UAE-Based PiP World Pockets US$10 Million in Seed Funding

UAE-based Web3 gaming and edtech platform PiP World has bagged US$10 million in seed funding from global fintech firm Exinity. The investment will support PiP World’s goal of improving financial education through interactive and gamified learning. 

Founded in 2022 by Saad Naja, PiP World aims to address the global gap in financial literacy, with a focus on the UAE.

PiP World combines education with gaming to provide users with an engaging and personalized learning experience. Its main products include PiP Trader, a strategy game for building virtual trading portfolios, and PiP Academy, an app designed to simplify financial concepts. StockRise, a popular stock simulator on Roblox, has also been integrated into PiP World’s ecosystem. 

With support from Exinity and the integration of StockRise into its ecosystem, PiP World is positioned to advance gamified financial education. The platform’s combination of gaming, education, and Web3 technology provide a practical tool for individuals aiming to improve financial literacy and achieve financial independence. 

PiP World’s presence across three platforms — Roblox (via the acquisition of StockRise), Telegram, iOS, and Android — allows it to reach a wide range of users and cater to various demographics. This multi-platform approach ensures that financial education is both accessible and tailored to different learning preferences and age groups. 

Exinity’s funding will enable PiP World to expand its offerings and reach more users globally. Exinity operates out of the UAE, the UK, and Cyprus, and it is regulated by several financial authorities, including the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). 

In an interview with Inc. Arabia, Naja explained how the $10 million investment from Exinity will be pivotal for the company. “The funding will accelerate our growth and expand the reach of PiP World’s ecosystem," he said. "A key focus will be further developing our product suite, including PiP Trader — an immersive strategy game — and PiP Academy, a gamified financial literacy app with personalized AI-based learning modules." 

Saad Naja, founder of PiP World. Courtesy of Saad Naja. 

Naja emphasized the importance of scaling the technology infrastructure to enhance user experience, saying, “We are also investing heavily in onboarding more users to provide seamless gameplay and learning experiences across our platforms.” 

While the company has a strong foundation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Naja highlighted its ambition for global expansion. “Our vision is global, and we want to bring financial literacy and empowerment through gamified learning to underserved and emerging markets worldwide," he declared. "Expanding into regions like Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America is part of our growth strategy, where the demand for financial education and the adoption of Web3 technologies is rising rapidly.”

 The growth of decentralized finance (DeFi) and digital currencies has exposed significant gaps in financial literacy, particularly in regions like the UAE. Currently, 30.7 percent of UAE residents are financially literate, below the global average of 33 percent. This gap is becoming more noticeable with the growth of decentralized finance (DeFi) and digital currencies, as traditional educational methods struggle to keep up. 

“Traditional financial literacy often covers basic concepts like savings and budgeting," Naja pointed out. "With DeFi, users encounter highly complex products like liquidity pools and yield farming, which require a deeper understanding of financial instruments and risk management.” 

Naja also shed light on the importance of security awareness in the DeFi space. “Users must be more aware of security best practices, such as managing private keys and avoiding scams," he said. "The gap in knowledge about securely navigating this new financial ecosystem has led to significant losses for many."

He also stressed the risks associated with the volatility of digital currencies. “Many new users fail to grasp the risks associated with trading cryptocurrencies," he said. "The lack of understanding around market dynamics and diversification has left many exposed to massive losses. The concept of decentralization itself is often misunderstood, with users unaware of potential pitfalls, such as the lack of consumer protection and governance risks.”

Here, Naja pointed out the importance of the evolving regulatory environment. “Financially literate users must understand the legal implications of using DeFi services, especially in regions where regulations are not fully developed, like the UAE," he explained. 

PiP World thus aims to provide more accessible and engaging financial education, helping users navigate the complexities of DeFi and digital currencies with confidence. 

Naja discussed the advantages of using gaming to improve financial literacy, highlighting the widespread lack of fundamental financial knowledge. “Schools and universities rarely teach critical concepts like managing finances or understanding compound interest," he said. "PiP World is addressing this gap through gamification and real-world simulations." 

He described how PiP Trader integrates real-time market data, allowing players to experience managing money and investments in a dynamic and engaging way. “This realistic simulation bridges the gap for users who find traditional financial planning daunting, making the process enjoyable, while equipping them with the tools to make informed decisions in the real market," he concluded.