A Gwent entrepreneur has launched a new super-networking website.

Abergavenny entrepreneur Ashish Poddar set up Freshties, a site that is described as a "people-helping-people place to get together".

The concept is to unite a broad community of site users aged 16-106 to exchange information for both personal development and mutual benefit via four key areas: Career and work; study and learning; entrepreneurship; and taking time out.

Within 'entrepreneurship', for example, Freshties puts aspiring entrepreneurs in contact with those also planning to run their own business, or who have already experienced the highs and lows of being an entrepreneur. Members will gain from mentoring from those with more experience, and also share the stresses with others who are at the same stage. And this model applies to all types of careers and all types of education.

Mr Poddar said: "We're breaking down social barriers, and helping individuals of all ages and from all kinds of backgrounds to make new friends and initiate real, positive changes in their lives. When people help each other, anything is possible."

Mr Poddar left a secure job with a City law firm to devote himself full time to developing the site.

The site will carry no banner advertisements or pop-ups and costs only £5 a year to subscribe.

It pledges to donate between 10 per cent and 60 per cent of its revenues from organisations to a Community Fund that will support smaller charities projects.

Visit www.freshties.com