For students from emerging economies like Africa, LATAM, and South Asia aspiring to study abroad, one of the biggest hurdles is navigating slow and unpredictable cross-border payment systems. Pay4Me, a fintech startup transforming international tuition and fee payments, is tackling this problem head-on—and recently celebrated a significant milestone by winning 1st Place Most Investable category at the 2024 Alabama Founder Fest Pitch Competition, which featured over 50 dynamic companies.
This honor was part of the 2024 State of Innovation event, organized by Innovate Alabama, and also marked the culmination of Pay4Me’s participation in the Bronze Valley Investment Accelerator (BVIA), powered by gener8tor.
Streamlining Payments for Global Education Pay4Me was founded with a clear mission: to eliminate payment barriers for international students pursuing higher education.
Every year, over 1 million international students spend more than 700 hours making tuition and school fee payments. Pay4Me simplifies this process, cutting payment time from over 700 hours to less than 24.
At Pay4Me, we believe no student should miss out on life-changing educational opportunities due to payment delays,” says Sunday Paul Adah, Founder and CEO. “Our platform is designed to make cross-border payments seamless so international students can focus on their educational careers”
Since its launch, Pay4Me has onboarded over 100,000 users and processed payments to over 270 unique institutions worldwide without costly bank intermediaries.
A Journey of Innovation and Recognition
Participation in the BVIA, a premier investment accelerator focused on high-potential startups, has been instrumental in Pay4Me’s growth. With expert mentorship, resources, and networking opportunities, the program provided a launchpad for scaling its impact across global markets.
Reflecting on the journey, Paul expressed gratitude to key supporters:
“We’re deeply thankful to the entire gener8tor team—Allison Swagler, Karri Green, and Haley Medved Kendrick—for their unmatched southern hospitality and invaluable guidance. Our heartfelt thanks also go to Anthony Abney and Neill S. Wright from the BVIA team for their encouragement and support throughout the program.”
The Most Investable Prize recognition validates Pay4Me’s potential to redefine financial access for students worldwide. “It’s a testament to the power of purpose-driven innovation in fintech,” he noted.
The Future of Seamless Financial Services for International Students
With its continued expansion, Pay4Me is positioned to transform how international students and their families handle tuition, fees, and other migration-related expenses. By eliminating payment delays and reducing transaction costs, Pay4Me aims to make quality overseas education less burdensome.
As Pay4Me looks ahead into 2025, its recent successes signal a growing wave of fintech innovation focused on unlocking global educational opportunities for international students, especially those from emerging economies.
For students, families, and institutions seeking faster and more reliable international payment solutions, Pay4Me is leading the charge with technology that empowers dreams.
Learn more about how Pay4Me is transforming cross-border payments
Visit pay4me.app or follow Sunday Paul Adah on LinkedIn
