Rise of Fearless Raises $1M SAFE to Expand Mobile Game

In Short

Rise of Fearless has raised $1 million from Epic Edges Capital.

The startup says it will use the money to expand its African-inspired battle royale mobile game, upgrade infrastructure, hire, and reach more international players.

What Happened

A battle royale is a competitive game mode where many players fight until one player or team remains.

The company secured $1 million in funding from Epic Edges Capital.

Rise of Fearless launched in 2025 as a free-to-play mobile game inspired by Ethiopia’s victory over Italian forces at the Battle of Adwa in 1896. The company says the game includes African cultural elements through characters, landscapes, hairstyles and clothing.

The game is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. It has surpassed 15,000 downloads, with Nigeria, Ethiopia and South Africa listed as its largest player communities.

The startup said the new capital will support recruitment, technology development, infrastructure upgrades, marketing and community-building initiatives. Founder Kanessa Muluneh said the investment will also support work beyond game development, including strengthening African ownership of gaming intellectual property and supporting local talent.

Rise of Fearless said it also plans to address challenges it sees for African game developers, including limited access to reliable servers, technology infrastructure and cross-border payment systems.

Why It Matters

The funding is a milestone for Rise of Fearless, which Tech In Africa says previously operated without external funding.

Epic Edges Group founder Remco Coerman said he is confident the company can build culturally relevant gaming products that attract audiences outside Africa.

Tech In Africa also frames the deal as part of a wider push by African gaming companies to build locally developed entertainment products for both regional and international audiences.