Terra Industries Launches Commercial Arm to Secure Private Infrastructure

Nigeria-based defence-tech company Terra Industries has established a commercial division focused on selling its autonomous security systems directly to private infrastructure operators. This expansion moves beyond the government and military contracts that have defined the company since 2024.

The new unit will target companies managing power plants, pipelines, mines, ports, and refineries across Africa, as well as in regions like South America, South Asia, and the Gulf. These sectors experience significant financial losses annually due to theft, sabotage, organized crime, and operational inefficiencies—losses Terra estimates at billions of dollars.

Terra’s autonomous air and ground systems provide comprehensive perimeter security, threat detection, and large-scale inspections, all coordinated through ArtemisOS, its proprietary operating platform. According to co-founder and CEO Nathan Nwachuku, while government and military work remain core to Terra’s mission, the commercial division creates a sustainable partnership ecosystem across industries.

Leadership for Growth

To lead this expansion, Terra has appointed Todd Stiefler as Director of Commercial. Stiefler brings extensive experience from previous roles at WHOOP (where he led B2B growth) and Palantir (building go-to-market teams for defence-tech programs). His background in regulated industries positions him to navigate complex markets and transform partnerships into deployed solutions.

The commercial division leverages infrastructure Terra already protects across multiple African countries, including power plants and mines with a combined asset value of approximately $11 billion. This follows the company’s recent $52 million seed round—its largest funding to date—backed by investors like 8VC, Silent Ventures, and Norleo Space Investments.

With this expansion, Terra is positioning private capital as a key driver for autonomous security solutions across the Global South, complementing its existing government contracts.