Pump.fun Launches Investment Fund to Support Startups Long Term

The popular Solana-based crypto platform Pump.fun has announced the launch of a new investment division called Pump Fund. The initiative is designed to finance and support startups over the long term, offering an alternative approach to traditional venture capital within the platform’s growing ecosystem. At the same time, Pump.fun introduced its new Build in Public hackathon, backed by a total allocation of $3 million. The move signals the company’s ambition to actively cultivate a startup ecosystem and support projects from their earliest stages.

Build in Public Hackathon to Distribute Millions in Funding The first major initiative under Pump Fund is the BiP Hackathon, which aims to fund 12 selected projects. Each project can receive $250,000, bringing the total potential funding to $10 million. In addition to capital, Pump.fun will provide mentorship, product-building support, and access to the platform’s community. The company highlights that the hackathon is unique due to its token-based funding model, where success is determined by market participation rather than venture capital approval. Users on the platform can support projects early by participating at the start of their lifecycle—allowing the market itself to decide which ideas deserve backing. “This framework creates a new path for founders who might otherwise never gain access to capital, and a new way for early supporters to engage from day one of a project’s lifecycle.”

— Alon, Co-founder of Pump.fun

Clear Requirements: Token Launch, Transparency, and Building in Public Participation in both the hackathon and the investment program comes with clear requirements. Teams must: 🔹 Build a project and launch a token on Pump.fun

🔹 Retain at least 10% of the token supply

🔹 Build publicly with full transparency Pump.fun places strong emphasis on open communication. Teams are expected to share frequent updates via X, open community chats, or live streams directly on Pump.fun. Key milestones, releases, and development progress should be communicated openly. The company openly states a strong preference for teams that build in public—projects that are transparent about who they are, what they are building, and how progress is unfolding.

Not Limited to Crypto-Only Projects Notably, Pump.fun is not restricting participation to purely crypto-related projects. The platform welcomes ideas across different industries, maturity levels, and popularity ranges. According to the company, long-term viability and execution ability matter more than the sector itself.

Timeline and Winner Selection Project registrations and token launches began on January 19, 2026. Teams must submit an application along with a short introductory video. The hackathon runs for four weeks, with the first winners announced on February 18, 2026. Pump.fun emphasized that winners will not be chosen based on hype, marketing, or social reach, but on long-term project potential. The company wants to see teams that ship quickly, test ideas in real time, and communicate openly with their audience.

An Alternative to Traditional Venture Capital According to Pump.fun, many strong ideas in the crypto industry never get a chance to exist because they fail to pass traditional investor gatekeeping. This initiative is designed to remove that barrier. The goal is to enable creators to experiment openly, secure funding directly from the market, and grow organically, without waiting for approval from centralized decision-makers. Pump.fun also acknowledges that some projects may require more time to gain traction—which is why strong teams may continue to receive support even after the hackathon ends. With Pump Fund, Pump.fun makes it clear that it aims to be more than just a launchpad. Its ambition is to become a true startup incubator, where success is determined by community engagement and real market demand.

#pumpfun , #solana , #Web3 , #blockchain , #defi

Stay one step ahead – follow our profile and stay informed about everything important in the world of cryptocurrencies! Notice: ,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“