FIBE 2026 continues to expand its international speaker line-up with the addition of former German national team captain and 2014 World Cup winner Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Following a career at the highest level of professional football, including treble success with FC Bayern Munich and international triumph with Germany, Schweinsteiger has transitioned into the world of business and investment, including backing a Berlin-based AI start-up. At FIBE, he will share insights on leadership, resilience and performance under pressure - qualities that resonate far beyond sport.

Speaking ahead of the event, Schweinsteiger reflected on leadership and teamwork:

“For me, leadership was never about being the loudest player. It means taking responsibility in difficult moments. I always believed you can only shine if the team functions. The 2013 treble season with Bayern and the 2014 World Cup were not about individuals - they were about balance and players accepting their roles. Sometimes you sacrifice your own statistics for the structure of the team. Motivation is commitment to the goal, especially on days when you don’t feel great. That consistency is what builds titles - not just talent.”

Schweinsteiger will take part in a fireside chat on the Festival Stage on 16 April. Afterwards, he will meet festival participants at the FIBE Tiergarten for a meet-and-greet.

FIBE had previously announced the participation of Cathie Wood, founder, CEO and Chief Investment Officer of ARK Invest. Widely recognised for her high-conviction approach to disruptive innovation investing, Wood will join the festival via live broadcast from London and engage directly with the Berlin audience.

In addition to live questions from the floor, participants will have the opportunity to submit questions in advance, allowing for a broader exchange with the FIBE community.

Asked what belief about the future of technology investing most smart people still get wrong, Wood said: “Most smart people still underweight innovation technologies because they wait for proof that only appears after a revolution has already reshaped the market. Disruptive innovation does not begin with earnings, it begins with adoption. At ARK we track the early signals, rising compute, accelerating developer activity and real commercial use, that show an S-curve taking hold. By the time consensus feels comfortable, the value creation has largely occurred. The real mistake is not being early, it is being absent when the revolution compounds.“

You can apply for accreditation online. Please mind our accreditation guidelines. After successful registration and verification, you will receive the accreditation and your badge with your personal QR code for admission by email as a PDF file attachment.

Press badges for FIBE 2026 are valid on 15 and 16 of April 2026, from 9 am until the end of the festival at 6 pm and entitle the holder to free access to FIBE. The badges are non-transferable and only valid in conjunction with an ID card.

About Messe Berlin
Berlin has been a trade fair destination for 200 years, and has been one of the most important such hubs for many decades. Messe Berlin – the state’s own trade fair company – conceives, markets and organises hundreds of live events every year. It strives to be an outstanding host for visitors at all events, generate optimal business stimuli, and provide fair conditions for everyone. This concept is reflected in the company slogan: Messe Berlin – Hosting the World.

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Handelsblatt is the largest business and financial newspaper published in German. Around 200 editors, correspondents, and permanent staff ensure up-to-date, comprehensive, and well-founded reporting. With more than 70 domestic and foreign correspondents, Handelsblatt is represented on all continents. It is indispensable reading for decision-makers at first and second management levels. According to the crossmedial "Reader Analysis Decision-Makers in Business and Administration (LAE) 2024”, Handelsblatt reaches 1,035,000 top decision-makers every trading day.

About Berlin Finance Initiative
The Berlin Finance Initiative (BFI) sees itself as the umbrella of Berlin's fintech ecosystem, uniting traditional banks and fintech companies. As the voice of Berlin's finance and technology industry, the BFI actively advocates for its diverse interests and strengthens ties to global markets. The BFI is a proud partner of de:hub FinTech Berlin and Germany Finance and was founded in 2020 by Achim Oelgarth and Caroline Wahl.