New report projects $7 billion in spending on alternative data by 2020
Opimas
Opimas puts some hard numbers behind the alternative data space: 21% growth year-over-year, $7 billion in spend on data and infrastructure, 5% excess returns. Full report only available to subscribers (but worthy detail in the summary!) Read More
Beyond the hype of big data: An interview with Quandl’s Abraham Thomas
Q4
Toronto-based Q4 sits down with Quandl Chief Data Officer, Abraham Thomas, who breaks down big data and says the machines aren’t there yet. Read More
The new buy-side winners as big data takes over
eFinancialCareers
Citing Opimas’ $7 billion figure, this post suggests that while some jobs will be automated, others will be created to source and make sense of all the data. Read More
Steven Cohen just gave millions to crowd-sourcing hedge funders
Fortune
Quantopian has begun allocating some of the money invested by Steven Cohen to trading algorithms coded by freelance computer scientists, as it steps up its efforts to disrupt the hedge fund industry. Read More
When it comes to picking stocks, humans are so passé
NPR
NPR’s Planet Money is covering Wall Street’s growing interest in technology that powers investment decisions. This week’s episode illuminates the one key piece of this shift — the business of buying and selling data. Read More
Auto data start-up Otonomo raises $25m, led by automotive supplier Delphi
TechCrunch
Those interested in the auto industry: take note. Israeli-based Otonomo secures $25 million in Series B funding to grow its marketplace. The company connects car makers and drivers with service providers, optimizing the monetization of that data. Read More
Quants skeptical of big data, machine-learning hype
Institutional Investor
Not everyone is totally on the BlackRock bandwagon. Some believe asset managers may be overconfident about their abilities to find signals in big datasets that best current strategies. Read More
Conference Alert: Third Annual FinTech Exchange, Chicago, April 27
FinTech Chicago
This Chicago event is the best opportunity to learn about all things fintech. The first five people to register with the discount code “QUANDL” will receive a free pass. Enjoy the event! Read More