Pump.fun Introduces New Investment Division for Early-Stage Projects and Launches Hackathon

Pump.fun, the memecoin launchpad, has unveiled a new investment branch named Pump Fund, which is set to allocate $3 million across 12 different projects.

Key Takeaways

Pump.fun has launched a new investment division called Pump Fund, with $3 million to be distributed across 12 startups.
The platform is hosting a Build in Public Hackathon that will award each of the 12 projects with $250,000, based on a $10 million valuation.
The hackathon aims to support a wide range of projects, regardless of their focus or maturity level.
The native PUMP token saw a 3.04% increase following the announcement, trading at $0.00256.

Pump.fun hackathon

In an animated advertisement shared on X, it was revealed that this fund aims to support early-stage startups. Additionally, it announced a Build in Public Hackathon, where $250,000 will be awarded to each of the 12 selected projects, based on a valuation of $10 million.

“We aim to enhance the startup ecosystem at Pump.fun by forming long-term partnerships with various projects,” stated Pump.fun in a thread on X.

Pump.fun Hackathon – Focused on Startups, Not Venture Capitalists

The Solana-based platform announced that the upcoming hackathon is a time-sensitive event that stands apart from traditional competitions. This event will provide funding, as well as mentorship from the founders of Pump.fun.

“Instead of having to impress judges or VCs for funding, tokenizing allows the market itself to determine value,” the platform added. “Your users will support you by betting on your success early on.”

To qualify for participation in the hackathon, early-stage projects must launch a token and retain at least 10% of the total token supply.

Importantly, Pump.fun clarified that projects are not required to be crypto-focused. Instead, all project types and maturity levels are welcome to apply.

When selecting winners, the platform will prioritize factors such as product and social traction, transparent communication, and long-term sustainability.

One user commented that the hackathon represents “the greatest opportunity for building talent.” While AI has enabled millions to create projects and enhance the talent pool, the available funding for these initiatives has not kept pace, the user noted.

“Portfolio companies with legitimate products are being overlooked… hackathon finalists, incubator dropouts, solo entrepreneurs with passion and ideas, and AI-driven developers are all vying to outshine funded startups,” the X post elaborated. “The talent pool has expanded dramatically, yet the funding framework hasn’t adapted. It’s time to revolutionize the game.”

The initial group of startups is expected to be unveiled by February 2026.

PUMP Token Rises by 3.04% – Anticipating a Short-Term Breakout

Following the announcement of the Pump Fund, the native token PUMP experienced a 3.04% rise in value within the last 24 hours. As of the latest updates from CoinMarketCap, the token is trading at $0.00256.

These recent gains demonstrate short-term momentum but are encountering resistance around the $0.00274 mark.

Having reached an all-time high in September, the token has since seen a 70% decline. However, increased activity in the memecoin sector, particularly with Pump.fun-launched cryptocurrencies like WhiteWhale gaining attention, has helped revive interest in the token.

Additional insights from DefiLlama indicate that this activity has led to a consistent increase in revenue recently, establishing a robust foundation for the token's rally.