Two Caerphilly businesses have been named as winners of Wrexham Pitch@Palace.

The firms were named by The Duke of York as two of the three winners at the Wrexham Pitch@Palace 10.0 On Tour Event.

NearMeNow and Four Minutes, both based at the Welsh Innovation Centre for Enterprise, were chosen from 17 tech-focussed entrepreneurs who pitched at the event.

At the event, entrepreneurs had three minutes to describe their companies, as well as their ‘ask’, a request that they feel would take their business to the next level.

A London-based digital mental health company, Psycapps completed the trio of winners.

Pitch@Palace was founded by The Duke of York in 2014 as a platform to amplify and accelerate the work of entrepreneurs across the UK. The programme connects entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses with potential supporters, including CEOs, influencers, investors, mentors and business partners.

The event was hosted by Town Square Spaces at the Business Wales Wrexham Enterprise Hub.

Four Minutes is an emergency first aid training company that uses mixed reality technology to empower people worldwide to step up in an emergency, starting with school children.

Its founder, Fotini Teneketzi said: “It was daunting meeting the Duke of York and getting to pitch our new Mixed Realist first aid training technology to such a large audience. We were pleased just to have been selected to pitch, but to have been voted as winners is fantastic, and takes us one step closer to bringing our technology to the world, and ultimately, saving lives. We look forward to pitching in London later this year.”

NearMeNow is an app designed to revitalise the high street, allowing independent businesses to collaborate, advertise, communicate and interact with their customers.

Its founder Vicky Mann said: “I’m still on cloud nine following the event. As a company, we are still growing and learning, and to now have the chance to pitch our business at the final in London will help us connect to the mentors and influencers who can push us to the next level.”

The winners will now join 39 other entrepreneurs at Pitch@Palace Boot Camp in Cambridge in October where they will hear from leading industry experts and Pitch@Palace Alumni, as well as receiving support and mentoring before going on to Pitch@Palace final in London in November.