Finance24 June, 20262 min read
Kalshi and Polymarket Founders Back New Prediction Market VC Fund
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5c(c) Capital aims to raise $35 million for prediction-market startups. Backed by Polymarket and Kalshi CEOs Shayne Coplan and Tarek Mansour.
New VC Fund Launch
A new venture capital fund called 5c(c) Capital has launched specifically focused on prediction markets. The fund is named after Section 5c(c) of the Commodity Exchange Act that governs prediction markets. It appears to be the first dedicated venture fund for this emerging industry.
“A new venture capital fund focused on prediction markets is launching with initial investments from a long list of prominent investors including two of the industry's biggest players, Polymarket's Shayne Coplan and Kalshi Inc.'s Tarek Mansour, according to an investment document viewed by Bloomberg News. The investment firm, 5c(c) Capital, is named for the section of the Commodity Exchange Act related to prediction markets.”
Prominent investors include Shayne Coplan, CEO of Polymarket, and Tarek Mansour, co-founder and CEO of Kalshi. The launch underscores the rapid growth of prediction market exchanges.
These exchanges have opened up betting on diverse real-world events such as elections and sports. The founding team positions this as capitalizing on the broader ecosystem developing around prediction markets.
Investment Strategy
5c(c) Capital aims to raise approximately $35 million to fund about 20 early-stage startups. The investment timeframe spans the next two years. The fund has a specific focus on building infrastructure rather than just exchanges.
Strategy emphasizes investing in data tools, liquidity provision systems, and compliance infrastructure. The founders have attracted more than 20 early investors. This includes a Millennium Management portfolio manager and other prediction market founders.
The fund represents a strategic move to capitalize on ecosystem effects. This indicates a long-term vision for the industry's development.
Market Growth
Prediction markets have experienced significant growth and mainstream adoption. They've transformed from a niche financial sector to a more visible part of public opinion tracking. Since the U.S. presidential election, trading volumes have climbed substantially.
“The launch comes as prediction markets shift from a niche corner of finance into a more visible part of how people track events. Since the U.S. presidential election, trading volumes have climbed and new users have entered the space. Platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi now host contracts tied to politics, economic data and cultural events, turning public opinion into tradable signals.”
New users have entered the space during this period. Platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi now host contracts tied to politics, economic data, and cultural events. This effectively turns public opinion into tradable signals.
Major crypto companies have entered the space recently. This includes Coinbase, Kraken, and Robinhood. The growing ecosystem has created new business opportunities beyond trading platforms.
Regulatory Challenges
Despite industry growth, prediction market platforms face significant regulatory challenges. Kalshi is raising $1 billion at a $22 billion valuation led by Coatue Management. Polymarket is eyeing a similar valuation of around $20 billion.
Kalshi faces about 20 federal lawsuits questioning platform legality. The Arizona Attorney General filed criminal charges against the startup recently. State governments are attempting to crack down on prediction markets.
This is particularly as platforms expand into sports betting markets. Regulators argue these function as sports gambling venues requiring strict state law compliance.