Invent3D CEO David Sciberras celebrates growth, identifies staffing as ‘hardest thing to navigate’

“[The] hardest thing to navigate – building a strong & cohesive team that understand the assignment,” said David Sciberras, CEO of Invent3D.

In a recent LinkedIn post, he reflected on a successful 2024, highlighting significant milestones achieved by the 3D printing company while also addressing the challenges of building a cohesive team.

The company, which has grown from a hobby into a thriving business, completed 716 individual projects in 2024. These ranged from single parts to large-scale orders of up to 5,000 units. In total, Invent3D produced over 250,000 individual items, consuming over 1,600kg of material.

According to Mr Sciberras, the team “lost count” of the total number of printed items.

Invent3D also expanded its partnerships and research efforts. The company added five new partners to its Startup & Mentoring Support programme and initiated five new R&D projects in collaboration with MCAST and the University of Malta. Additionally, the company is exploring international opportunities, with four potential franchisees set to join its network.

Reflecting on the company’s success, Mr Sciberras shared, “+45 per cent Year on Year Growth… and that’s on turning a hobby into a strong business, ignoring the haters & naysayers, and just doing the thing.”

While the company has set new standards for growth and innovation, staffing remains one of the most significant challenges. “The hardest thing to navigate [is] building a strong and cohesive team that [understands] the assignment,” he said.

“Lucky to have the team we’ve built up now,” he added, praising their contribution to the company’s success.

Looking to the future, Invent3D has ambitious plans for further innovation. Mr Sciberras hinted at a forthcoming second startup, developed over three years with another co-founder. This new venture will feature a “massive, purpose-built 3D printer,” designed to print recycled plastics on a large scale at a low cost. The project is nearing completion, with the first test print already underway.

Concluding his reflections, Mr Sciberras expressed his vision for 2025: “Make cool stuff, collaborate with great people, and build strong, resilient companies. We set the bar once again at double the height of last year.”