Terrahaptix, a Nigerian autonomous systems startup, has raised $11.75 million in a round that will see it boost drone manufacturing to tackle violent extremism spreading across Africa.
The funding round was led by 8VC founded by the co-founder of Palantir Technologies Inc., Mr Joe Lonsdale. Other investors include Valor Equity Partners, Lux Capital, SV Angel, Leblon Capital GmbH, Silent Ventures LLC, Nova Global and angel investors including Mr Meyer Malka — the managing partner of Ribbit Capital.
Terrahaptix, founded by Mr Nathan Nwachukwu and Mr Maxwell Maduka, will use the new funding to expand Terra’s manufacturing capacity as it expands into cross-border security and counter-terrorism.
The company based in Abuja produces long- and mid-range drones, autonomous sentry towers and unmanned ground vehicles to help secure infrastructure assets valued at about $11 billion across Africa, including hydropower plants in Nigeria, as well as gold- and lithium-mining operations in Ghana.
In June last year, the firm beat an Israeli company to secure a $1.2 million security contract to deploy AI-powered drones and sentry towers at two hydroelectric power plants in Nigeria, awarded by a private security firm, Nethawk Solutions.
According to Mr Nwachukwu, the CEO of Terrahaptix, the rising spate of insecurity must be tackle as the continent continues to industrialize its economy.
“Africa is industrializing faster than any other region, with new mines, refineries and power plants emerging every month,” he said, “But none of that progress will matter if we don’t solve the continent’s greatest Achilles’ heel, which is insecurity and terrorism.”
“Our mission is to give Africa the technological edge to protect its industrial future and defeat terrorism.” Mr Nwanchuku added.
On his part, Mr Maduka, the company’s co-founder and CTO, also reinforced the company’s commitment to the continent by saying, “This is African technology, built by African engineers, for African infrastructure. We are creating skilled jobs, building advanced manufacturing capacity, and ensuring the intellectual property behind Africa’s security stays on the continent.”
The need for security has risen in recent years as groups such as Islamic State and al-Qaeda are gaining ground in Africa, converging along a swathe of territory that stretches from Mali to Nigeria.