Terra Industries raises $18M to expand defense tech operations

Terra Industries, a Nigerian defense technology startup, has secured an additional $18 million in funding, bringing its total seed financing to $52 million. Founded in 2024 by Nathan Nwachuku and Maxwell Maduka, the company develops autonomous security systems across aerial, ground, and maritime domains to protect critical infrastructure.

The company plans to use the new capital to establish its first international office in London and expand its manufacturing capabilities. A key component of this expansion is the Pax-2 facility in Ghana, a 34,000-square-foot factory expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2026. Once operational, the facility aims to produce up to 50,000 aerial systems annually by 2028, potentially becoming the largest drone manufacturing site on the continent.

Terra currently operates a 15,000-square-foot facility in Abuja, Nigeria. The company’s strategy focuses on maintaining its manufacturing base within Africa while building commercial and strategic operations in global technology hubs. Its technology is already deployed to protect assets worth approximately $11 billion across several African nations.