Ethiopian Entrepreneur Launches Rise of Fearless, a Battle Royale Game Rooted in History
Kanessa Muluneh, an Ethiopian-born entrepreneur, has launched Rise of Fearless, a battle royale game inspired by the historic Battle of Adwa. The peer-to-peer (P2P) title, released on 3 May, blends traditional Ethiopian weapons with modern gaming mechanics. Muluneh is now securing a $700,000 seed round to expand the project further. Muluneh was born in Dire Dawa, eastern Ethiopia, before moving to the Netherlands at three years old. She has since built and sold four companies, earning over $9.5 million in total. Rise of Fearless marks her sixth venture—and her most ambitious yet.
The game lets players team up to fight enemies and climb leaderboards, all while drawing from Ethiopia's rich history. Its development team previously worked on *Axie Infinity*, a well-known blockchain-based game. Muluneh plans to introduce a play-to-earn (P2E) system, where players can earn money through in-game NFTs. Monetisation will also come from in-game advertising. Beyond profits, Muluneh aims to create a global hit for Africans on the continent, in the diaspora, and for Black Americans. The game's focus on women warriors from the Battle of Adwa adds a unique cultural angle to the battle royale genre.
Rise of Fearless launched on 3 May, with its next phase depending on the $700,000 seed round. The game's P2E model and NFT integration could attract a wide audience, particularly among African and diaspora players. Muluneh's long-term vision centres on making it a defining title for Black gamers worldwide.
