TLDR
- Pump.fun’s new Pump Fund will invest $250K in 12 projects at a $10M valuation through a 30-day hackathon.
- The fund supports startups of all types, not limited to crypto, with mentorship from Pump.fun’s founding team.
- Trading volume on Pump.fun fell to $2.43B in December from a peak of $11.75B in January 2025.
- The hackathon uses the market as a judge, letting users fund projects by buying tokens early.
Pump.fun, a platform known for launching memecoins, is now expanding into startup investments with the launch of ‘Pump Fund.’ The move signals a new direction for the company, which gained attention for its role in the 2024 memecoin boom.
🚨JUST IN: https://t.co/VS31GZ3dMY has announced Pump Fund, a new investment arm, alongside a $3M Build in Public hackathon that will back 12 projects with $250K each at a $10M valuation, with funding driven by market participation rather than traditional VC selection. pic.twitter.com/ViTUkbX9Bx
— SolanaFloor (@SolanaFloor) January 19, 2026
The new fund is paired with a $3 million hackathon designed to support up to 12 startup projects. Each selected project will receive $250,000 in funding at a $10 million valuation. The hackathon will run for 30 days, and winning projects will be selected based on market interest.
Pump Fund to Support Startups Across Various Sectors
Pump Fund will back projects across different stages and industries, not only those related to crypto. It will focus on teams that build fast, communicate clearly, and are open about their goals.
“Your users are the ones that fund you by betting on you early,” Pump.fun said in an announcement. The hackathon will allow teams to create tokens and share updates with their communities, with the token market acting as the judge instead of traditional venture capitalists.
The founders of Pump.fun will also provide mentorship to the selected teams, helping guide the projects during and after the hackathon. The platform said it wants to support long-term projects and stay involved beyond the initial investment.
Hackathon Aims to Identify and Back Strong Founding Teams
Alon Cohen, co-founder of Pump.fun, posted on X that demand for strong founders remains high regardless of market conditions. He noted that crypto trends over the past three years prove there is still high interest in early-stage builders.
He explained that users enjoy buying tokens tied to fresh ideas and that tokenized funding brings immediate liquidity. According to Cohen, “Millions of people could become potential users and investors.” He also mentioned that tokenized AI projects in crypto are showing how much opportunity exists for early builders.
Pump.fun Trading Volumes Drop Sharply in Recent Months
This pivot comes as the platform’s memecoin trading activity continues to fall. Pump.fun’s trading volume reached an all-time monthly high of $11.75 billion in January 2025.
However, data from Token Terminal shows a consistent drop in volume throughout the year, reaching $2.43 billion in December. The decline reflects a broader change in market behavior, with less interest in speculative assets like memecoins.
By launching Pump Fund, Pump.fun appears to be adjusting to changing market trends and looking to support long-term, sustainable growth through startup investment.
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