Hyla, a maker of high-quality water vacuum cleaners that also filter and clean the air, has won the Golden Gazelle Award for best high-growth enterprise, given out by the newspaper publisher Dnevnik.

Hyla has succeeded in developing its own engineering invention into a global brand. Its product is marketed by 15,000 consultants in 70 markets around the world.

A family-owned business with a very good grasp of its niche market, Hyla reigns supreme with a single, high-quality and highly priced product, Dnevnik said in presenting the award on 21 October.

Last year, its 75 employees generated over €156,000 in value added. Sales doubled in five years to over €33 million in 2023.

Representatives of Golden Gazelle award winner and nominees, HYLA, Lenis and Plan-net solar. Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA

The Silver Gazelle went to builder Trgograd, a company founded in 1992 that has developed into a group of four companies employing 310 people. The enterprise was lauded for providing the most complex services in construction, building services and building products.

The Bronze Gazelle went to Caretronic, a world leader in its niche of digitising the health and care system in nursing homes and hospitals. Its advanced solutions relieve the burden on healthcare staff and optimise work processes in healthcare facilities worldwide, Dnevnik said.

Addressing the ceremony in Ljubljana's Cankarjev Dom, Finance Minister Klemen Boštjančič described the awards as a symbol of excellence and growth that promote the awareness about "how important entrepreneurship is for our society and economy".

The winners "are proof that success is based on hard work, innovation and adaptability. The winning companies thus create new jobs and contribute to economic stability," Boštjančič said.