Interview: Inside the $100 Million Fund of Pi Network for Real-World Utility

Pi Network dominated headlines on May 14 when it officially launched a $100 million venture capital fund aimed at promoting real-world utility for its ecosystem. Official announcement introducing Pi Network Ventures, a Silicon Valley-style investment initiative that will fund startups building within or integrating with the Pi ecosystem. Although this fund represents a bold and strategic step towards broader adoption, it has not been warmly received by investors. This can be seen as a classic "buy the rumor, sell the news" event as the Pi token has sharply declined following the reveal. This fund will prioritize blockchain startups along with companies in areas such as financial technology, generative AI, e-commerce, and social platforms. This initiative is not just about investment; it is about integrating Pi into everyday use cases. According to the Foundation, the fund is designed to provide strategic value and long-term impact while prioritizing businesses that can expand Pi's reach beyond its core cryptocurrency community. However, not all reactions are positive. For traders, the lack of immediate impact from the token is a disappointment, as the price of Pi has erased much of the price surge in early May. However, from a development perspective, this initiative shows that Pi Network is playing the long game by positioning itself to support builders. In an increasingly saturated ecosystem with short-term hype, this signals a deeper commitment to sustainable growth. To gain a better understanding of the significance of Pi Network Ventures for developers, users, and the community at large, crypto.news interviewed a spokesperson for Pi Network to learn about how the fund will be structured, what types of projects are likely to be supported, and how the community will play a role in shaping the next chapter in the development of Pi Network. CN: Can you explain where this 100 million dollar amount comes from and how it is structured? Pi: Pi is dedicated to this initiative from 10% of tokens specifically allocated for the purpose of platform reserve (more details about Pi's supply and tokenomics can be found here ). CN: Will the funding source be provided in fiat currency, stablecoins, Pi tokens, other cryptocurrencies, or a combination of all? Pi: This initiative is organized in Pi and USD. While investments are usually calculated in US dollars, Pi Network Ventures will seek to make the majority of its investments directly in Pi. This means that companies participating in the ecosystem will receive investment in the very currency that their business [trades in] and will help strengthen and develop. CN: Who will make the investment decision for Pi Network Ventures and what role or title will the Pi Core Team hold? Pi: Pi Network Ventures is an investment fund established through the Pi Foundation, a non-profit organization created to guide the long-term development of the Pi ecosystem and ensure the sustainability and greater benefits of the network for future generations. CN: How will Pi Network Ventures deploy 100 million dollars? Is there a timeline for investment or a limit for each transaction, or will it be more flexible, with allocations made as opportunities arise? Pi: The investments of Pi Network Ventures aim to provide both capital and strategic value over a broader timeframe for companies believed to be best positioned to create value worldwide and seek to help companies provide more ways to use Pi globally. Pi Network Ventures may invest over time and may cease to invest at any point. CN: If the Pi Foundation adopts the investment method in the form of VC, how will it differ from traditional venture capital investment? Pi: The companies that Pi Network Ventures may invest in will achieve a highly rare thing in cryptocurrency and traditional venture capital: funding accompanied by access to the market—capable of addressing two essential components of building startups. Portfolio companies will have the opportunity to reach a large, active, and verified KYC user base with tens of millions of Pi Network users across more than 200 countries and regions, with over 19 million users having their identities verified through Pi KYC. CN: What are the criteria and processes for selecting startups to receive funding from Pi Network Ventures? Does a project need to be built exclusively on the Pi blockchain, or is it sufficient to integrate Pi in some way, meaning accepting Pi as a payment method? Pi: More details about the criteria and the process will be announced later. However, the first factor to consider is whether a startup or business is innovative and creates value for the world, and whether there is a strong team to execute that. Then, Pi Network Ventures will evaluate whether the business can help expand the utility of Pi and contribute to the ecosystem. Specific requirements will be included in future announcements. CN: What expertise or protective measures are in place to ensure that the 100 million dollars is allocated wisely and not just to goodwill projects that are not feasible? Pi: The investment process of Pi Network Ventures will seek to reflect the common practices used by traditional venture capital firms in Silicon Valley in their sourcing, selection, due diligence processes, etc., designed to identify and support startups and businesses with significant and disruptive impact. Please note that investments from Pi Network Ventures aim to provide both capital and strategic value over a broader time frame for those deemed to be in the best position to create value in the world and help provide additional use cases for Pi globally. The Pi Foundation is not obligated to invest the full $100 million, based on the quality of the applicants and the number of startups accepted into the initiative. Pi Network Ventures may invest over time and may cease investments at any point. CN: Are there specific areas or use cases that you prioritize for investment? Pi: While blockchain-based startups will certainly be part of the investment portfolio, Pi Network Ventures' investments will also focus heavily on general technology sectors, including generative AI and AI applications, FinTech, embedded payments, e-commerce platforms, marketplaces, social media, and consumer and business applications. From a global e-commerce platform accepting Pi, to an AI support service leveraging Pi for access or credit, to a traditional business integrating Pi into its customer loyalty program—if a company can drive practical utility and advancement of the ecosystem, Pi Foundation plans to explore investment opportunities to support that company. CN: Pi Network Ventures aims to "increase the utility of Pi." How do you see that goal being realized in practice? Pi: When many businesses accept Pi and integrate Pi into real-world applications—products, services, transactions, and experiences—users will be able to use Pi in more diverse ways. As businesses adopt Pi, they introduce Pi to users and new use cases. This creates natural growth while still maintaining a level of usage that aligns with practical operations and utility, resulting in a stronger ecosystem. A stronger ecosystem means more opportunities for Pi users to engage—as users, builders, workers, and entrepreneurs. Do you provide advisory services, networking, etc.? Pi: The advisory and developer support programs have continued from the Closed Network period to the present – see the previous answer. Pi Network Ventures is part of Pi's diverse strategies to promote utility and empower the Pi ecosystem: investing in and incubating high-signal projects that operate alongside grassroots utility movements and ecosystem development. While high-signal investment and incubation typically target and support a limited number of high-quality startups and businesses based on selective criteria, grassroots movements can leverage the existing Pi community and potentially generate a larger number of utility efforts at scale. Pi employs both strategies. Pi Network Ventures falls under the former strategy, while initiatives such as hackathons and any other platforms that scale utility building fall under the latter. CN: What role will the Pi community play in Pi Network Ventures? For example, are you considering incorporating community feedback into the selection of which products get funded or allowing users to beta test products from these startups? Pi: The Pi Network always has decentralized input in the process of selecting developers and projects in the past. This occurred in the Pi app called Brainstorm, accessible through the Pi Browser, where Pioneers provide their input on projects through various reviews or anonymous ratings in the app, helping to filter out noise and identify better projects. Their evaluation results have led to the candidates of many hackathon winners in the past. For more specific integration of community feedback in the selection process for Pi Network Ventures, stay tuned for future updates. CN: How does Pi Network Ventures align with the long-term vision of Pi Network? How will this venture capital fund shape the future roadmap of Pi, and what will the mature Pi economy look like if the plans succeed? Pi: This initiative allows for more production activities around the world to be integrated into the Pi Network. The initiative aims to bring more practical production processes, whether in the form of applications, transactions, or companies, into Pi by making early investments in startups and companies that create such processes. This moment marks an important milestone for Pi—especially as the Open Network has launched and external connectivity has been activated—opening the door for the creation of more impactful utilities and real-world integration. By investing in startups and businesses, many of which build, integrate, and innovate with Pi while also providing practical utility to the network, Pi Network Ventures is laying the foundation for a decentralized ecosystem that is globally accessible, community-driven, and economically meaningful.