Terra Re-enters Africa’s Defence Market With $11.75 Million Raise
Terra Industries, formerly known as Terrahaptix, has raised $11.75 million as it formally repositions itself as a defence company focused on securing critical infrastructure across Africa. The funding will be used to scale manufacturing operations as the company deepens its presence in the defence sector after a brief strategic exit.
Co-founder and CEO Nathan Nwachuku said the decision to fully embrace a defence identity reflects the growing urgency of security challenges across the continent.
Africa is industrialising rapidly, with new power plants, refineries, mines, and transport infrastructure emerging every month. According to Nwachuku, protecting these assets from terrorism and sabotage has become non-negotiable.
Terra’s latest funding round was led by 8VC, the venture firm founded by Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale. The round included participation from Valour Equity Partners, Lux Capital, SV Angel, Leblon Capital, Silent Ventures, Nova Global, and several angel investors, including Palantir board member Alex Moore and US-based investor Meyer Malka. All participants in the round are US-based investors.
Nwachuku noted that operating as a defence company requires a fundamentally different approach from other technology sectors. He said the company has had to carefully structure its governance and operations to meet the demands of protecting infrastructure worth trillions of dollars across the continent.
As part of this repositioning, Terra has strengthened its board with defence and security expertise. The company recently appointed Eliot Pence, a former executive at US defence giant Anduril, which was last valued at $14 billion. Alex Moore of Palantir has also joined Terra’s board, reinforcing its strategic and operational depth.
These moves have already translated into commercial traction. Within a year of launching, Terra recorded $2 million in total orders. In 2025, the company secured a $1.2 million contract to protect hydropower dams, beating out an Israeli defence firm for the deal.
The new capital will be channelled into expanding Terra’s manufacturing footprint. The company plans to build additional factories and hire more engineers to increase production capacity and meet rising demand.
While Terra’s core mission remains unchanged, the scope has broadened. The company is now explicitly focused on ensuring Africa’s long-term industrial security.
Nwachuku emphasised that Africa’s economic progress will be undermined if insecurity remains unresolved. He said Terra’s goal is to give the continent a technological advantage in protecting its industrial assets and countering terrorism.
Despite its strong backing from Silicon Valley investors, some observers have questioned whether Terra can maintain its African identity. In response, Nwachuku said the company still has African investors from its initial $640,000 seed round.
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Co-founder and CTO Maduka echoed this sentiment, stressing that Terra’s technology is built by African engineers for African infrastructure. He added that the company is creating skilled jobs, building advanced manufacturing capacity, and ensuring that intellectual property related to Africa’s security remains on the continent.
Taking on more government contracts
While Terra has generated revenue from commercial clients in sectors such as mining and oil and gas, it plans to prioritise government contracts going forward. The company currently helps secure infrastructure assets valued at approximately $11 billion across Africa.
According to Nwachuku, this shift aligns closely with Terra’s mission while also unlocking larger and more stable revenue opportunities.
With its latest funding, Terra now sits alongside competitors such as Sora, which has raised $7.3 million to deploy AI-powered drones across multiple industries. However, Terra’s strong ties to Silicon Valley defence and deep-tech investors may give it a competitive edge.
Although Terra’s product portfolio extends beyond drones, the Archer Drone remains one of its flagship offerings. Across Africa, drone-focused companies such as Sora and Zipline continue to attract significant investor interest, highlighting growing confidence in aerial and autonomous technologies.
As the only African-founded company among the leading defence-tech players operating at this scale, Terra’s trajectory carries broader significance. Its success could play a critical role not only in safeguarding vital infrastructure but also in establishing Africa as a serious player in the global deep-tech and defence innovation landscape.
