The deal signals growing investor confidence in African defence tech and positions Terra to secure critical infrastructure as the continent’s energy and mining sectors expand.
Africa’s defence‑technology landscape is entering a rapid growth phase, driven by massive infrastructure investments in energy, mining, and transportation. Terra Industries’ latest funding milestone reflects a broader shift as global capital seeks to tap into the continent’s untapped security market. By securing $34 million and a nine‑figure valuation, Terra joins a select group of hard‑tech firms that have attracted Silicon Valley interest, underscoring the strategic importance of autonomous security solutions for protecting high‑value assets.
The investor roster reads like a playbook for scaling defence startups: Lux Capital brings deep technical expertise, while 8VC and Nova Global add operational know‑how. New angel participants, notably Jared Leto, provide both capital and high‑profile visibility. Coupled with a partnership with Saudi industrial leader AIC Steel, Terra is building a sanction‑proof supply chain and a cross‑border manufacturing hub that can serve both African and Middle‑Eastern markets. This blend of financial muscle and geopolitical guidance equips the company to navigate complex regulatory environments and accelerate product roll‑outs.
Looking ahead, Terra’s expanded manufacturing capacity and planned mega‑factory signal an aggressive push to dominate the continent’s security infrastructure segment. The $2 million in orders within a year demonstrates early market traction, and the company’s focus on Nigeria and allied nations aligns with the region’s escalating demand for resilient, autonomous protection systems. As investors continue to recognize the upside of African defence tech, Terra’s growth trajectory could set a benchmark for future hard‑tech ventures seeking to combine local insight with global capital.
Victoria Fakiya · Senior Writer · February 16, 2026
African defence technology startup Terra Industries has extended its funding round to $34 million after securing an additional $22 million from investors, pushing the company’s valuation into the nine‑figure range.
The extension comes just weeks after Terra announced an $11.75 million raise. According to the company, the additional capital was secured in under two weeks, reflecting strong investor conviction in its mission to build autonomous security systems for Africa.
The round was led by Lux Capital, with participation from existing investors including 8VC, Nova Global, Silent Ventures, Belief Capital, Tofino Capital, and Resilience17 Capital (founded by Flutterwave CEO Olugbenga Agboola). New backers include angel investors such as American actor Jared Leto and Jordan Nel.
Speaking to Techpoint Africa, CEO Nathan Nwachuku said the initial $11.75 million raise created significant momentum for the company, enabling it to close the additional $22 million in just under two weeks.
He added that beyond capital, the investors were selected for their experience building similar hard‑tech and defence‑focused companies.
“They’ve been instrumental in helping us think through complex geopolitics, how to build a robust and flexible supply chain that is sanction‑proof, and how to attract the best talent,” he said. Although the investors are still new, he said their structural guidance is already shaping the company’s next phase of growth.
Since recording $2 million in total orders just a year after launch, the company hasn’t shared much about traction, but Nathan noted that Terra is handling some high‑profile contracts.
The fresh funding will be used to:
Expand Terra’s manufacturing capacity
Accelerate deployments across Nigeria and allied African countries
Grow its engineering, software, and business‑development teams
The extension also comes amid growing international expansion. Earlier this month, Terra announced a partnership with Saudi industrial giant AIC Steel to launch a manufacturing hub in Saudi Arabia focused on producing infrastructure security systems.
In the coming weeks, the company also plans to unveil a mega factory reflecting the speed of its growth, especially after the significant capital injection.
As Africa invests heavily in energy, mining, and large‑scale infrastructure projects, Terra is positioning itself as a key player in securing those assets, now with fresh capital and a valuation that signals rising investor appetite for African defence tech.
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