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Rise of Fearless merges Ethiopian heritage with fast-paced mobile Web3 battle royale, pioneering Africa-centric storytelling in blockchain gaming.
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Founder Kanessa Muluneh leveraged TikTok marketing and community feedback to grow 2,500+ players and refine gameplay mechanics.
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Upcoming NFT integration and native token launch will enable true digital ownership and a robust in-game economy.
Africa’s gaming industry, a $1.8 billion powerhouse(2024 stats), stands at the blockchain-driven transformation.
Enter Kanessa Muluneh, a renowned investor and the architect behind Rise of Fearless. She sits down with Web3Africa and narrates her background in the space and the vision and future of the Web3 game.
Muluneh traces her unlikely journey from TikTok influencer to crypto and NFT educator, NFT developer, and, eventually, game pioneer.
This exclusive interview reveals her insight, journey, thoughts, and vision for blockchain game development in Africa.
The Genesis: From TikTok to Web3 Revolution
Kanessa’s entry into gaming defies normal convection, with the investor starting with,” First and Foremost, I am not a gamer. The last time I did, my mom had a different say on it.”
Her path into the industry didn’t begin in boardrooms but on Tiktok livestreams.
CHECK OUT:Beyond Play: Rise of Fearless Fosters 2,500+ Strong African Community
“This is going to sound funny,” she admits, “but my journey into Web3 kickstarted via TikTok. I used lives to reconnect with my Ethiopian heritage and practice my language.”
Her interactive session with her community led her followers, who were aware of her tech expertise, to urge her to explore crypto and NFTs.
“At the time NFTs were the rage so I did my research and started educating my viewers on NFTs and how crypto works.”
“The hype brought major responses,” Kanessa recalls. “However the topic did prove a bit challenging to some viewer so they said, ‘Instead of teaching, why don’t you SHOW us?'”
The upcoming figure initially wanted to launch an African Marketplace; however,” the logistics were crazy, especially given how, back then, Africa wasn’t really that connected to the globe.”
Her answer soon emerged from encountering Axie Infinity’s play-to-earn model.
“It fascinated me. Something that got me in trouble when I was a kid is now earning people good money really resonated with me. Then i realized: Africa needs this.”
“That’s basically it, on thing led to another and I’m a business woman first and foremost and I have a knack at spotting opportunities.”
Navigating Africa’s Web3 Maze: Trust, Regulation & Education
Soon, Kannessa realized that developing a blockchain game in Africa had layered challenges.
For instance, Kannessa stated she noticed how the rules are halved- is it okay or not okay?
“Frankly, my biggest fear has been going all out in marketing only to be stopped by regulations.”
Unlike mature markets, African regulators often lack frameworks for Web3 gaming economies, creating operational uncertainty—a nightmare for any Web3 game.
The next surprising hurdle Kannessa encountered was the controversial reputation of crypto.
“At one point, people were asking me why I was promoting a scam. This was new to me because I never really had to explain why or even what I was doing. It was technology; something that could help them.”
Combating ingrained caution wasn’t easy.” I was surprised because my own people were working against me. Although I do understand, Africans often fear first and understand later.”
Funding Philosophy: Capital vs. Capability
Rise of Fearless started with self-funding using the NFT proceeds and personal funding.
“Good thing I’m an investor myself,” Kanessa smiles. “But now we need partners who bring more than money. However, I do have mixed feelings on it, I understand the necessity for growth but I’m looking for more than just money.”
Unlike most startups, Kanessa’s vision and take on investors rely on a key philosophy: growing Africa.
“My vision is to bring Silicon Valley, top game designers, developers and influencers into Africa. For me, its now who writes the biggest check, rather, what kind of knowledge can you offer.”
Currently, the Web3 game is in talks with various investors, but the key focus isn’t how big their pockets are, as Kannessa wants to maintain the main goal of the game: showcasing Africa’s potential using Web3.
Community Cultivation: The Psychology of African Web3 Adoption
“If I were to mention my main skill, its marketing. My medical background really helps me in understanding what people want; investors or communities.”
Her due diligence, experience, and network have enabled the founder to grow a steady community for the game.
She mentions how Rise of Fearless started by focusing on growing the name rather than on the product.
” Actually, majority of our funding goes into marketing, this enables us to improve the game designs without preconceived expectations.”
The founder noted that Africa is a graveyard of brilliant applications with zero markets. Rise of Fearless has focused more on leveraging its unique brand as an Africa-themed Web3 fame to avoid this.
The Five-Year Masterplan: Mobile, Markets & Global Impact
Kannessa revealed that the game will significantly update its graphics and in-game mechanics in two months.
CHECK OUT:Battle Royale with Culture: The African Gaming Startup Making Waves
Having mainly started on mobile, tapping into Africa’s vibrant mobile community, she envisions eventually competing with top gaming brands.
“Its not really a competition, quite frankly, however, I intend to make Rise of Fearless major brand alongside the likes of Fortnite and Call of Duty.”
The game will eventually feature NFTs in its weapons and in-game skins, allowing players to earn within its ecosystem.
This will be followed by the launch of a native token, which will eventually formulate a thriving Web3 economy within its community and in-game.
“We started with mobile since our focus is in Africa, but eventually we will develop PC- compatible alternative and our own token for trades.”
Final Word: Africa as Web3’s Uncharted Frontier
Kanessa’s vision extends far beyond launch:
“Africa has a lot of potential but is heavily lacking in the marketing department. Eventually, after Rise of fearless has become a renowned play-to-earn game, I’ll really dive into sharing my marketing skills within the continent.”
Rise of fearless’ unique storytelling, play to earn mechanics and approach into the market showcases how Africa has vast potential.
” You’d be surprised how many investors are trying to set up shop in Africa. I personally believe we are the future, if we can get education and regulation in check we can be able to really grow.”
