Twelve Gwent firms have been named on the shortlist for the 2019 Wales Start Up Awards.

The awards, now in their fourth year, are exclusive to Welsh companies launched within the last three years.

Among the Gwent firms on the shortlist are: The Lady Paint & Decor Company, Caerphilly, in the Construction Start-Up of the Year category; Signum Health, Caerphilly, in the Digital Start-Up of the Year category; #Sober, Newport, in the Food and Drink Start-Up of the Year category; Paradigm Human Performance, Monmouth, and The Youth Development Agency, Caerphilly, in the Global Start-Up of the Year category; Surple, Newport, in the Green Start-Up of the Year category; PiQ Laboratories, Ebbw Vale, in the Services B2B Start-Up of the Year category; Hut Six Security, Newport, in the Technology Start-Up of the Year category; EGNI Fitness Fun, Blaenau Gwent, in the Tourism & Leisure Start-Up of the Year category; Drone Evolution, Help4Wales Foundation, and The Youth Development Agency, all from Caerphilly, in the Valleys Start-Up of the Year category; and Emily Hicks from Studio Hicks, Caerphilly, in the Young Entrepreneur of the Year category.

Professor Dylan Jones-Evans, chairman of the judging panel, said: “It was an absolute pleasure to read so many high quality applications from entrepreneurs located across all parts of Wales. We know that new firms create the majority of jobs in any economy and many of the firms that have made the final cut for this year’s awards have the potential to become real players within their sectors over the next few years.”

The organiser of the awards is Grapevine Events Management.