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  • BlackBerry Partners Fund Makes First Three Investments In Buzzd, Digby And WorldMate

    The $150 million BlackBerry Partners Fund has announced its first three investments totaling $16.7 million. They are: buzzd, a social network, Digby, a mobile storefront provider and WorldMate, a travel management tool. These three represent the fund's first investments, but last week, the investment fund also awarded $150,000 to three companies that won top honors at the BlackBerry Developer Conference. Release (PDF) . -- buzzd is a location-aware social network that raised $3.2 million in a first round that included investments from Greycroft Partners, Monitor Ventures and Qualcomm ( NSDQ: QCOM ) Ventures. The company is based in New York City. -- Digby , which raised $5.5 million in a second round that includes additional investment from existing shareholders, provides mobile shopping tools for retailers. Features of the platform include web and application based mobile storefronts with search, browsing, purchase, secure wallet and location-based services. The company is based in Austin, Texas. -- WorldMate raised $8 million in a third round with the participation of Motorola ( NYSE: MOT ) Ventures and AMC Communications. The Israel-based company develops software that helps travelers manage their trips and has been in business since 2000. Related BlackBerry Fund Awards $150,000 To Three Companies: Poynt, Strands, Nobex Radio BlackBerry Fund Goes Small, Launches $250K Funding Plan Interview: Jean-David Begin, BlackBerry Partner Fund: Cautiously Moving Toward 20 Investments EconWomen, Oct. 29, 2008 | Edison Ballroom | New York City Our panels are jam-packed with top women’s media executives. Register: http://econwomen.eventbrite.com
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  • Obopay Inc Secures $20 Million From Essar, Qualcomm, Promethean India And Others

    Indo-U.S. mobile payment company Obopay Inc has secured a $20 million in a fourth round of investment led by India's Essar Communications Holdings , and included Alliance Bernstein, ONSET Ventures, Redpoint Ventures, Richmond Management, Citi, Societe Generale, Qualcomm ( NSDQ: QCOM ) and Promethian India. Obopay has also named K.B. Rajendran, SVP Essar Global and Robert G Hottensen Jr, SVP (Public Equity) at Olayan America Corporation as new members of its board of directors. There had been reports last year of Promethean Investing $5 million in Obopay India, but there's no confirmation of whether that happened. [via release and GigaOm ] Obopay had raised around $48 million in its first three rounds; James Pearce, at mocoNews mentions that Obopay wants to become the Western Union/PayPal of the mobile world, and in order to do that it had to get 41 licenses to become a registered money transfer agent just in the US. I think the involvement of Indian companies in this round is significant, particularly for Obopay's operations in India: The Essar group is a shareholder in Vodafone ( NYSE: VOD ) India (earlier Hutch-Essar), and also is reportedly behind Loop Telecom. Essar is also in the mobile retail business - in partnership with Virgin, they've launched The Mobile Store in India.
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  • Mobile Payment Service Obopay Raises $20 Million; Total At $68 Million

    Mobile payment company Obopay has raised $20 million in its fourth round of funding, reports GigaOM . The round isn't finished and the final amount may go higher—so far the only investor details given are "CEO Carol Realini ... and other Obopay executives contributed to the round by wiring their investments to the company coffers by way of their Obopay accounts on their mobile phones." Obopay has previously raised $48 million. That's a lot of dosh, but Obopay wants to become the Western Union/PayPal of the mobile world, and in order to do that it had to get 41 licenses to become a registered money transfer agent just in the US—and it wants to expand internationally to grab a slice of the money sent between countries. It's currently in the US and India, and lets people send money even if the recipient doesn't have Obopay. Related Mobile Payments Firm Obopay Gets a Big $29 Million In Third Round Obopay India To Close $10 Million In Funding Verizon To Announce Deal With Obopay
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  • Mobile Coupon Firm Cellfire Gets $12 Million Funding

    CellFire , the San Jose, CA.-based mobile coupon firm, has raised $12 million in its third-round funding. The round was led by Silver Creek Ventures, and was joined by return backers Menlo Ventures and Storm Ventures. Proceeds will be used to expand the company's sales and marketing efforts, along with increasing product functionality, business development and partnership activities, it said. Cellfire, founded in 2005, did a deal a year later with Conde Nast to sell subscriptions to its magazines via mobile. The company says it has distributed more than eight million coupons worth more than $24 million in discounts. Stores accepting Cellfire coupons include Hardee's, Hollywood Video, Papa John's and Taco Bueno. More in release . Related Conde Nast Offers Magazine Subcriptions Via Mobile Coupon Mobile Coupons Firm Cellfire Raises $10 Million in Second Round
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