The Rise of Private Credit and Direct Lending

Private markets are transforming the investment landscape — reshaping portfolios, expanding access, and driving growth across asset classes from private equity to infrastructure and private credit. Once the domain of institutions, private markets are increasingly accessible to individual investors, offering new ways to pursue diversification and long-term opportunity.

In this episode of The Bid, host Oscar Pulido is joined by Cameron Joyce, Head of Research Insights at Preqin, a part of BlackRock, to explore how private markets could reshape portfolios and investment opportunities by 2030. Cameron shares why the asset class has surged from $11 trillion pre-pandemic to an expected $32 trillion by the end of the decade — and what this evolution means for investors.

Together they discuss how companies are staying private longer, why liquidity dynamics are shifting, and how new fund structures are widening accessibility for individuals and retirement savers alike. Cameron breaks down the three major growth engines powering the sector: private equity, infrastructure, and private credit — and explains how megaforces like AI and energy transition are creating new opportunities within each.

Sources: “Private Markets in 2030” Preqin October 2025

Key moments in this episode:

00:00 Introduction to why Private Markets are having a moment now

01:01 Understanding Private Markets - Why companies are staying private longer — and where the value creation is shifting.

02:01 Growth and Trends in Private Markets - The forecasted $32 trillion in alternative AUM by 2030 and what it means for diversified portfolios.

02:46 Impact on Investment Portfolios - The rise of individual access through open-ended fund structures.

06:04 Where we are in the private equity cycle — and why lower fundraising periods often precede strong returns.

09:56 Infrastructure Investment Opportunities - How infrastructure is becoming a key beneficiary of AI and reshoring trends.

11:51 Why private credit and direct lending are gaining momentum as banks step back from traditional lending

14:20 Artificial Intelligence in Private Markets - How AI is influencing value creation within privately backed companies.

16:40 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Check out this Spotify playlist for more content on alternative investing: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4Fe8VwKyG5FPYekFFSksbI

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private markets, private equity, alternative investments, infrastructure, private credit, capital markets, AI investing, megaforces, diversification, BlackRock, Preqin, portfolio construction

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