Rise of Fearless

Country: Ethiopia/United Arab Emirates

Founded: 2024

Team Size: 2-10

Platforms: Mobile, with PC and console planned

Status: Active

Overview

Rise of Fearless is a UAE-based game studio and mobile gaming platform founded by Kanessa Muluneh, focused on bringing African history and culture into games for a global audience. Its debut title, Rise of Fearless, is a mobile battle royale inspired by the 1896 Battle of Adwa, where Ethiopian forces defeated the invading Italian army.

The game features African-inspired environments and characters, with the studio using a low-poly visual style to make the game accessible across a wide range of mobile devices and internet conditions.

The project began from Muluneh's TikTok community and her work around blockchain, crypto and NFTs before evolving into a game project. Development was handled remotely, with a dedicated team in the Philippines and more than 15 people involved across development and operations.

Games

Rise of Fearless

Key People

Kanessa Muluneh - Founder & CEO

Intelligence

Rise of Fearless is building an African-focused mobile battle royale around historical storytelling, community-led growth and a planned Web3 economy. The studio has moved from its original concept into a live mobile product, with its latest version now available on Android and iOS.

Funding & Backing

Funding secured: $700,000 (in process)
Funding structure: Private investor loan
Capital stage: Seed
Additional fundraising: Muluneh previously indicated plans to pursue a larger $5-10 million raise for expansion.

Strategic Model

Platform direction: Mobile-first, with PC and console expansion planned
Core genre: Battle royale
Business model: Free-to-play with planned Web3 and play-to-earn elements
Geographic focus: Africa and African diaspora, with global ambitions
Positioning: African culture and history-focused gaming IP

Active & Upcoming Projects

Rise of Fearless - Live on mobile
Web3 integration
New maps, characters and narratives
PC and console versions
Future esports tournaments and live events

Performance Signals

More than 3,000 users reported shortly after launch in 2025
Latest version available on App Store and Google Play
New map added in 2026, drawing on Ethiopian heritage and the Battle of Adwa
More than 15 people involved in the game's development and operations
Community built before the game's public development and launch.

Key Person

Kanessa Muluneh - Founder & CEO

Accepting introduction requests: TBC

Last updated: August 2026