Terra’s $22 Million With Strong Backing From African Investors.

African defence technology startup Terra Industries has closed a $22 million funding round, a significant extension to its earlier $12 million raise and a rare vote of confidence in hardware‑centric innovation on the continent. The round was led by Lux Capital — a major US deep tech investor — and included strategic participation from Resilience17, the venture firm associated with Flutterwave CEO Gbenga Agboola, alongside existing backers such as 8VC and Nova Global.

This infusion brings Terra’s total funding to approximately $34 million, a meaningful sum for a company building autonomous security systems, drones, and industrial‑scale hardware — a category that has historically struggled to attract venture capital in Africa. The rapid close in under two weeks highlights not only investor appetite for differentiated tech but also belief in Terra’s product‑market fit across security‑sensitive regions.

Terra’s technology suite targets persistent protection gaps across infrastructure networks — from power grids to border zones — deploying long‑range drones, sentry platforms, and AI‑assisted surveillance. The company’s Abuja manufacturing footprint plays into a broader narrative: Africa’s innovators can build complex, locally relevant hardware rather than simply adapt imported solutions. That narrative is increasingly resonant with global capital as geopolitical shifts elevate defence tech priorities worldwide.

Funding participation from Resilience17 — led by Gbenga Agboola — underscores a growing trend: prominent African founders reinvesting into capital‑intensive, mission‑critical startups that extend beyond consumer apps and fintech. Coupled with Lux Capital’s deep tech experience, Terra now has a blend of strategic and domain‑expert investors guiding its next phase.

The new capital will accelerate production capacity, broaden distribution, and support field deployments across the Sahel and West Africa — regions where demand for autonomous security systems is rising alongside persistent instability. Terra’s success could redefine expectations for African deep tech, proving that sophisticated hardware ventures can thrive with the right backing and regional relevance.

This round isn’t just financial; it’s a signal moment for high‑tech manufacturing on the continent.