The Alternative Data Podcast

Welcome to the Alternative Data Podcast, powered by CFM. I’m Mark Fleming-Williams. In this episode I speak to Mathias Dail, Co-founder and CEO at Exorde a data provider that ‘tells you what the world thinks in real time’. In our conversation, we talk about the benefits of starting a company in Lyon, and Mathias’s achievements in building out his vision for a crowd-sourced exhaustive social media...

In this episode I speak to Greg Neufeld of ValueStream Ventures, a venture capital fund that invests in data-rich companies. In our conversation, we discuss ValueStream’s relationship with alternative data companies, why Greg is interested in ‘data flywheel’ companies, and how a professional might make the jump into VC. DISCLAIMER This podcast is an edited recording of an interview with Greg Neufe...

In this episode I speak to Darren Voges, one of various people who might claim to be a godfather of alternative data. Darren was the man who brought probably the most influential dataset in alt data’s history to the market – the Yodlee credit card dataset. In our conversation we talk through the story of how the dataset was launched, and how it came to change the whole scene. Separately, I will be...

In this episode I speak to Qaisar Hasan, Founder of Maiden Century, a platform that distils the value of alternative data for buyside customers. In our conversation we talk through Qaisar’s experience at Point 72 back at the formational period for Alternative Data, and discuss Maiden Century’s evolution and Qaisar’s view on the future of investing using data. Separately, I am speaking at Eagle Alp...

In this episode I speak to Don D’Amico, formerly of Neudata and now the CEO and Founder of Glacier Network, a new company that helps data buyers manage the legal considerations in their data chain. In our conversation we track the evolving alternative data regulation conversation, and talk about the kinds of pitfalls that can blow up a data provider or hurt a buyer that has not written their contr...

In this episode I speak to Ken Book, the CEO and Founder of Fluid Markets, a new company that is trying to make KPIs tradeable by investors. In our conversation we walk through Ken’s founder story, from a summer at Goldman Sachs through Y Combinator on the path to realising his vision, which when achieved will make the relationship between alternative data and the markets a great deal tighter. If...

In this episode I speak to Matt Ober, a godfather in Data Sourcing, to discuss his history finding data in the early days of the space and his new project – Initial Data Offering. If you know of an alternative data story that needs to be heard on this podcast, please do get in touch. DISCLAIMER This podcast is an edited recording of an interview with Matt Ober recorded in January 2024. The views a...

In this episode I invite back Ed Lavery, to discuss his new role at Placer. AI, the US location data provider, following his previous appearance on the Similarweb episode. In our conversation, Ed and I discuss the strengths of location data, alternative data’s development and what he plans to bring with him from his previous role. Separately, I will be hosting the macro panel at Battlefin in Londo...

Welcome to the Alternative Data Podcast, powered by CFM. I’m Mark Fleming-Williams. In this episode I speak to Jason DeRise, who was one of the very earliest employees of UBS’s alternative data platform, Evidence Lab, and who has recently become a very active and followed commentator on the alternative data space. In our conversation, Jason and I discuss the UBS Evidence Lab’s development, as well...

In this episode I speak to Mark Ainsworth, the former head of Data Science at Schroders, a two-and-a-half-centuries-old asset manager that is notable for its use of alternative data. In this episode, Mark and I discuss what made Schroders take this unusual route, and how his work there differed from the more familiar alternative data working patterns of hedge funds. We also touch on a subject dear...

In this episode I speak to Alex Izydorczyk, the former head of Data Science at Coatue and now Founder of Cybersyn, the new Snowflake-backed data-as-a-service company. In this episode, Alex and I discuss the business opportunity he sees in buying up various datasets and making them available to a wide market of potential customers. Separately I am in New York this week where I will be moderating a...

In this episode I speak to Or Lenchner, the CEO of Bright Data, a web-scraping alternative data provider. As well as being one of the largest web-scraping companies in the world, Bright Data is currently embroiled in a lawsuit with Meta that might shape the future of web-scraping as a business. Or and I discuss the history of Bright Data and the state of play with the court case. Separately for an...

