As reported briefly (CI No 1,687), Apple Computer Europe is investing in SoftCore Creative Technology BV, Belgium-based provider of electronic document management systems, as part of its year-old $15m Venture Capital Programme, invested through Advent International: the goal for the European venture capital programme is to back some 30 companies over five years and to attract three dollars from other backers for every dollar put up by Apple; Apple’s total investment will be around $1m – through investors, this will be stretched to as much as $10m; SoftCore is only three years old – it was founded to exploit document management technology developed at the Brussels Free University, and now aims to expand into France, Germany and the UK.
