CodeNinja lands $1.6M as sAi Venture Capital makes first bet post-licence
What's the deal? Lahore-based CodeNinjaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has raised $1.6 million in an early-stage venture round led by sAi Venture CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, with Dallas-based Plutus CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → participating. The company builds enterprise software, offering AI integration, cloud services, custom SaaS, and staff augmentation.
Why now? The deal ranks among the larger venture rounds to close in Pakistan's tough late-2023 funding climate. In the April-to-June 2023 quarter, Pakistani startups drew just $5.2 million — a 95% drop year-on-year.
What's the endgame? Founded in 2014, CodeNinja now runs a team of 250-plus across the Americas, Middle East, and Southeast Asia, serving more than 100 clients. The funding will expand its enterprise cloud services and Data and AI capabilities.
The round marks sAi Venture Capital's first major investment since it received its VC licence in Pakistan in October 2023. The firm, founded in 2022 and based in Lahore, targets export-focused frontier technologies including AI, blockchain, and machine learning.
What sAi brings: Managing partner Ahsan Jamil will join CodeNinja's board, making this a hands-on alliance rather than a pure cheque. Jamil said unlocking export potential requires "going beyond capital," with sAi providing structured support to help portfolio companies "become global technology players."
The signal: The pairing of a newly licensed local fund with a US-based co-investor points to how Pakistan's tech sector is trying to attract capital amid a broader drought. Firms that build genuine AI and cloud delivery now are positioning to compete for enterprise contracts in the US, Middle East, and beyond.
Read more: TechX Pakistan
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
