Terra Industries Closes Landmark $52 Million Seed Round for Autonomous Security Systems

Nigerian defence-technology startup Terra Industries has closed a remarkable $52 million seed round, marking Africa’s largest ever in this sector. The additional $18 million came from new investors Norleo Space Investments and angel Grant Gordon, joining existing backers 8VC, Silent Ventures, Nova Global, Belief Capital, and SV Angel.

Strategic Expansion Plans

With this significant capital infusion, Terra Industries will:

• Open its first international office in London to access global markets and talent
• Expand manufacturing capacity with new facilities across Africa and beyond
• Accelerate product deployment throughout the Global South
• Grow key teams in engineering, operations, and business development

The company has already achieved considerable milestones this year, including:

• $11.75 million raised in January, setting a record for African defence-tech
• Follow-on round of $22 million led by Lux Capital just one month later
• Announcement of a 34,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Ghana
• Partnership with Nigeria’s Defence Industries Corporation (DICON)

Addressing Critical Infrastructure Needs

“Critical infrastructure across the Global South is best protected by systems designed for these environments and built in the regions they protect,” stated Nathan Nwachuku, co-founder and CEO of Terra Industries. “This funding enables us to scale that work and deepen our manufacturing base while ensuring we have a voice in global defence decision-making.”

Terra’s autonomous security solutions are specifically designed for environments where traditional methods fall short. The company develops:

• Long- and mid-range drones with advanced surveillance capabilities
• Interceptor drone technology to neutralize threats
• Sentry towers equipped with AI-powered threat detection
• Unmanned ground vehicles for perimeter security

All systems operate on ArtemisOS, Terra’s proprietary software platform that provides real-time intelligence and coordinated responses.

Manufacturing Footprint Across Africa

The company currently operates a 15,000-square-foot facility in Abuja, Nigeria (Pax-1) and is building a larger 34,000-square-foot factory in Ghana (Pax-2), which will become the continent’s largest drone manufacturing hub. With plans to extend across the Gulf, South America, and South Asia, Terra aims to establish regional production centers worldwide.

Terra’s technology currently protects approximately $11 billion in critical assets across multiple African nations.