EduFi, a groundbreaking fintech startup focused on easing financial barriers for students, has successfully raised $6.1 million in a pre-seed funding round. The investment, led by Zayn VC, included contributions from Palm Drive Capital, Deem Ventures, Q Business, and a group of angel investors.

Founded by MIT graduate and former Goldman Sachs and Ventura Capital professional Aleena Nadeem, EduFi aims to fill a critical gap in Pakistan’s education financing landscape with its Study Now, Pay Later (SNPL) platform, powered by Artificial Intelligence. Currently, Pakistan lacks dedicated student loan services, forcing many students to resort to personal loans, which come with high interest rates and cumbersome application processes.

EduFi’s mission is to tackle two significant challenges facing the country: high poverty levels and low literacy rates. With approximately 40% of students in Pakistan attending private schools due to the poor quality of public education, annual spending on education exceeds $14 billion. Furthermore, more than half of Pakistan’s adult population lacks access to essential financial services, including bank accounts and insurance.

Aleena Nadeem, CEO of EduFi, credits her time with the Progressive Education Network (PEN), a nonprofit focused on providing education to underprivileged children, as her inspiration for EduFi. The fintech startup targets the crucial transition period between high school and university, offering much-needed financial support to students.

In just two years, EduFi has already partnered with 15 universities, making its lending app accessible to 200,000 students across undergraduate, Master’s, and PhD programs. The app simplifies the loan application process by requiring users to submit their financial history, including 12 months’ bank statements or proof of income, enabling the platform’s AI-driven credit scoring system to disburse loans within 48 hours—an improvement over the three to four weeks required by traditional banks.

While awaiting final approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) for its lending license, expected in November 2023, EduFi continues to gather customer feedback and refine its offerings. The newly secured capital will be used to expand EduFi’s reach, optimize its platform, and explore markets in neighboring countries. The company also plans to launch new fintech products, such as student credit cards.

Faisal Aftab, General Partner and Founder at Zayn VC, praised EduFi’s mission: 

“This is a significant step towards achieving financial inclusion for middle and low-income families. EduFi’s innovative approach will help alleviate this burden and empower families to invest in their children’s future.”

EduFi’s vision transcends financial services, aspiring to be a driving force for social change, offering hope and opportunity to students and families in need.