EduFi, Pakistan’s first digital platform for education financing, secured first place at the Rocket Fuel Pitch Competition during the LEAP 2025 conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, taking home a $250,000 cash prize.
The Rocket Fuel Pitch Competition was a central feature of the four-day tech conference LEAP 2025, was held from February 9 to 12 in Riyadh.
Major Milestone for EduFi and Pakistan’s Startup Ecosystem
EduFi’s unique approach to streamlining education financing through its “Study Now, Pay Later” model stood out as a game-changer in the education sector. The platform helps students secure loans for their tuition, with repayments made on a monthly basis as they study, removing the financial barriers that often prevent students from pursuing higher education.
“Aleena Nadeem from Pakistan has won first place and a cash prize of $250,000 at the International Information Technology Exhibition LEAP 2025 held recently in Saudi Arabia,” Pakistan Television (PTV) reported. “This is the first time in the history of the Rocket Fuel Pitch International competitions that Pakistan has achieved this honor,” beating 2,000 competitors to win first prize, Pakistan Embassy in Riyadh said in a statement.
EduFi’s founder and CEO Aleena Nadeem received the award at the ceremony held last week in Riyadh. Aleena Nadeem, an MIT graduate and former investment banker, also spoke about her vision for EduFi at LEAP 2025 in Riyadh. Nadeem, who was included in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Asia list for 2024, has a long history of involvement in education issues. Aleena was also featured as a judge in Shark Tank Pakistan.
EduFi’s Innovative Impact on Education in Pakistan
Pakistan is grappling with an education crisis, with over 26 million children—more than one-third of the school-age population (ages 5-16)—currently out of school. EduFi wants to change this.
EduFi’s mission is clear: to provide greater access to education by simplifying the student loan process. Through its platform, EduFi conducts credit vetting and disburses funds directly to educational institutions, ensuring that approved students can focus on their studies instead of worrying about tuition fees. This model addresses a critical issue in Pakistan, where many students are unable to pursue higher education due to the high upfront costs.
EduFi has already signed agreements with several colleges across Pakistan and hopes to extend its services nationwide with government collaboration.
With Pakistan’s private schooling sector covering 42% of the country’s educational landscape, EduFi’s “Study Now, Pay Later” model could help bridge the gap between private education costs and families’ financial realities. Nadeem’s goal is to extend EduFi’s platform to all Pakistani colleges, ensuring that more students can access education without financial strain.
LEAP 2025 Rocket Fuel Pitch Competition Winners
- EduFi – Winner of the LEAP Award ($250k), the most outstanding startup in the competition.
- Lisan AI – Winner of the Shooting Star Award ($150k), an emerging early-stage startup showing great promise.
- Brelyon – Winner of the Scaling Star Award ($150k), a growth-stage startup demonstrating significant potential for expansion.
- Daleela – Winner of the Tech for Humanity Award ($150k), a startup focused on creating societal impact and driving sustainability.
- Nano Palm – Winner of the Into New Worlds Award ($150k), a startup aiming to revolutionize industries with groundbreaking technology.
- Voxcell – Winner of the LEAP Landing Award ($150k), a high-growth non-Saudi startup with strong potential to succeed in Saudi Arabia.
These six winners emerged from a competitive field of 2,000 startups, each demonstrating exceptional innovation, drive, and vision.