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Think big, top names tell young ventures

Mar 12 2009 By Iain Laing, The Journal

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Tim Stocks (right) and Steve Bernard (standing) with Roy Stanley and Nicki Clark

A GROUP of blossoming North East firms spent yesterday locked in talks with two heavyweight financial experts who could hold the key to vital investment and a multitude of opportunities in North America.

Six of the region’s fledgling businesses spent the day with American corporate lawyer Steven Bernard – whose company was responsible for bringing search engine Google to market – and Tim Stocks, a high-level City investor, in an effort to win investment and future growth.

The event, organised by Business Link provider Business & Enterprise North East (Bene), resulted in at least one firm winning financial backing while a commitment was made by the two finance experts to offer continuing guidance to the other companies.

Newcastle’s Soundbite Learning, which has created a system allowing students to download audio revision material to mobile devices, and web services group Unified Software, of Houghton le Spring, were among those at the event.

Quick TV, the Origin Technology Group, RT Analytics and Plasrec also attended the meeting at Bene’s Seaham headquarters as each firm spent an hour discussing plans for growth.