<div id="readability-page-1" class="page"><div><div><p>Pump.fun, the Solana-centered platform behind countless viral memecoins, has just launched Pump Fund, a $3 million investment fund designed to throw in a whopping $10 million dollars to support budding projects. The fund is currently aiming to reach out to 12 startups, with each project getting a fat check of $250,000.</p><div><div><blockquote><div dir="ltr" lang="en"><p>Introducing the $3,000,000 Build in Public Hackathon</p><p>Brought to you by Pump Fund - pump fun’s New Investment Arm</p><p>It’s time to completely reimagine how early-stage projects are built and funded.</p><p>Learn more 👇 pic.twitter.com/l1TJcxv1J0</p></div>— Pump.fun (@Pumpfun) January 19, 2026</blockquote></div></div><p>This new project comes just one week after Pump.fun set records for Solana memecoin activity. The initiative marks a strategic shift from speculative token launches toward fostering broader innovation across the crypto and non-crypto sectors.</p><p>The fund is open to projects at all maturity stages and across all industries, with no requirement to be blockchain-related. Selection criteria focus on execution speed, transparency, product or social traction, and long-term viability. </p><p>Beyond capital injection, Pump.Fun has also promised mentor selected teams, granting them direct mentorship from Pump.Fun's founders, reinforcing the program as a comprehensive support system rather than a simple funding initiative.</p><p>For startups, Pump.Fun promises fast and flexible financing combined with exposure to a high-profile network of experts. By reaching out to projects outside of crypto, it also essentiates Pump.Fun's desire to extend diversity, a trend to follow for other sector players.</p><div><div><blockquote><p dir="ltr" lang="en">🔥 @Pumpfun unveils a new investment arm to back emerging startups#Pumpfun has introduced #PumpFund, a new investment arm focused on supporting startups within its ecosystem. Its first move is a Build in Public Hackathon that will allocate $3M in funding to 12 projects. To… pic.twitter.com/Hirf5667Pi</p>— PHOENIX - Crypto News &amp; Analytics (@pnxgrp) January 20, 2026</blockquote></div></div><p>While Pump Fund could enhance Pump.fun’s credibility among serious entrepreneurs, its infamous reputation for memecoins and &#34;Rug Pulls&#34; right pose credibility challenges with traditional investors.</p><p>It remains to be seen if Pump.Fund will identify and support high-impact projects, and how this strategy will influence the crypto ecosystem in the long term.</p><p>Pump.fun’s deep integration with the Solana network means that the blockchain could benefit substantially from the expansion. Startups funded by Pump Fund may build applications, protocols, or consumer-facing products on Solana, generating new transaction volume and gas fee demand, which could strengthen the network’s adoption and credibility.</p><p><img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://image.coinlive.com/cryptotwits-static/01a62ee2f4d370960a3aedceec5d60f3.png?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="1464" height="654" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://image.coinlive.com/cryptotwits-static/01a62ee2f4d370960a3aedceec5d60f3.png"/></p><p>By attracting innovative projects to Solana, the platform not only diversifies its portfolio but also potentially boosts SOL token usage and encourages further ecosystem growth. The success of Pump Fund could reinforce Solana’s position as a startup-friendly blockchain, aligning the platform’s financial incentives with broader ecosystem expansion.</p><p>The initiative also demonstrates Pump.fun’s long-term vision: moving away from meme-centric hype and toward responsible capital allocation and strategic diversification, with the dual aim of supporting startups and enhancing network utility. </p><p>Yet, with high stakes and lingering credibility concerns, whether Pump Fund will fully deliver on these promises remains to be seen.</p></div></div></div>

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<p>Pump.fun has launched a $10 million funding program called Pump Fund, aimed at supporting 12 startups with $250,000 each. This initiative marks a shift from speculative token launches to fostering innovation across various sectors, not limited to blockchain. The program promises mentorship and fast financing, but faces credibility challenges due to Pump.fun's past reputation with memecoins. The success of this fund could enhance Solana's ecosystem by attracting innovative projects, potentially increasing SOL token usage and network adoption.</p>

- Pump.fun has launched Pump Fund, a $3 million initiative aimed at investing $10 million into 12 startups, providing each with $250,000.  
- This shift from memecoin activity to supporting diverse projects marks a strategic approach to innovation, promising mentorship alongside funding.  
- While the initiative may enhance Solana's ecosystem and appeal to entrepreneurs, it faces credibility challenges due to Pump.fun's memecoin reputation.

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Pump.fun Launches a $10M Funding Program. Is This Another "Rug Pull"?