BlackBerry Partners Fund today announced the official call for entries for its second annual BlackBerry Developers Challenge competition. According to BlackBerry Partners Fund--a $150 million venture capital fund created in mid-2008 to invest in applications and services for the BlackBerry OS as well as rival mobile platforms--all new BlackBerry applications submitted to the BlackBerry App World virtual storefront between June 1 and Sept. 25 may be eligible to compete in this year's event. Judges will look for compelling mobile products and services as well as clearly defined value propositions, viable business models and entrepreneurs with the skills to execute their concepts. User reviews of applications and download activity will be also taken into consideration when finalists are chosen.
A total of 16 finalists will be selected from eligible BlackBerry applications submitted over the contest period--four finalists will be selected and announced at the end of each month during the four-month challenge. Each of the 16 BlackBerry Developers Challenge finalists will receive a prize package valued at more than $5,000, including a week of featured placement on the BlackBerry App World carousel, one BlackBerry Developers Conference pass (including an invitation to demo the app at the event) and one BlackBerry smartphone. The finalists will also compete for a grand prize package valued at over $100,000, including $75,000 cash along with a year's membership in the BlackBerry Alliance, a one-day mentoring session with Research In Motion, two additional weeks on the App World carousel and a potential BlackBerry Partners Fund investment offer. A runner-up prize package worth more than $25,000 will also be awarded. Final judging will take place at the BlackBerry Developers Conference, scheduled for Nov. 9 to Nov. 11.
Full BlackBerry Developer Challenge rules and regulations are available here.
For more on the 2009 BlackBerry Developer Challenge:
- read this release
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