology enables real-time threat detection and coordinated response across land, air, and maritime environments.
The new capital will fund a major expansion of Terra’s manufacturing facility in Abuja, accelerate deployments across allied African countries, and recruit senior engineering and business leaders in Africa, London, and San Francisco. The startup plans to scale drone production to 40,000 units annually.
In a significant step toward international expansion, Terra has partnered with AIC Steel, a Saudi industrial group, to establish its first manufacturing facility outside Africa. This move provides access to Middle Eastern markets while maintaining focus on African infrastructure security.
The defence technology sector is globally capital-intensive, with many autonomous systems companies raising billions before reaching maturity. Within Africa’s emerging defence-tech landscape, Terra’s rapid funding and $100 million-plus valuation mark a significant achievement.
Backed by major Silicon Valley investors and leading African tech figures, Terra aims to meet the continent’s growing demand for homegrown security solutions as critical infrastructure development accelerates.
