FunFair Ventures

Background and Launch

FunFair Ventures was officially launched on 24 February 2022, as a new initiative from Funfair Technologies – the company behind the FUN token and a suite of decentralised iGaming applications. The venture arm was created to formalise an investment practice that had already begun in 2021 with the backing of AwardPool. The parent company, founded in 2017 by Jez San, had accumulated deep expertise in blockchain scaling technologies, having developed on multiple Layer‑1 and Layer‑2 protocols including Polygon, Solana, Optimism, xDAI and Dfinity. This technical background allows FunFair Ventures to assess potential investments with a rare level of granularity.

Investment Thesis and Support

The fund’s investment thesis centres on early‑stage blockchain projects that require not only financial backing but also strategic and operational assistance. FunFair Ventures provides its portfolio companies with commercial, marketing and corporate support, drawing on its own experience of launching and operating a top‑100 ERC‑20 token. It typically makes both equity and token investments, using its own balance sheet rather than external LP capital. The firm describes its role as “plugging the gap” where early‑stage startups need real‑world guidance on token economics, product‑market fit and go‑to‑market execution.

Leadership

Key leadership includes founder and Chairman Jez San, a veteran gaming technologist who founded FunFair Technologies and previously created the video game company Argonaut Games. The day‑to‑day operations are led by Lloyd Purser, who serves as Chief Operating Officer (and is also referred to as Managing Director in some sources). Purser has extensive experience in blockchain and gaming, and his team – numbering fewer than ten – works closely with each portfolio company. While the official Crunchbase listing also names Jeremy Longley and Oliver Hopton as founders, the public‑facing team page and press releases consistently highlight Jez San as the founder and Chairman, with no separate CEO or CTO currently named in available sources.

Portfolio and Deal Sourcing

The portfolio has grown since the AwardPool investment, though specific holdings are not widely publicised. FunFair Ventures has participated in rounds alongside investors such as YZi Labs (formerly Binance Labs), Selini Capital, Blockchain Founders Fund, Mucker Capital, Gate Labs and others, indicating a collaborative approach to deal sourcing. Given its corporate structure, the firm does not raise external funds; instead, it allocates capital from Funfair Technologies’ balance sheet.