Intel Capital is managing the fund which will look to stimulate the performance of the company's forthcoming chips designed to pit laptop computers against tablets.
US-based semiconductor maker Intel’s corporate venturing unit has created a $300m fund to help improve the Ultrabook mobile computer, which Intel is providing the chips for.
The Intel Capital fund, which is entirely funded by its parent, will be invested over the next three to four years in companies building hardware and software technologies to improve Ultrabooks with longer battery life, innovative designs and increased storage capacity.
Marcos Battisti, head of western Europe and Israel at Intel Capital, one of the top performing venture investors in the region and for the group, said the money might be invested more quickly if needed but there would still be investments in other areas. Intel has previously had good performance from its previous specialised funds, such as the Intel Communications Fund and China funds, for mobile smart devices and the country, respectively, and creating one for Ultrabooks was a sign the product was being taken "very seriously", he added.
In May, Intel said it had a plan for the Ultrabook, which is designed as a new category between laptops and tablets, such as Apple’s iPad, but one that "combines the best in performance, portability, user interface and design", Battisti said. By setting the standards required for third-party entrepreneurs to meet to count as developing for Ultrabooks, Intel is using open innovation to help drive the ecosystem while providing technology, cash and support, he added.
Arvind Sodhani, president of Intel Capital and Intel executive vice president, said: "Ultrabook devices are poised to be an important area for innovation in the $261bn global computer industry. The Intel Capital Ultrabook fund will focus on investing in companies building technologies that will help revolutionise the computing experience and morph today’s mobile computers into the next ‘must have’ device."
Intel added it would role out the Ultrabook in three phases. Firstly it will release its 2nd Generation Intel Core processor which is set to enable its customers to build 21mm thick laptops at "mainstream prices", and will be available by Christmas.
Intel will subsequently release its "Ivy Bridge" family of processors in 2012, which would increase power efficiency, visual performance, responsiveness and security, Intel said.
Then in 2013 it plans to release products codenamed "Haswell" which are expected to reduce power consumption by half.
