Welcome to the April 2025 edition of Vikela’s technology & business development newsletter!
As we step into a new season of growth and opportunity, this month brings fresh momentum—with exciting updates, major milestones, and inspiring moments to share. 🌱🚀
We hope our readers enjoy this update, and as always, thank you for your continued support! 👏
🎉 Vikela Founder Peter Gilleece Named to Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe 2025
We are absolutely delighted to share that our founder, Peter Gilleece, has been named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe 2025 list in the Manufacturing & Industry category!
This prestigious recognition is a testament not only to Peter’s entrepreneurial vision but also to the hard work, innovation, and dedication of the entire Vikela team. It marks a proud moment for all of us as we continue to push boundaries in the world of advanced manufacturing.
Over the past year, Vikela has reached several major milestones, including:
- ✅ Securing ISO certifications (9001, 14001, 45001)
- 🏢 Moving into a new 20,000 sq ft state-of-the-art facility in Bangor, Northern Ireland
- 💼 Successfully closing our seed investment round
These achievements have positioned us for significant growth as we scale operations, expand into international markets, and strengthen our role as a leader in 3D printing for mass manufacturing—with the ultimate goal of delivering life-saving products at scale.
Peter extends his sincere thanks to the ScaleX Investments, Scale X program for invaluable insights into business growth, and to ActionCoach NI for their continued guidance and support. The mentorship and encouragement from friends, investors, and peers have been instrumental to Vikela’s journey so far.
We’re proud of how far we’ve come—and even more excited about what lies ahead.
🌟 Vikela Hosts Bangor Chamber of Commerce AGM
We were proud to host the Bangor Chamber of Commerce for their Annual General Meeting at Vikela. It was fantastic to see such a strong turnout from across the local business community, and we’re grateful to everyone who attended and helped create such a positive and collaborative atmosphere.
A special thank you goes to Frank Shivers for coordinating the event, and to the guest speakers from PMB Chartered Accountants Limited and NJM Accountancy Limited. Their Q&A session offered insightful perspectives on financial strategy, business planning, and navigating today’s economic landscape—sparking meaningful discussion and practical takeaways for all.
Moments like these showcase the strength, resilience, and spirit of our local network. We’re honoured to play a part in fostering these connections.
Invest NI Board Networking Lunch
We were delighted to attend Invest NI’s Networking Lunch at the Clandeboye Lodge Hotel this week.
A big thank you to the Invest Northern Ireland Board for the kind invitation and for creating such a valuable opportunity to connect with fellow local businesses and stakeholders.
It was a pleasure to meet with Board Members and Senior Executives, share insights, and take part in open discussions about the key challenges and opportunities facing our business community. Events like this reinforce the importance of collaboration, listening, and shared ambition in driving Northern Ireland’s economic growth.
We’re grateful for the chance to contribute and look forward to continuing the conversation.
Other News
Manufacturing Development
As part of our ongoing commitment to excellence, Vikela is scaling up its product quality control systems to support increased production and ensure the highest standards across every unit we deliver. We’re also excited to share that plans are underway to expand our factory capabilities, creating a more efficient, technology-driven space that supports our next phase of growth. These enhancements will not only boost capacity but also position us to better serve new markets as we continue to scale both locally and internationally.
Thank you for reading our latest newsletter. We’re looking forward to sharing more updates next month! If you’d like to book a chat or know someone we should connect with, please reach out.
Look out for our next newsletter at the end of May!
The Vikela Team 👋
