Aleena Nadeem Making Higher Education Affordable with EduFi
For many Pakistani students, the dream of a university education is out of reach—not because of talent, but because of finances. Aleena Nadeem, an ambitious entrepreneur and MIT graduate, is changing that with her startup, EduFi. Based in Lahore, EduFi operates on a simple yet powerful idea: “Study Now, Pay Later.”
Aleena saw a major problem—many families in Pakistan live paycheck to paycheck and struggle to afford lump sum tuition payments at the start of a semester. However, many of them could manage tuition if it was spread out into smaller, monthly payments. This insight led to EduFi, a platform that pays students’ tuition upfront, allowing them to repay in affordable installments while they study.
EduFi has grown rapidly, partnering with 27 Pakistani universities—a number that has doubled in just six months. It has its own credit-checking system to ensure students can manage repayments, making the process seamless and accessible.
Aleena’s passion for education isn’t new. Even in high school, she was engaged in initiatives to improve access to learning. She later built her career at Goldman Sachs and Ventura Capital in London before returning to Pakistan to launch EduFi. After a successful pilot in 2021, the company officially started disbursing student loans, quickly attracting investors’ attention. In November, EduFi raised $6.1 million in a record-breaking pre-seed funding round, led by Zayn VC—the largest of its kind in Pakistan’s startup history.
Aleena Nadeem’s journey is proof that young entrepreneurs can turn simple ideas into life-changing solutions. By breaking financial barriers, she’s helping thousands of students achieve their dreams—one tuition payment at a time.
