At a Glance
- Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale backs Nigerian drone startup Terra Industries in $11.8 million funding round.
- Abuja-based Terra Industries expands drone manufacturing as Africa security, counterterrorism demand rises.
- Startup positions itself as Africa’s first homegrown defense technology prime, serving governments and infrastructure operators.
Palantir Technologies Inc. co-founder Joe Lonsdale is leading a group of investors betting on a Nigerian defense startup that is expanding drone manufacturing amid rising security threats across Africa. The investment positions the company as the continent’s first homegrown defense technology prime.
Terrahaptix Inc., also known as Terra Industries, said it raised $11.8 million in a funding round led by Lonsdale’s firm, 8VC. Alex Moore, who manages defense investments at 8VC and serves on Palantir’s board, joined Terra’s board last year, the company said in a statement Monday.
Young founders, local focus
Founded in 2024 by 22-year-old Nathan Nwachuku and 24-year-old Maxwell Maduka, Abuja-based Terra produces long- and mid-range drones, autonomous sentry towers, and unmanned ground vehicles. Its technology helps protect infrastructure valued at roughly $11.8 billion across Africa, including hydropower plants in Nigeria and gold- and lithium-mining operations in Ghana.
“Africa is building new mines, refineries, and power plants faster than anywhere else,” Nwachuku said. “But none of that progress matters if we don’t address the continent’s greatest challenge: insecurity and terrorism.”
Groups linked to Islamic State and al-Qaeda are expanding across a corridor from Mali to Nigeria, prompting the Economic Community of West African States to declare a regional state of emergency.
Expanding manufacturing and security reach
The new funds will help Terra expand its manufacturing capacity and broaden its work in cross-border security and counterterrorism, the company said. Investors in the round include Valor Equity Partners, Lux Capital, SV Angel, Leblon Capital GmbH, Silent Ventures LLC, Nova Global, and angel investors such as Meyer Malka of Ribbit Capital.
Ribbit Capital is known for backing fintech companies such as Revolut and Credit Karma.
Terra designs and builds its systems locally, with the majority of its engineering team drawn from Africa. The company develops integrated land, air, and maritime systems powered by its ArtemisOS software platform, aimed at supporting large-scale security operations.
Terra serves governments, infrastructure operators, and strategic partners across Africa and internationally. Its newly commissioned drone manufacturing facility in Abuja is the largest on the continent, a major milestone in developing a domestic industrial base for advanced autonomous systems.
Lonsdale is a U.S. tech billionaire, entrepreneur and investor who has co-founded companies including Palantir, Addepar and OpenGov, and is a managing partner at 8VC, a technology-focused investment firm.
