Terra Industries, an Africa-based defense technology startup, has secured an additional $18 million in funding

Terra Industries, a Nigerian defense technology startup, added another $18 million to its seed funding round, bringing the total seed investment to $52 million.

Founded in 2024 by Nathan Nwachuku and Maxwell Maduka, the company plans to use the new investment to open its first office outside of Africa in London. Production operations are expected to continue in Nigeria and Ghana.

The company’s investors include 8VC, Silent Ventures, Nova Global, Belief Capital, and SV Angel, as well as new investor Norleo Space Investments and angel investor Grant Gordon.

Terra Industries develops autonomous drones, defensive drones, security towers, and unmanned ground vehicles. It connects these systems via its ArtemisOS software platform, which it developed for threat detection, mission planning, and coordinated response in land, air, and sea environments.

One of the company’s primary goals is to design and manufacture systems tailored to Africa’s specific conditions to address the continent’s critical infrastructure and security needs. Terra aims to develop solutions suited to factors such as temperature, dust, communications infrastructure, and regional threats, while ensuring local control over production and data.

New Factory in Ghana

One of the most significant steps in Terra’s growth plan is the new 34,000 ft² production facility currently under construction in Accra, Ghana. Scheduled to begin operations in the fourth quarter of 2026, the factory is expected to be more than twice the size of the company’s current facility in Abuja.

The company aims for the facility to reach an annual production capacity of 50,000 drones by 2028. The new investment is planned to be used to increase production capacity, accelerate field operations, and expand the engineering, operations, and business development teams.

London Expansion

Terra’s London office is part of the company’s strategy to expand its access to the defense technology ecosystem in Europe. London is expected to serve as a key hub for establishing closer ties with defense agencies, investors, and companies in the field of autonomous systems.

The company thus aims to increase its access to capital and the defense technology ecosystem in Europe while continuing its production and operations in Africa.