Terrahaptix, a Nigerian defence technology startup, has raised $11.7 million in fresh capital to expand the development and deployment of security drones and related surveillance systems across Africa, as concerns over terrorism and infrastructure protection intensify on the continent.
The funding round was led by 8VC, a venture capital firm founded by Joe Lonsdale, co-founder of Palantir Technologies and a prominent ally of former United States President Donald Trump. Other investors include Valor Equity Partners, Lux Capital, SV Angel, Leblon Capital GmbH, Silent Ventures LLC, Nova Global and angel investor Melya Malka.
Founded in 2024 by Nathan Nwachukwu, 22, and Maxwell Maduka, 24, Terrahaptix was established to address persistent security challenges facing African countries, particularly the protection of critical infrastructure.
The company disclosed that Alex Moore, a non-executive director at Palantir and a senior executive at 8VC, joined its board of directors last year.
Terrahaptix operates a manufacturing facility in Abuja, where it produces defence drones, sentry towers and unmanned ground vehicles designed to detect threats to critical assets and transmit real-time intelligence to security agencies.
By August 2025, the startup had secured contracts valued at over $12 million to protect infrastructure across several African countries.
Speaking to Bloomberg, Nwachukwu said Africa’s rapid industrial expansion, marked by the growth of mining, energy and processing facilities, risks being undermined by insecurity and terrorism if not adequately addressed.
He described the company’s mission as equipping African states and industries with advanced technology to safeguard strategic resources and strengthen counterterrorism efforts.
Terrahaptix said the new funding will be used to scale its operations across the continent, expand defence manufacturing capacity and further develop its data intelligence operating system. The company currently provides security solutions to hydropower facilities in Nigeria and gold and lithium mining operations in Ghana, with plans to extend its footprint to other African markets.
