Prior to founding Rich Futures, Clive worked at Sony BMG, where he created a pioneering developing business and digital division. He's also held senior business affairs positions with BMG Europe, BMG Music Publishing and WEA Records.

Rich Futures provides a deal-making and business affairs toolkit for the new 'deal economy': it structures and closes deals for clients working with partners to create value. Clients include content owners, artists, brands, software companies, hardware companies, DSPs and media owners - the Royal Opera House and the government's Technology Strategy Board among them.

Clive is an expert in business negotiations, deal syndication and commercial and strategic advice, and will soon be releasing an iPhone app to help business owners and others negotiate their way through life and business as successfully as possible.

Find out more about Rich Futures

Mike Soutar left school at 17 to work as beauty editor for women's magazine Secrets, which specialised in romance stories for older women. By the time he was 23 he was editor of iconic pop mag Smash Hits.

He then took over the reigns of little-known For Him Magazine, rebranded it FHM and growing its circulation from 50,000 to a 800,000 market leader at the peak of lad's mag frenzy.

After a brief spell running Kiss FM, launching Dennis's Maxim in the US and being part of Chris Evans and Matthew Freud's doomed Daily Star takeover, he was recruited as editorial director of IPC Media by Bailey, oversaw the launch of lads' weekly Nuts and 'learnt how to say no'.

In September 2007, he broke out on his own to launch Shortlist - 'a mag men could be proud to be seen with' - with the backing, among others, of Sir David Arculus, his old boss at Emap.

Shortlist, distributed for free, has exceeded all expectations and confounded its critics - and the successful launch of Stylist suggests it's not a one off. Mike has plans for international expansion and future UK launches.

Watch the video to find out more.

• Learn more about Shortlist

Ahead of his bootcamp in Sheffield, Doug Richard, ex Dragon and founder of the School4Startups takes some time to talk to Smarta about his MADE in 48 hours event.

Doug talks to us about small businesses using the web, or more accurately, how they're not using it effectively enough.

Doug believes you can't think of yourself as running an online or offline business: you've got to be everywhere. If you're not online, you're not being seen.

He also discusses the importance of choosing the right social media channel, and how using the internet can save you money in every aspect of your business.

Thought you were fairly web savvy? Think again.

Find out about Doug's MADE in 48 hours event

Win tickets to Doug's MADE event here

So how do you stand the best chance of getting bank finance? How do you start that all-important business relationship with your bank on the right foot?

In this advice video for small businesses and start-ups, we get the low-down on how to get bank finance from the chairman of small business banking at RBS and NatWest.

Peter Ibbetson talks about when you should approach your bank to talk about the business you're starting, whether you should apply for a loan or an overdraft, how to make cashflow forecasts, the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) and what other support you can get from your bank manager.

We've interviewed some top entrepreneurs to find out about their experiences of working from home, and to get their home business advice.

Hear from Doug Richard of Dragons' Den and School For Startups, Karen Hanton of Toptable, Kiss FM and Winkball founder Gordon Mac, Pure Package founder Jenny Irvine, Magic Whiteboard's Neil and Laura Westwood, Bradley McCloughlin of Trading4U, Alexandra Finlay of Fin's, SuperJam founder Fraser Doherty and Daisychain Baby's Lindsay Drabwell in this entrepreneur advice video.

Jonathan is the founder of Rockstar Group, a mentoring agency that matches business owners and start-ups with experienced entrepreneurs who can help them progress. He previously worked at Goldman Sachs, then moved into investment in property and private companies. He has used mentors throughout his career.

This video explains the fundamentals of establishing a mentoring relationship: how to approach someone to be your mentor, how to work out whether you're a good match for each other, and how to start off the relationship. It goes on to cover what to do if you're mentoring relationship isn't working out and how to know when it's time to move on from your relationship with your business mentor.

He says we need to become an exporting nation and we need to capitalise on our trade relations with Europe. The continent is currently the UK's largest export customer, making up 55% of our exporting market.

Reyner also talks about the need to bring manufacturing back to the UK, for economic, environmental and common sense reasons.

His views on exporting and manufacturing provide opportunity for all British businesses looking to survive in these tough times, and for the government and economy as a whole as we look for the most effective routes for recovery.

Like that? Then check out episode one and episode two. Then get a Guru John Popolini tattoo.

Opposed by the optical industry, James fought off opposition from high street brands which tried to discredit the company and force it to shut, famously publishing legal notices on the Glasses Direct website turning potential threats to its existence into a major PR win.

Still chairman of Glasses Direct, Jamie has now opened his second business, Hearing Direct - yes, you got it, selling hearing aids online for a fraction of the price charged by retailers.

This time around, Jamie is looking to deliver value in more ways than price however, focussing on producing a superior, interactive buying experience for his customers.

He admits he's also learnt a lot from his experience with Glasses Direct (where he's still chairman), including some valuable lessons in marketing spend, finances and management.

He talks about these lessons and several others in detail in the video, and once you've watched that you can also catch his interview about setting up Glasses Direct.

To visit both of Jamie's businesses go to:
www.glassesdirect.com
www.hearingdirect.com

It's also got some of the most advanced technology behind it of any taxi company in the world. Journey times throughout the day can be estimated to within minutes, and it's known and loved for sending helpful texts to keep you constantly updated on when your driver is going to arrive.

John built the business from scratch after starting out training as an accountant, then dropping out his course to help salvage his father's road-building and sewer business. After taking part-time work as a minicab driver, he realised he could do a better job of running a similar business himself. He's since built up Addison Lee since the early 70s, and also set up the Private Hire Car Association in 1976.

In this entrepreneur interview, he shares his advice for small businesses, talks through his business model and use of technology, and reveals how he steadfastly avoids using credit, ever, instead paying for everything upfront - a strategy that has seen his business grow 20% in the last year, despite the recession.

Find out more about Addison Lee