What is the Fund?

The BlackBerry Partners Fund™ is a $150 million venture capital fund to be focused on applications and services for the BlackBerry® platform and other mobile platforms including mobile commerce (payments, advertising, retailing and banking), vertical and horizontal enterprise applications, communications, social networking, location-based applications and services (navigation and mapping), media and entertainment, and lifestyle and personal productivity applications. The Fund will consider all stages of development and is to be co-managed by JLA Ventures and RBC Venture Partners.

Who is managing the Fund?

JLA Ventures and RBC Venture Partners have teamed up to co-manage the Fund.

Why was the Fund created?

All parties involved decided to create the BlackBerry Partners Fund™ given their mutual belief that platforms, like the BlackBerry® platform, will be a driving force in delivering new and innovative solutions worldwide. We believe that there is a compelling investment opportunity in the applications, services and supporting infrastructure which will deliver superior returns. As a leader in design, manufacture and marketing of innovative solutions, Research In Motion® (RIM®) sees the Fund as a great way to enhance the BlackBerry® user experience and to create great mobile applications.

What is the Fund's investment focus?

The Fund has a broad mandate but will be looking for applications and services in the following areas:

• Mobile commerce (payments, advertising, retailing and consumer banking)
• Vertical and horizontal enterprise applications
• Communications
• Social Networking
• Location-base services (navigation and mapping)
• Media and entertainment
• Lifestyle and personal productivity

Is the Fund exclusively focused on BlackBerry®?

As venture capital investors, we encourage our companies to create products and services that reach the highest number of potential users across multiple platforms in order to maximize their opportunities for success. The applications and services the BlackBerry Partners Fund™ invests in will operate on the BlackBerry® platform in addition to other mobile platforms.

What is RIM's involvement in the Fund?

The Fund is being managed at arm's length from RIM by professional venture capital investors in order to keep true to the objectives of selecting the best companies to succeed in the market and generate the highest possible returns. Investment decisions are made by the Fund's managers not RIM. RIM will provide assistance to the Fund managers and investee companies in the areas of technology, marketing and channel development through their extensive BlackBerry® Alliance Program for independent software vendors. RIM is also an investor in the Fund.

Who else is involved in the Fund?

In addition to RIM, RBC and Thomson Reuters have sponsored the Fund and bring significant strategic value to the Fund's investee companies.

RBC provides personal and commercial banking, wealth management services, insurance, corporate, investment banking and transaction processing services on a global basis. RBC employs more than 70,000 full and part-time employees who serve more than 15 million personal, business, public sector and institutional clients through offices in Canada, the U.S. and 39 other countries. RBC is the 5th largest financial institution in North America by market capitalization.

Thomson Reuters is the world's leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals. With 50,000 employees in 93 countries Thomson Reuters combines industry expertise with innovative technology to deliver critical information to leading decision makers in the financial, legal, tax and accounting, scientific, healthcare and media markets, powered by the world's most trusted news organization.

In addition, several very successful Canadian communications, software and media entrepreneurs have also invested in the Fund.

How many companies will be eligible for funding?

There is no absolute limit on the number of companies that will be funded. We'll be looking to fund great companies with great ideas/solutions. What is the size of investments the Fund will consider?

The Fund will consider all stages of venture capital investment and decisions will be subject to the due diligence process typical with all venture capital investments.

How can I submit a business plan?

You can fill out the Investment Application on our website.

How can I contact the fund to get more information?

For more information please email: info@blackberrypartnersfund.com.