VYKO Group has launched with plans to raise €50 million by the end of 2026, as founder Ashley McDonnell sets out to build what the company describes as Ireland’s first dedicated luxury brands group.
The company said the capital will support its first acquisitions, with initial transactions already underway. VYKO is positioning itself as a platform to acquire, scale, and internationalise Irish premium brands across sectors including fashion, beauty, food, and premium consumer goods.
Its proposition centres on a long-standing challenge for Irish premium businesses: fragmented distribution, limited access to capital, and the absence of a domestic group structure able to support international growth while keeping ownership and value closer to the Irish market.
VYKO said it plans to address that through centralised capital, shared infrastructure, and global distribution capabilities. The company has identified the United States, the Middle East, and China as priority markets for expansion.
McDonnell said: “This is about building a national platform for Irish brands to scale internationally. Ireland has long produced exceptional talent and products, but have long been without the infrastructure to compete globally. VYKO is designed to change that.”
She added: “The launch of VYKO represents a decisive step towards a more structured and scalable premium brand ecosystem in Ireland. It ensures the potential to retain ownership, talent, and long-term value within the Irish economy.”
VYKO said it has already reviewed more than 500 Irish brands, engaged with over 35, and progressed multiple acquisition opportunities. The company said its operating model will use technology to support revenue growth across the portfolio while preserving the identity and independence of the brands it acquires.
The group is supported by an Irish and international advisory network spanning luxury, finance, technology, and international markets. Alexis Delannoy, private equity at Alpera Partners and advisor to VYKO Group, said: “France’s ability to financially structure luxury groups that employ hundreds of thousands of citizens, manufacture products locally, and export goods globally has been instrumental in dominating the European market capitalisation and strengthening the country’s economy. Ireland’s answer to this is VYKO.”
McDonnell previously held roles at LVMH, Google, and Puig, while VYKO’s first employee, Laoise O’Connell, has worked at Chanel and Givenchy. The company is launching into a global luxury market it values at approximately €358 billion, with a model built around consolidation, distribution, and export growth for Irish-founded brands.
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