Nigerian Startup Raises $52M for Africa's Largest Drone Plant

Nathan Nwachuku, 22, and Maxwell Maduka, 24, are bringing drone manufacturing home to Africa with a vision that's already protecting billions of dollars in critical infrastructure.

Their company, Terra Industries, just raised an additional $18 million, bringing total seed funding to $52 million. The Abuja-based defense technology startup now plans to open its Pax-2 factory in Ghana by the end of this year.

The 34,000-square-foot facility is set to become Africa's largest drone factory once operational. By 2028, Terra expects the plant to produce up to 50,000 aerial systems annually, more than tripling their current manufacturing capacity.

Terra already operates a 15,000-square-foot flagship factory in Abuja. Their drones, surveillance towers, and unmanned ground vehicles currently protect power plants, mines, and other critical infrastructure worth about $11 billion across multiple African countries.

The funding came from existing investors including 8VC, Silent Ventures, Nova Global, Belief Capital, and SV Angel. New backers Norleo Space Investments and Grant Gordon also joined the round.

Terra is opening its first international office in London while keeping manufacturing firmly rooted in Africa. The company plans further expansion into the Gulf, South America, and South Asia, taking African-made technology to global markets.

The Ripple Effect

Terra's success arrives at a crucial moment for African innovation. The continent receives only a small fraction of global defense technology funding, forcing governments and businesses to rely heavily on foreign suppliers for security solutions.

By building locally, Terra is creating jobs, developing technical expertise, and proving that African startups can manufacture sophisticated technology at scale. The Ghana factory positions West Africa as a serious player in the global drone industry.

The company's growth also shows how young African founders can attract serious capital when solving real problems. Founded just last year, Terra has already become one of the continent's most-funded defense tech startups.

Their systems address urgent security needs across Africa, from protecting energy infrastructure to monitoring remote mining operations. As the company scales, more African institutions will have access to reliable, locally-made alternatives.

The London office will help Terra reach international customers while the company maintains its manufacturing base in Nigeria and Ghana. This model keeps production jobs and technical knowledge on the continent while building global partnerships.

Africa's tech ecosystem is watching closely as these two young founders build something unprecedented: a homegrown defense technology company with continental reach and global ambitions.