Mon May 12, 2008 7:37 am
Research in Motion (RIM) and Thomson Reuters today announced plans to launch the BlackBerry Partners Fund, a $150 million venture capital fund, to invest in mobile applications and services for the RIM's BlackBerry platform and other mobile platforms.
The fund will be co-managed by JLA Ventures and RBC Venture Partners, the Royal Bank of Canada's venture capital arm.
"The mobile world has evolved well beyond phone calls and simple messaging to require more empowering and liberating solutions that connect people to everything that matters most to them, wherever and whenever they want," said Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO, Research In Motion. "RIM, RBC and Thomson Reuters share the common belief that mobile applications and services will propel the industry forward and the BlackBerry Partners Fund is being formed to help fuel innovation and activity in the mobile ecosystem."
The creation of the fund comes on the heels Apple's recently announced iFund, a $100 million cash pool launched in partnership with Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers to fund applications for BlackBerry rival iPhone.
The BlackBerry Partners Fund is not restricted to investments of BlackBerry platform application and services.
|
