An Abuja-based drone manufacturer is drawing serious attention from Silicon Valley as global investors begin to view African security infrastructure as both a commercial and strategic opportunity.
Terrahaptix, also known as Terra Industries, announced Monday that it has raised $11.8 million in a funding round led by 8VC, the venture firm co-founded by Palantir Technologies co-founder Joe Lonsdale. The round also includes participation from a group of high-profile U.S. investors, signaling growing confidence in Africa-built defense and autonomous systems.
Founded by Nathan Nwachukwu and Maxwell Maduka, Terrahaptix designs and manufactures unmanned aerial vehicles, autonomous surveillance towers, and integrated security systems. The company’s mission is ambitious: to help governments and enterprises counter the rising threat of extremism and protect critical infrastructure across Africa using locally built technology.
Building Security Infrastructure, Locally
Unlike many defense technology providers operating on the continent, Terrahaptix emphasizes local ownership of both hardware and software. The company designs its drones, firmware, and command-and-control systems in-house, allowing it to tailor deployments to local terrain, infrastructure constraints, and threat patterns.
The startup’s platform includes both long- and short-range drones as well as fixed surveillance installations, designed to operate in environments where traditional monitoring systems are either too expensive or unreliable. According to the founders, the goal is not just surveillance, but real-time situational awareness that can support rapid decision-making for security agencies and private operators.
Africa’s security challenges have become more complex in recent years, with instability affecting energy infrastructure, mining operations, and transportation corridors. Terrahaptix positions itself as a technology partner capable of protecting these assets at scale.
From Defense to Dual-Use Technology
While security remains its core focus, Terrahaptix is also positioning its systems as dual-use infrastructure. The same autonomous platforms used for surveillance can be deployed across energy, mining, agriculture, and logistics sectors, providing monitoring, inspection, and operational intelligence.
This multi-sector approach has helped the company secure early commercial deployments and revenue, a key factor that appears to have resonated with investors. Rather than relying solely on government contracts, Terrahaptix is building a diversified customer base that includes private enterprises operating high-value assets.
Why Investors Are Paying Attention
8VC’s involvement is particularly notable. The firm has a strong track record in defense, enterprise software, and frontier technology, and its participation suggests Terrahaptix is being viewed as more than a regional startup. The company is betting that Africa can produce its own “defense primes” — vertically integrated technology firms capable of designing, manufacturing, and deploying mission-critical systems.
The funding will be used to expand manufacturing capacity, deepen the company’s AI and software capabilities, and scale deployments across multiple African markets. While Terrahaptix plans to establish software and commercial partnerships globally, it says manufacturing and core engineering will remain rooted in Africa.
A Signal for African Deep Tech
The round stands out in an ecosystem where venture funding has traditionally favored fintech and software-only startups. Hardware-driven companies, especially in defense and robotics, have often been viewed as too capital-intensive or complex for African markets.
Terrahaptix’s raise challenges that assumption. It reflects a broader shift toward African deep tech — companies tackling infrastructure-level problems with locally built solutions and global ambition.
As Africa continues to industrialize, investors are increasingly aware that economic growth depends on secure, resilient systems. Terrahaptix is betting that autonomous technology built on the continent can play a central role in meeting that need.
Whether it can scale fast enough to meet rising demand remains to be seen. But with $11.8 million in fresh capital and backing from some of Silicon Valley’s most influential defense-focused investors, Terrahaptix is positioning itself as a key player in Africa’s emerging security technology landscape.
