Real paths
On the main stage, people talk openly about mistakes, detours and the decisions that actually moved them forward.
A conference for young people
Und jetzt?
Honest paths. Big questions. And the realisation that there is no single right next step.
Sunday25.10.26Fotografiska Berlin
- When
- Where
- Fotografiska Berlin-Mitte
- Format
- 2pm–8pm + party · 200 places max.
University or another route?How do I find what I care about?How does GenAI become a superpower?What does success mean to me?How do I deal with fear of the future?How can I really change something?
00 / About und jetzt?
Not a careers fair. Not a business event.
Why und jetzt?
“Und jetzt...?” is a conference for every young person asking exactly that question. The point is not to answer it once and for all, but to inspire and encourage you to go your own way.
“Und jetzt...?” closes the gap between student counselling and the business stage. It is not about job profiles, company advertising or recipes for success, but about how you can answer your own questions.
People from art, culture, technology, research and entrepreneurship talk about what a finished CV usually leaves out: doubt, failure, detours and the decisions in between. The programme is shaped by the people it is for, and curated as equals.
Who it is for
18–24
For school leavers facing their first big decision, for first- and second-year students, and for apprentices reconsidering their choice or looking for a new direction.
01 / Your day
Listen. Try things. Speak up.
You put the day together yourself.
Breakouts
Parallel sessions on GenAI, future skills, how you present yourself online, and mental health. You pick what fits right now.
1:1 coaching
Short, confidential conversations you can book directly, with experienced mentors, on your own questions about work and life.
Community
Breaks, conversations and the party afterwards leave plenty of room to meet people and encourage each other.
Hands-on, not just listening
GenAI as an opportunity, not a threat.
On stage AI gets put in context, in the breakouts you actually use it. You learn how GenAI can become your superpower for learning, finding your direction and developing your own ideas.
02 / Real paths
Confirmed speakers
No polished pitches.
Honest stories instead, from innovation, film, music, dance, literature, gaming, science, coaching and entrepreneurship.
01Urban dance & entrepreneurship
Vartan Bassil
Born in Lebanon, he founded the Flying Steps in Berlin in 1993, now four-time breakdance world champions and an international brand. With “Red Bull Flying Bach” he brought urban dance to the big stages, and his academy reaches around 3,000 students a week.
Website of Vartan Bassil
02Future mindset & innovation
Dr. Frederik Pferdt
Bestselling author and Google's first Chief Innovation Evangelist. He is developing the workshop “Future YOU / The Next YOU” for the day.
Website of Dr. Frederik Pferdt
03Quantum computing & film
Alissa Wilms
At thirteen she stood in front of the camera next to Kate Winslet. Today she builds quantum computing applications with her own company, Amazing Thought, after three months of research at Caltech, publications with more than 270 citations and talks at international quantum summits.
LinkedIn of Alissa Wilms
04Gen Z & founding
Anastasia Barner
At twenty she founded FeMentor, Europe's first reverse mentoring platform. Today she advises companies on winning over young talent, speaks at TEDx and has written a book about the start-up scene, “(Ge)Gründet”. Die Zeit calls her a “generation whisperer”.
Website of Anastasia Barner
05Directing & screenwriting
Arabella Bartsch
From hip-hop videos in Berlin to productions for Disney+, Amazon Prime, ARD and ZDF.
Website of Arabella Bartsch
06Author & innovation
Christian Wehner
From a teenager without a school leaving certificate, written off as “hard to place”, to Spiegel bestselling author and Senior Innovator at SAP.
Website of Christian Wehner
07Music & entrepreneurship
Henrik Schwarz
From a passion for music to sold-out concerts at the Elbphilharmonie, Montreux and Amsterdam – and to his own start-up.
Website of Henrik Schwarz
08Entrepreneurship & impact
Jörg Rheinboldt
Serial entrepreneur, co-founder of eBay Germany and betterplace.org, and investor in more than 400 companies.
LinkedIn of Jörg Rheinboldt
09Gaming & founding
Dorian Gorr
From music journalism at Metal Hammer to founding his own company: LVL in Berlin is now one of Germany's most innovative gaming locations.
LinkedIn of Dorian Gorr
10Literature & mental health
Franziska Hohmann
Spiegel bestselling author at Heyne and founder of FiveDiamonds PR. She speaks about mental health, setbacks and starting over professionally.
LinkedIn of Franziska Hohmann
11Science & entrepreneurship
Prof. Dr. Max Lude
Professor of Innovation and Strategy at Tomorrow University and co-founder of the strategy consultancy philoneos, after stints as a snowboard instructor and running a wine kiosk. His talk plots career paths somewhere between entrepreneurial thinking and Pippi Longstocking.
