An emerging African defence technology startup has raised $11.75 million in new funding to address escalating security challenges across the continent using locally developed autonomous defence systems.
The fundraising was announced on Monday as the company exited stealth mode, unveiling plans to rapidly scale advanced security technologies aimed at safeguarding critical infrastructure throughout Africa.
Global Investors Back the Funding Round
The investment round was led by U.S. venture capital firm 8VC, founded by Joe Lonsdale. Additional investors include Valour Equity Partners, Lux Capital, SV Angel, Leblon Capital, Silent Ventures, Nova Global, alongside angel investor Micky Malka.
Alex Moore, a defence partner at 8VC and board director at Palantir, joined the startup’s board last year.
Building a Homegrown Defence Technology Platform for Africa
Launched in 2024 by Nathan Nwachuku (22) and Maxwell Maduka (24), the company develops autonomous defence and surveillance systems that enable governments and infrastructure operators to detect, monitor, and neutralise threats across land, air, and maritime domains.
The founders note that Africa is undergoing accelerated industrial growth, with close to $100 billion invested annually in infrastructure projects, while the continent controls roughly 30% of the world’s critical mineral reserves.
Despite this momentum, many of these assets are located in remote, high-risk regions, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Sahel, where insecurity, terrorism, and illegal extraction continue to disrupt operations.
“Africa’s industrial expansion is happening at an unprecedented pace,” said co-founder and CEO Nathan Nwachuku.
“But without solving the deep-rooted security and terrorism problem, that progress remains fragile.”
The startup says it is developing Africa’s first vertically integrated defense technology prime, designed specifically for the continent’s geography, infrastructure gaps, and operational realities.
Inside the Startup’s Autonomous Security Technology
The company’s defence solutions include:
- Long- and medium-range reconnaissance drones
- Autonomous sentry and monitoring towers
- Unmanned ground vehicles
These systems are unified by ArtemisOS, the firm’s proprietary operating system that supports real-time threat identification, autonomous decision-making, and coordinated multi-system responses across large and difficult terrains.
Expanding Deployments Across Africa
According to the company, its systems currently protect infrastructure assets worth an estimated $11 billion across Africa, with tens of millions of dollars in signed contracts and an expanding pipeline serving both government and private-sector clients.
Existing deployments cover:
- The Geometric Power Plant in Aba
- Two hydropower facilities in northern Nigeria
- Gold and lithium mining operations in Nigeria and Ghana
While its initial focus has been infrastructure protection, the company says it is now moving into regional border security and counterterrorism operations as instability increases across parts of the continent.
$1.2 Million Contract Marks Hydropower Sector Entry
Separately, the startup disclosed it has secured a $1.2 million security contract spanning five years to protect two hydroelectric power plants in Nigeria. The deal represents its largest single contract so far and marks its entry into hydropower security deployments.
Why It Matters for Africa and Nigeria
Insecurity remains a major obstacle to Africa’s industrial and economic development, affecting energy generation, mining activities, and cross-border trade routes.
Nigeria, in particular, is experiencing one of its most severe security periods in decades, with a surge in kidnappings, banditry, and terrorist attacks. In response, President Bola Tinubu recently approved an increase in police recruitment from 30,000 to 50,000 officers nationwide.
Technology-driven defence startups like this one could play a growing role in augmenting traditional security forces, offering scalable, intelligence-led solutions to protect infrastructure and support long-term economic stability.
