The founding father of Rise of Fearless discusses empowering girls in tech, gaming for social good, and why Dubai is the proper launchpad for rising markets.
Kanessa Muluneh, founding father of Rise of the Fearless, brings a daring and purposeful perspective to the intersection of gaming, Web3, and social affect. Muluneh’s journey—from Ethiopia to the Netherlands, and now Dubai—displays a deep dedication to creating alternatives for girls and underrepresented communities within the digital financial system. In this dialog with Tahawultech.com, Muluneh shares how the UAE’s proactive tech surroundings is enabling visionaries like her to reshape the gaming trade and foster innovation throughout rising markets.
Interview Excerpts:
What are your ideas on the UAE gaming trade and the place do you see it heading, particularly given the federal government’s proactive efforts in launching it as a full-fledged sector?
What I’m about to say isn’t essentially to advertise the UAE—it’s merely an statement. I believe it’s very sensible of the federal government to concentrate on constructing a gaming ecosystem. Right now, Silicon Valley is difficult to entry, and albeit, I don’t need them on board in my case. I’m centered on rising markets—Africa and Asia—which are sometimes ignored or misrepresented.
The UAE, nonetheless, is creating the subsequent Silicon Valley, with international entry and fewer limitations. It’s not only for one group or nation. Considering the worldwide gaming trade had a dip lately, primarily as a result of US financial system, it’s very important to look past the standard powerhouses. The UAE authorities has the foresight—identical to it did with crypto and Web3—by permitting innovators to construct freely.
“If you have a good product, you know exactly who to reach out to. That access and openness make the UAE a smart hub for the gaming industry.”
What impressed you to start out Rise of the Fearless? What was the set off behind its inception?
I approached it from a enterprise mindset. I used to be born in Ethiopia and determined to return to my roots with the intent of making one thing significant. I realised that for a enterprise to outlive in Africa, it should deal with a widespread drawback, not simply cater to a distinct segment. During the NFT growth, I began a TikTok channel in my native language, discussing NFTs as a strategy to practise the language and educate others. I then launched my very own NFT mission as an off-the-cuff on-line class. The game-changer was when somebody from rural Africa purchased my NFT utilizing crypto. It confirmed me how digital merchandise and decentralised finance may empower underserved communities. We initially thought of launching a market like Amazon however rapidly realised logistics have been a nightmare. That’s once I turned to gaming, impressed by Axie Infinity’s affect within the Philippines. The youth in Africa wanted hope and alternative. Gaming may give them each—a brand new trade and a monetary future.
How would you encourage extra girls within the UAE to contemplate gaming as a profession, particularly in gentle of initiatives just like the Dubai Programme for Gaming (DPG) underneath the Dubai Future Foundation?
This applies not solely to gaming however to all areas of tech. I don’t imagine girls ought to compete immediately with males in male-dominated sectors. Instead, they need to discover niches the place their strengths are most valued. For instance, girls are inclined to excel in advertising and marketing attributable to our emotional intelligence, and in administration or HR roles the place interpersonal dynamics matter. In my very own staff, it’s 95% males—not as a result of I exclude girls, however as a result of it’s troublesome to search out feminine candidates. Rather than attempting to show we’re higher or equal to males, girls can strategically enter the trade in roles the place we carry distinctive worth—whether or not it’s advertising and marketing, group constructing, operations, and even as buyers. These entry factors give us energy and affect, and from there, we will develop.
How many every day lively customers at present play Rise of the Fearless? When can we anticipate the subsequent model of the sport?
We at present have 3,000 every day lively customers. Marketing has been paused as we’re getting ready to launch a brand new model. The deadline was set for the twentieth, however as is frequent in gaming, deadlines are sometimes missed. So, I might say it must be out inside the subsequent two weeks—however to remain secure, let’s simply say the subsequent replace is anticipated quickly.
Apart from Rise of the Fearless, are you engaged on any new gaming initiatives?
Not in the meanwhile. We launched Rise of the Fearless two months in the past, and I used to be very clear that the preliminary launch wouldn’t be good—it was extra essential to get the identify on the market. The focus now’s on bettering the sport’s efficiency and person expertise. Once income begins coming in, our plan is to allocate 10–15% of it to constructing the gaming trade—whether or not within the UAE or in Africa. The thought is to bridge each areas and help trade progress outdoors of Silicon Valley.