About the Founder and CEO
Niko Fostiropoulos
“Live your life, because it’s yours.”
This motto has been a part of Niko Fostiropoulos’s life for many years. It reflects an attitude that encourages people to actively take life into their own hands, viewing change as an opportunity, and looking to the future with an open mind.
Vita
Niko Fostiropoulos studied architecture at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). After completing his studies, he took over the management of an educational company, soon discovering a passion for professional development. In 2005, he founded alfatraining with the aim of making continuing education innovative, practice-oriented, and focused on the future. Under his leadership, the company has grown into one of Germany’s leading education providers.
In 2010, he developed alfaview, a proprietary videoconferencing platform through which all courses were offered internally as live virtual seminars. The platform has also been available to external customers since 2016. alfaview videoconferencing software is GDPR-compliant and features AI-supported speech transcription and live translation. In 2022, he expanded his company portfolio to include EML Speech Technology GmbH, a specialist in AI-based speech recognition, including for safety-critical applications such as air traffic control. In 2024, he founded Semanux, a start-up for accessible computer control using eye tracking, gesture recognition, and AI interaction.
Niko Fostiropoulos is actively involved in industry associations such as Bitkom and Bitmi, as well as in numerous networks dedicated to education, digitalization, and innovation..
Pioneering work
As the first education provider to introduce live virtual learning using video technology, Niko Fostiropoulos pioneered new territory. By developing his own GDPR-compliant videoconferencing software, he recognized the importance of digital concepts early on. Since 2010, alfatraining has successfully relied exclusively on the alfaview video communications cloud, which is now used by leading organizations and institutions such as the German Aerospace Center and the German Accreditation Body.
Social mission
Through alfaview, Niko Fostiropoulos advocates for an accessible, democratic, and liberating form of communication. His aim is to connect people regardless of origin, location, or individual circumstances—securely, accessibly, and on equal footing. alfaview overcomes distances and creates spaces for exchange, participation, and collaboration—digital, inclusive, and without borders.
“With alfaview, we create spaces where communication does not exclude, it connects. Our goal is to create a digital infrastructure open to everyone—accessible, democratic, and secure. Only when technology is based on participation and data protection and privacy can a digital society emerge that truly belongs to everyone.”
Niko Fostiropoulos
Founder and CEO of alfaview
Strengthening Europe’s digital sovereignty
With his companies, Niko Fostiropoulos is committed to strengthening Europe’s digital sovereignty. As a powerful videoconferencing solution made in Germany, alfaview combines state-of-the-art technology with the highest European data protection and privacy standards, offering a reliable and high-performance platform operated exclusively within European jurisdictions.
Artificial intelligence: innovation with a responsibility
For Niko Fostiropoulos, artificial intelligence is the key to an accessible digital future. His mission is AI solutions made in Europe that meet the highest standards in data protection and privacy, information security, and accessibility. With the aim of developing digital products and AI technologies in Germany, he drives innovations that enable people around the world to communicate accessibly. Through his tech companies Semanux and EML Speech Technology, Niko Fostiropoulos is actively working on pioneering technologies in AI, speech recognition, eye tracking, gesture recognition, and facial expression and facial recognition.