Matt, 23 is founder and owner of 58 an innovative company with a global vision. A former national swimmer, now turned entrepreneur, Matt is a passionate connector and true believer in ‘the power of dreams’. At the age of 16 Matt started his first business selling large video collections and then sourcing DVD replacements. He then moved on to ‘get an education’ at Newcastle University, where he was recognised for his entrepreneurial talents by being appointed an Enterprise amabassdor for the highly acclaimed Enterprise Centre based at the University. Since then he has gone on to set up an IT and New Media Consultancy, mentored various start-ups, spoke at a variety of Enterprise events and is now concentrating on growing his latest venture 58.

Antony Vila formed Contact25 - Speed Networking in July of 2004. As well as establishing one of the most successful and profitable networking event in Newcastle, he is now taking is formulae for success to a global stage.

Caroline Theobald runs The Bridge Club. Bridges carry people over troubled water and connect them for mutual advantage. Caroline created the Bridge Club to do exactly the same thing!

David Howell is Director of Operations for the North East Business Innovation Centre. He’s been involved in the creation of 3000 businesses and 5000 jobs over the past 12 years. David says his “biggest buzz is seeing the entrepreneurial development of the young people who connect with our Big Ideas facility.”

I’m the Events and Communications Manager at Women Into the Network (WIN) – a networking initiative based in the North East. I’ve been with WIN for six years, relocating from Durham to Hampton in Middlesex five years ago, where I continue to work remotely for WIN from my home office. I manage a membership of over 2,500 and deal with all the marketing and communications, events management and website development for the network.

I am chief executive of the North East BIC, a leading organization in innovation and entrepreneurship for the region. Outside work I enjoy family life, football and music.

My obituary 1/10/2142 Peter Hirst was a much loved friend of the stars. Magician, novelist, comedian and a thoroughbread tea drinker. Born 10/08/83, the racer of olympic atheletes, beater of drums and crime fighter extrordinaire has sadly passed away. A national day of mourning was declared by King Brooklyn Beckham Jnr and everyone under 25 received a Playstation 51 as per Peter’s last will and testament. After winning the eurovision song contest in 2008 Peter went on to achieve tremendous success topping the charts for a record 112 weeks (which still stands today) with his delightful ballad ‘My little pastie’. He next developed low cost moon shuttle service, ‘Moon me’ and was awarded an OBE for his exploits in developing the ‘Van-to-path Generator’ which transformed retired cars and vans into a biodegradable tarmac-like road surface. Obviously best known for his work with renewable energy and the now infamous ‘Hirstoplant’ which at it’s peak generated 84% of the world’s electricity using wasted thoughts and creativity. Interestingly, the following year his amazing record breaking enterprise education programmes put the plant out of business as there was no more wasted ideas! In a recent interview with Jonathon Ross’s great grandson, Jonny Jnr Jnr …