Smart Rebel Club @ Frankfurt School

29th of May 2026

When the Financial Sector, the Space Economy, and a Spirit of Innovation Come Together

Smart Rebel Club at the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management

What happens when representatives from the financial sector, the space industry, and politics meet with the next generation? At the Smart Rebel Club at the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, one thing became clear: the future takes shape where different perspectives come together and new ways of thinking are embraced.Was entsteht, wenn Vertreterinnen und Vertreter aus Finanzwirtschaft, Raumfahrt, Politik auf den Nachwuchs treffen? Beim Smart Rebel Club an der Frankfurt School of Finance & Management wurde deutlich: Zukunft entsteht dort, wo unterschiedliche Perspektiven aufeinandertreffen und neue Denkansätze zugelassen werden.

The evening focused on the potential of the space economy, an industry that has long since expanded beyond traditional spaceflight. Topics discussed included data centers in space, the role of the European Space Agency (ESA) in international space research, investments in space infrastructure, and developments related to the lunar economy.

It became clear that the space economy is no longer a niche topic for technology experts. It is increasingly becoming a significant economic factor with a wide range of connections to the financial sector.

This raises important questions, particularly for Frankfurt as a financial center: How can investment opportunities be created? What financing structures are needed to enable innovation in this emerging market? And how can capital be directed in a targeted manner toward forward-looking projects?

However, in addition to technological and economic aspects, the discussion focused above all on people. It was about teams working together on visions, young creative minds who challenge existing ways of thinking, and the courage to break new ground.

The takeaway from the evening: The space economy requires far more than technical excellence. It needs capital, entrepreneurial courage, and people who are willing to think bigger and actively help shape new opportunities.

We would like to thank the following for their inspiring insights and open discussion: 
Prof. Dr. Kristina Sinemus, Hessian Minister for Digitalization and Innovation,
Susanne Freifrau von Verschuer, Vice President of the Frankfurt am Main Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
Rolf Densing, Director of Operations at the European Space Agency (ESA/ESOC Darmstadt),
Joshua Hager, Vice President of the Industrial Team at Barclays, and 
Florian P. Meyer, Executive Director of Industrial Technology EMEA at Goldman Sachs.

Special thanks also go to Nils Stieglitz for making it possible for the event to take place at the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, as well as to Bernd Breiter, the founder of the Smart Rebel Club, and FS Entrepreneurship & FS Invest for organizing this special evening.

Events like these clearly demonstrate how important it is for different disciplines to exchange ideas. After all, innovation arises when people are willing to explore new perspectives together and actively shape the future.