Terra Raises $18 Million to Expand Autonomous Defense Systems in Nigeria

A Nigerian startup focused on building autonomous systems for defense applications has secured $18 million in an extension of its funding round, attracting both existing and new investors to support its rapid expansion. The company, Terra, announced the financing on August 18, 2026, which included continued participation from existing backers 8VC, Nova Global, Silent Ventures, Belief Capital, and SV Angel. The round also welcomed new investors Norleo Space Investments and angel investor Grant Gordon.

Terra was founded in 2024 by Nathan Nwachuku and Maxwell Maduka, who were 21 and 23 years old at the time, respectively. In the two years since its inception, the company has moved quickly to deploy a wide range of autonomous systems with the goal of developing stronger defense infrastructure for Africa. The recent capital injection is expected to further accelerate these technological development efforts.

The investment comes during a period of notable restructuring and activity within Nigeria's technology and financial services sectors. In April 2026, telecom giant MTN Nigeria announced a corporate restructuring that involved its mobile money entity, MoMo Payment Service Bank, and...