The Pump.fun platform, known as one of the most popular token launchers in the Solana ecosystem, is moving beyond classic meme and community trading. The company announced the launch of its own investment division — Pump Fund, which will directly finance startups and developer teams.
At the same time, Pump.fun introduced its flagship initiative — Build in Public Hackathon with a total budget of $3 million. The project format is radically different from traditional venture programs and essentially offers an alternative to classic VC funding in the crypto industry.
Pump Fund: A Long-Term Bet on the Ecosystem
According to the team, Pump Fund is not being created as a one-time grant program, but as a tool for long-term partnership with projects. The idea is simple: Pump.fun wants not just to launch tokens, but to support teams at an early stage, helping them go from idea to sustainable product.
Thus, the platform is gradually transforming from a launchpad service into a full-fledged ecosystem hub for startups, where funding, community, and market validation are combined in one place.
$3 Million Hackathon: How It Works
The first project of the new venture direction was the Build in Public Hackathon. As part of it, Pump.fun plans to select 12 projects, each of which will receive $250,000 at a $10 million valuation. However, the key feature of the hackathon is not the size of the investment, but the selection approach itself.
Pump.fun is deliberately moving away from the model where startups are forced to adapt to the expectations of venture funds. Instead, the platform offers the market the chance to decide which projects deserve attention and capital.
Essentially, funding happens through early user participation, who ‘vote with their money’ by supporting projects at the idea stage.
Tokenization Instead of Venture Committees
All hackathon participants are required to launch a token specifically on Pump.fun. At the same time, the project team must own at least 10% of the supply, which, according to the platform, aligns incentives between developers and the community.
Pump.fun co-founder Alon emphasized that this approach opens access to capital for those who were previously cut off from the venture market:
‘This format creates a new path for founders who have no connections or access to funds, and at the same time gives early supporters the opportunity to participate in the project from the very beginning of its life cycle.’
Mandatory Condition — Build in Public
Another fundamental requirement is to build in public. Pump.fun expects teams to be as open as possible about their work: who they are, what they are doing, and how the project is developing.
The platform encourages:
- daily updates on X
- open chats with the community
- streams and public demos
- direct communication with the audience through Pump.fun tools.
The idea is to remove the opacity typical of early-stage startups and replace it with constant feedback from the market.
Not Only Crypto Projects
Importantly, Pump.fun does not limit participants to crypto-native products only. Projects from any vertical — from Web2 services to AI products and media platforms — can apply.
The key criterion is not hype or social metrics, but the viability of the idea and the team’s ability to deliver results quickly. Connections, big names, and a startup’s ‘aura,’ according to Pump.fun, are not decisive factors.
Timeline and Winner Selection
Applications opened on January 19, 2026. Teams must submit an application and a short video introduction of the project. If the token has not yet been launched, it must be done as part of the hackathon.
The first winner will be announced on February 18, 2026, that is, four weeks after the start. At the same time, Pump.fun emphasizes: the hackathon is only a starting point. Some projects may emerge later, and the platform reserves the right to support them even after the program ends.
What This Changes for the Market
The launch of Pump Fund and the hackathon reflects a broader trend: crypto platforms are beginning to take on the functions of venture funds. Funding, hypothesis testing, and audience growth happen simultaneously and in the public eye.
Pump.fun is betting that the market can select strong ideas more effectively than venture committees, and open development reduces the risk of empty promises.
If the model takes hold, it could become a template for new forms of startup funding in Web3 — faster, more transparent, and without classic ‘gatekeepers.’
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