Back in March, VCs took the wraps off a $100 million fund, available to be invested in companies making applications and services for the iPhone. A couple of months later, and Business Week has revealed the lucky people that have picked up funding under the scheme.
So far, says the magazine, 1,700 companies have applied for funding and just two have got it. The two in question are Pelago which makes a location-based app called Whrrl, which uses data from your social network to make recommendations and iControl “which makes a home automation application that would give iPhone users remote control over air conditioners, lighting, window shades, and so on”.
For a device that’s had the innovative label stuck to it far too often, you’d think that the iPhone would have inspired some unique applications – while these Pelago and iControl’s apps are doubtless clever, there are already shedloads of similar applications on the market. Apparently, the VCs behind the fund Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers have also made one other offer to a start-up and are looking at 10 others seriously. Hopefully, the iPhone may inspire some inventive applications yet.