In this episode I speak to Francesco Cricchio and Matteo Campellone of BRAIN, the provider of alternative data signals. After successful careers in physics research, Francesco and Matteo decided to join forces to create products to help investors in the markets. If you have a dataset that might be of interest for the podcast, please get in touch. DISCLAIMER This podcast is an edited recording of a...

In this episode I speak to Greg Robin of Random Walk, the provider of retailer coupon and sale data. For several years, Random Walk has been gathering data around the messaging and offers used by major retailers in their sales strategies. This data can be used to compare changes in these strategies, revealing retailer urgency. Greg and I recorded our conversation back in October. If you have a dat...

In this episode I speak to Omri Shtayer, founder of Lagoon, the alternative data investment platform. With Lagoon now reaching the end of its story in its current form, Omri and I talk through the lifecycle of the company, from founding and growth through to the moment it became clear the firm could not continue. If you have a dataset that might be of interest for the podcast, please get in touch....

In this episode I speak to Marco Jean Aboav of Etna Research, the provider of indices that rolls together data scouting and quantitative signals creation. In our conversation, Marco and I get to grips with Etna Research’s product, and the type of investor who might be interested in it. If you have a dataset that might be of interest for the podcast, please get in touch. DISCLAIMER This podcast is...

In this episode I speak to Tjeerd van Cappelle of AiLiftOff, the brand new provider of alternative data solutions with the first being Spoiler, which uses Natural Language Understanding with earnings statements to predict future surprises. In our conversation, Tjeerd and I talk through the logistics around leaving NNIP and creating a new data provider, and Spoiler’s characteristics. If you have a...

Welcome to the Alternative Data Podcast, powered by CFM. I’m Mark Fleming-Williams. In this episode I speak to Sean Saint of G2, the provider of alternative data around the tech sector. In our conversation, Sean and I discuss G2’s primary business as a centre for reviews about B2B tech products, and how this has turned into a useful dataset for investors in the technology space. If you have a data...

Welcome to the Alternative Data Podcast, powered by CFM. I’m Mark Fleming-Williams. In this episode I speak to Jonathan Bloch of Exchange Data, the provider of market data. In our conversation, Jonathan and I understand Exchange Data’s offering and competitors, and how market data fits into the wider investment world, including alternative data. If you have a dataset that might be of interest for...

Welcome to the Alternative Data Podcast, powered by CFM. I’m Mark Fleming-Williams. In this episode I speak to Anu Murgai of SpaceKnow, the provider of satellite data. In our conversation, Anu and I talk through her long history as a portfolio manager before she switched to data, the satellite data supply chain and the various uses of SpaceKnow’s offering. If you have a dataset that might be of in...

In this episode I speak to Martin Tsanov of TenderAlpha, a provider of government procurement data.   In our conversation, Martin and I discuss the data scene in Bulgaria, the scale and availability of procurement data, and different countries’ relationships with public spending and procurement.   Meanwhile, if you have a notable or new dataset that you would like to discuss on the podca...

In this episode I speak to Ryan Preclaw and Adam Kelleher of Barclays, who might have ‘the largest alternative data team on the street’.   In our conversation, Ryan, Adam and I discuss how Barclays got into alternative data, and the diverse types of projects the team gets involved in.   Meanwhile, if you have a notable or new dataset that you would like to discuss on the podcast, do get...

In this episode I speak to Travis Nixon of SynerAI, an alternative data provider that uses NLP on vast quantities of information. Along with SynerAI, Travis has until recently been Chief Data Scientist in Financial Services at Microsoft and is currently joining Meta. In our conversation, Travis and I dig into the science of Natural Language Processing, and talk about how Travis sees NLP as the fut...

In this episode I speak to Thomas Delvecchio, alt data founder and angel investor. In our conversation, Thomas and I discuss his background creating tech survey data provider ETR, and have a topical discussion about how alt data providers have to cope with difficult markets, before finishing up talking about Thomas’s new project. Meanwhile, if you have a notable or new dataset that you would like...

In this episode I speak to Laurent Bilke of Alternative Macro Signals, the macro data provider. In our conversation, Laurent and I discuss his background as an economist at the ECB and Citadel and the differences between working for a central bank and a hedge fund, and how Alternative Macro Signals predicts inflation. Meanwhile, if you have a notable or new dataset that you would like to discuss o...