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August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Money & Work • Entrepreneur

Mike Lazaridis

Mike Lazaridis is a Canadian businessman and entrepreneur best known as the co-founder of Research In Motion, later BlackBerry Limited, and as an early leader in the development of the BlackBerry device.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

Mike Lazaridis is a Canadian businessman and entrepreneur best known as the co-founder of Research In Motion, the company behind BlackBerry. He is also a major philanthropist supporting Canadian scientific research.

Key details

Lazaridis was born in Istanbul, Turkey, and moved to Canada as a child. He studied at the University of Waterloo but left before completing his degree. In 1984, he co-founded Research In Motion, which later became BlackBerry Limited. He was instrumental in developing the BlackBerry wireless handheld device, a pioneering smartphone.

Why it matters

Lazaridis helped put Canadian technology on the global map with BlackBerry. His philanthropy has had a major impact on scientific research in Canada, particularly through the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics and the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo.

What he's done

Lazaridis has received numerous honours, including the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society. His philanthropic contributions have supported cutting-edge research in physics and quantum computing.

In short

  • Co-founded Research In Motion (BlackBerry).
  • Key figure in developing the BlackBerry smartphone.
  • Major Canadian philanthropist for physics and quantum research.
  • Recipient of Order of Canada and Order of Ontario.
Canadian angle

Lazaridis is a major figure in Canadian technology history and a prominent Canadian philanthropist, with especially strong links to Waterloo, Ontario, and Canadian scientific research.

Quick questions

Who is Mike Lazaridis?
He is a Canadian businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist best known as the co-founder of Research In Motion and a key figure in the development of BlackBerry.
What company did Mike Lazaridis co-found?
He co-founded Research In Motion in 1984, which later became BlackBerry Limited.
What is Mike Lazaridis known for?
He is known for helping create the BlackBerry device and for supporting Canadian research in physics and quantum computing.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Lazaridis
    Supports: Birth date, Canadian businessman identity, co-founding of Research In Motion, and philanthropy summary.
  2. Royal Society — https://www.royalsociety.org/people/mike-lazaridis-11796/
    Supports: Co-founding RIM, BlackBerry device creation, quantum investments, and founding roles at Canadian research institutes.
  3. The Governor General of Canada — https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/146-15305
    Supports: Order of Canada honour, role as founder and co-chief executive officer of Research In Motion, and contribution to mobile communications.
  4. CBC News — https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/mike-lazaridis-of-rim-1.1251395
    Supports: Birthplace, move to Canada, University of Waterloo studies, RIM leadership, and donations to Canadian research institutions.
  5. Windsor Public Library — https://windsorpubliclibrary.com/mike-lazaridis/
    Supports: Entrepreneurship, philanthropy, honours, and birth details.