# Andre Privateer

> Andre Privateer is the co-founder and CEO of Fikäfi, a hospitality payments company. His career spans HotelRooms.com, Ascendant and digital transformation at Hashoo Group, alongside hotel development advisory work and cultural tourism teaching in Paris.

- **Role:** Co-Founder & CEO at Fikäfi
- **Organizations:** Fikäfi, Machinelab Ventures, Ascendant, Roomph, Hashoo Group, HotelRooms.com, Université Sorbonne Nouvelle - Paris 3, fhios, Europstart, Harris Corporation, Cybersource, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
- **Education:** Colgate University
- **Known for:** Recognized by HSMAI in 2015 for work in hospitality sales and marketing., Co-founded Ascendant and Fikäfi., Conducted hotel inspections in 40 countries, as described in his Machinelab Ventures biography.

## Career timeline

- **1992-1995** — Financial Analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; dates listed in his professional profile.
- **1998-2000** — Manager, E-Commerce Services at Cybersource.
- **2001-2003** — Regional Sales Director, Europe at Harris Corporation, formerly Encoda Systems.
- **2003-2005** — Co-Founder & Principal at Europstart.
- **2006-2009** — Head of Global Business Development at fhios.
- **2010-2018** — Managing Director, EMEA & Asia at HotelRooms.com; also undertook independent hotel acquisition and asset advisory work.
- **2015** — HSMAI recognition for hospitality sales, marketing and technology; his professional profile identifies the European Top 20 Extraordinary Minds award.
- **2016-2018** — Visiting professor on a masters programme at Université Sorbonne Nouvelle - Paris 3.
- **2018-2023** — Head of Digital Transformation at Hashoo Group.
- **2019-2023** — CEO and co-founder of Ascendant.
- **2022** — Ascendant partnered with Faysal Islami on hotel booking services.
- **2024** — Began his role as Fikäfi Co-Founder & CEO in May, according to his professional profile.
- **2026** — Fikäfi and Elektraweb announced a payment integration in March.

## Achievements

- Recognized by HSMAI in 2015 for work in hospitality sales and marketing.
- Co-founded Ascendant and Fikäfi.
- Conducted hotel inspections in 40 countries, as described in his Machinelab Ventures biography.
- Taught postgraduate cultural tourism seminars at the Sorbonne.

## Latest updates

- **2026-03** — Fikäfi and Elektraweb announced an integration intended to reach a hotel platform portfolio described as 5,800 properties, with selected-property rollout preceding wider deployment.
- **2026-08** — An August 17 PhocusWire startup interview described Fikäfi’s partner-led payments strategy and plans for guest engagement and loyalty.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreprivateer/

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/andre-privateer
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-15