BlackBerry Partners – a US$150 million venture capital fund set up with money from BlackBerry maker Research in Motion to focus on applications and services for the BlackBerry and other mobile platforms – today announced its first investment in three start-ups, all with a location-specific theme. The fund is involved in a US$8 million round for MobiMate, an Israeli company that makes an application called WorldMate. It helps frequent travellers by keeping track of delayed flights, guiding them to hotels and suggesting restaurants. Digby, an Austin, Texas-based firm, is raising US$5.5 million with BlackBerry Partners reportedly as the co-lead. Digby helps retailers set up Web stores for mobile phone screens, and can also guide a user to a physical store if the phone’s GPS chip indicates that one is close. The third investment is for US$3.2 million in buzzd, a New York-based firm that makes an interactive city guide. The service senses where the user is, and can recommend nearby events and restaurants. It’s important to note that BlackBerry Partners didn’t reveal the amounts it is investing in each startup, only the total amount raised by all investors in the round.

In a statement, John Albright, co-managing partner of the BlackBerry Partners Fund, said the three companies beat “thousands of businesses” in securing the investment. Toronto-based BlackBerry Partners Fund was created in May. Co-investing with RIM were Royal Bank of Canada and Thomson Reuters, among others. The fund is managed by JLA Ventures and RBC Venture Partners.