EduFi, a Pakistani education fintech firm, won $250,000 in cash as the winner of an international competition held during the four-day LEAP 2025 tech conference in Saudi Arabia. The company defeated over 2,000 other entrants.

From February 9–12, the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center in Malham hosted the international technology conference.

The Rocket Fuel Pitch Competition, which gives entrepreneurs a chance to present their creative ideas to a global audience of investors and business executives, was one of the conference's highlights.

EduFi helps students pay for their education by streamlining the borrowing procedure. After doing its own credit check, it covers tuition for accepted students who make monthly loan repayments while they are enrolled in classes. Last week, it took first place in the Rocket Fuel Pitch Competition.

According to a report by Pakistan Television (PTV), Aleena Nadeem of Pakistan took first place and received a $250,000 cash prize at the International Information Technology Exhibition leap that was recently held in Saudi Arabia.

"Pakistan has achieved this honor for the first time in the history of the Rocket Fuel Pitch International competitions," the state-run media reported, adding that EduFi defeated 2,000 other contestants to take first place.

Aleena Nadeem, the founder and CEO of EduFi, accepted the award during the ceremony last week in Riyadh. According to Forbes, Nadeem, an MIT alumnus who interned at McKinsey while in college and later worked for Goldman Sachs and Ventura Capital in London, has been active in education issues since high school.

Her efforts with EduFi earned her a spot on Forbes' 2024 30 Under 30 Asia list.