Website of Prof. Dr. Max Lude
12Strategy & coaching
Kati Gruner
The stage, the Boston Consulting Group, arts management, clowning in hospitals, coaching. Five stations, one inner compass. Today she works as a strategist and trainer with young people on getting clear about what matters and finding the nerve to act on it.
Website of Kati Gruner
13AI literacy & founding
Janna Schweigmann
Co-founder of Generation AI e.V. at 24, and chief of staff at a frontier AI startup in Berlin. Her non-profit has taught over 500 students how to work with AI, free of charge and for every subject. Before that she played volleyball for the national team.
Website of Janna SchweigmannMore voices from sport, the creator scene and entrepreneurship are being curated right now.
03 / Videos
The day, for everyone
What starts on stage, stays.
From the day of the event you will find talks, workshops and conversations here, in full length and as short, shareable clips.
Talks / from 25.10.26
Real paths, in full
Workshops / from 25.10.26
Tools for your next step
Interviews / ongoing
Questions that outlast the day
25 October is the starting point
The day carries on.
Every talk and session is recorded properly, in full length and as short social media clips. Out of that grows a content platform where young people find inspiration and guidance beyond the event itself.
- Talks in full length
- Social-first storytelling
- Interviews beyond the event day
- Freely available, for good
04 / Schedule
A Sunday that sets something in motion
How the day runs.
The exact sessions and times are being curated together with the Next Gen Board and added step by step.
- Start
Arriving & first questions
Welcome to Fotografiska, finding your bearings and a shared opening on the main stage.
- AfternoonMain stage
Real career paths & future mindset
Personal stories, expert input and new perspectives on success, uncertainty and GenAI.
- Early eveningYou choose
Breakouts & coaching
You choose freely, by what interests you: confidential one-to-one conversations with a mentor, or workshops in small groups.
- Closing
Wind-down, outlook & party
Time for a shared close to the programme, the exhibition, music and new contacts.
05 / Berlin-Mitte
An iconic place
Fotografiska Berlin.
Included with your ticket
“Social Studies” by Lauren Greenfield
The Emmy-winning photographer and filmmaker followed twelve teenagers through a school year. The exhibition shows without flinching how smartphones and social media change relationships, self-image and mental health.
06 / Team
Curated as equals
The people it is for sit at the table.
Luca Giordano is 19, studies at the University of Konstanz and leads the curation. A structured Next Gen Board of young people keeps the content relevant.
The team is supported by Maks Giordano, Dr Frederik Pferdt, Carsten Rasner and Yousef Hammoudah, among others.
Lead curator
Luca Giordano, 19
Next Gen Board
Network & support
Young voices do not stand at the edge, they stand on the stage. Learning runs both ways, not just “old talks to young”.
07 / Get a ticket
Your place on 25 October
Get your ticket.
Taking part is free. Places are limited, so you answer a few short questions in your request. We get back to you once your place is certain.
- 1
Request a place
Requests are open. Tell us a bit about you, it takes a few minutes.
- 2
Tell us about you
You answer a few questions about yourself and what is on your mind right now. Free, until 15 October 2026.
- 3
Build your day
Once your place is confirmed, you get everything about choosing sessions, getting there and how the day runs.
Free, 200 places, deadline 15 October
200 places. Many possible next steps.
08 / Partners
Sponsoring & partnering principle
Enabling, not staging.
Interested in a partnership?
Let's make real orientation possible, together.
09 / Good to know
Questions?
Of course.
01Who is “Und jetzt...?” for?+
For young people between 18 and 24, especially school leavers, first- and second-year students and apprentices who are looking for their direction or rethinking it.
02How do I take part?+
You tell us a bit about yourself and request one of the 200 places. The deadline is 15 October 2026. Join the mailing list and you will hear first when requests open.
03What does it cost?+
Nothing. Taking part is free. Because there are only 200 places, we do have to select who joins.
04Do I need a plan already?+
No. That is the whole point. You need neither a perfect CV nor a clear answer, just curiosity and your own questions.
05Is the exhibition included?+
Yes. Your conference ticket also gives you access to “Social Studies” by Lauren Greenfield at Fotografiska.
06How accessible is the venue?+
Fotografiska has a lift, is wheelchair accessible and has accessible toilets. If you need anything beyond that, please write it in your request. We will sort it out before the day.
07What is the deadline?+
15 October 2026. We read every request and get back to you with a confirmation as soon as your place is certain.
08Will photos be taken on the day?+
Yes, and it is part of taking part. We photograph and film for reporting and to promote the event. On the day itself there is no way to separate that in the room. We take individual shots down again on request, write to us at hallo@undjetzt.io.
09How do you select?+
There are 200 places, so we have to choose. We look for a mixed group: age, gender, school, apprenticeship, university, own projects, detours. The day works because different paths sit in the same room, not the same ones.