In a bold move to grow its blockchain ecosystem, Pi Network has just launched a new $100 million investment fund aimed at supporting startups building on its platform. The fund, called Pi Network Ventures, is set to back early-stage to Series B startups that are building blockchain apps and integrating Pi Network’s native token (PI) into their products and services.
According to a May 14 announcement, the new venture fund will invest both in Pi tokens and U.S. dollars, with the goal of encouraging innovation and real-world utility for Pi.
Pi Network Ventures is the investment arm of Pi Network, created to increase the token’s utility and expand its use across various sectors. The fund plans to support startups not just in the crypto world, but also in industries like fintech, AI applications, e-commerce platforms, embedded payments, social networks, and more.
“This strategic program intends to invest in high-quality startups and companies across sectors, driving innovation and ecosystem growth,” the Pi Foundation shared in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
By doing this, Pi Network hopes to attract developers and entrepreneurs to build practical, real-world applications on its blockchain, driving more adoption and daily transactions using PI.
What sets Pi Network Ventures apart from other crypto investment funds is its approach. Instead of only focusing on blockchain or DeFi projects, the fund is structured more like a Silicon Valley venture capital firm. It emphasizes rigorous startup selection, funding innovation from seed rounds all the way to Series B and beyond.
The goal is to find and fund the most promising and disruptive startups that can bring real value to the Pi ecosystem and the broader tech landscape.
The fund draws from the 10% of Pi tokens that were previously set aside by the Pi Foundation for ecosystem development. For those unfamiliar, the Pi Foundation is described as an “ownerless” organization dedicated to supporting the long-term growth of the network.
This move aligns with Pi’s larger goal of making its token usable in the real world—beyond speculation and trading.
While this announcement is exciting, Pi Network is not without controversy. The project has faced criticism in the past, including accusations of being a pyramid scheme due to its referral-based user growth model. Some critics have pointed out the lack of transparency and a sparse white paper, which has led to skepticism in parts of the crypto community.
The value of the PI token has also taken a hit—falling over 65% since the mainnet launch earlier this year. It's currently trading about 25% below its all-time high, adding pressure to show real-world use cases and growth.
The launch of Pi Network Ventures marks a significant shift in strategy for the Pi ecosystem. With $100 million on the table, the project is signaling that it’s serious about building real utility for its token and backing the next generation of blockchain startups.
If you’re a founder building in crypto, fintech, or any tech-forward space, this could be a major opportunity to secure funding and grow your product on a rising blockchain platform.
Whether Pi Network can overcome its critics and deliver on its promises remains to be seen—but this venture fund is a step in the right direction.
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