

Alt Goes Mainstream: The Latest on Alternative Investments, WealthTech, & Private Markets
Michael Sidgmore
Alt Goes Mainstream podcast is the place to turn to for interviews with some of the brightest and most experienced minds in the world at the intersection private markets and wealth management. AGM dives into investment strategies like private equity (PE), private credit, venture capital (VC), secondaries, GP stakes, infrastructure, real estate, wealth management, and comprehensively covers tools and frameworks for approaching private markets, such as asset allocation, evergreen funds, model portfolios, and more. For anyone looking to invest into private markets (from experienced wealth managers to family offices to the individual investor looking for a more diversified investment portfolio), you’ll hear inside stories from executives and founders at some of the world’s largest financial institutions, alternative asset managers firms, and wealth management firms. More than a personal finance podcast, Alt Goes Mainstream dives deep into trends, investment strategies, firm building lessons, and innovative technologies that are enabling investors to access private markets.
Episodes
Mentioned books

6 snips
Oct 14, 2025 • 40min
PGIM's Phil Waldeck - the intersection of insurance and asset management
Phil Waldeck, Head of Multi-Asset and Quantitative Solutions at PGIM, shares his extensive experience at the crossroads of insurance and asset management. He discusses the evolution of insurers allocating to private markets and emphasizes the central role of asset-liability management. Phil explains how insurers leverage their balance sheets to engage with private credit, why they partner with alternative managers, and the benefits of integrated investment platforms. He also highlights the need for rigorous governance and the opportunities in underdeveloped markets like Europe and Japan.

17 snips
Oct 7, 2025 • 1h 11min
Stonepeak's Mike Dorrell - pioneering infrastructure investing
In a captivating discussion, Mike Dorrell, Chairman and CEO of Stonepeak, shares insights from his vast experience in infrastructure investing. He reflects on his journey from Macquarie and Blackstone to co-founding Stonepeak, a leader in the field. Mike explores the evolution of infrastructure as a crucial asset class and the reasons institutional and individual investors should prioritize it. He also outlines essential skills for infrastructure investing and offers advice on balancing long-term investments with the fast-paced market trends impacting data centers.

4 snips
Oct 1, 2025 • 57min
Hg's Chris Kindt - AI's transformative role in value creation for private equity
In this engaging discussion, Chris Kindt, a partner at Hg and Head of Value Creation, shares his expertise in integrating AI into private equity. With 15 years in the field, he reveals how AI transforms investment processes and operational strategies. Discover how he builds high-performing teams to enhance value across Hg's extensive portfolio, focusing on talent and data-driven approaches. Chris emphasizes AI's role as a game changer for efficiency and product development, offering insights on balancing human judgment with AI's capabilities.

Sep 25, 2025 • 49min
Permira Part 2: Co-CEOs Brian Ruder and Dipan Patel - the collaborative leadership model in action: scaling an €80B alternative asset manager
Brian Ruder and Dipan Patel, Co-CEOs of Permira, share insights on leading a €80B alternative asset manager. They discuss the evolution of private equity, emphasizing the increasing importance of technology and software in buyouts. AI is framed as a platform shift, with implications for data and long-term growth strategies. Their collaborative leadership model fosters faster decision-making and a strong focus on cultural values. Ruder and Patel also address the need for deep sector capability and the advantages of founder-led companies in driving profitability.

Sep 23, 2025 • 57min
Going Public with Glenn Schorr - Ep. 4: Unpacking the past few months in private markets
Glenn Schorr, Senior Managing Director and Senior Research Analyst at Evercore ISI, joins to explore the evolving landscape of private markets. He examines the resurgence of exit activities in private equity and the expanding role of private credit. Glenn also discusses the growth of alternative asset managers and the influence of the wealth channel. Delving into real estate, he highlights why it represents a compelling opportunity, noting that over 90% of real estate is privately owned. Join the conversation as Glenn shares insights on making private markets more accessible.

Sep 18, 2025 • 48min
Permira's Dipan Patel - how to scale an €80B AUM alternative asset manager
Dipan Patel, Co-CEO and Co-Managing Partner at Permira, brings his extensive experience in private equity investing. He discusses Permira’s impressive growth to over €80B in AUM and the role of firm culture since its 1996 inception. Dipan delves into the importance of 'good luck' in underwriting, the challenges presented by AI, and how it reshapes incumbent companies. Additionally, he explores the rising capital flows into private markets and the firm's unique growth strategy that balances integrated platforms and risk management.

Sep 11, 2025 • 51min
Morningstar's Kunal Kapoor - live from the Morningstar Investment Conference
In a lively discussion, Kunal Kapoor, CEO of Morningstar, shares his journey from data analyst to leader at the forefront of investment trends. He dives into the dynamic convergence of public and private markets, emphasizing transparency and regulatory roles. Kapoor explores the philosophical implications of making private markets more accessible and the impact of social media on investor behavior. He also discusses the significance of evergreen funds and the future landscape of alternative investments, highlighting the critical need for informed investor strategies.

21 snips
Sep 3, 2025 • 59min
Stonepeak's Luke Taylor - what it takes to be a great infrastructure investor
In this discussion, Luke Taylor, Co-President of Stonepeak, shares insights from his 20+ years in infrastructure investing, transitioning from a sheep farm to Wall Street. He explains the entrepreneurial journey that led to Stonepeak's impressive growth. Luke highlights the evolving landscape of infrastructure, noting its broader implications beyond traditional assets like roads and bridges. He discusses innovative value creation, the importance of logistics networks, and the potential of thematic investing in sectors like data centers, emphasizing the strategic development of private wealth access to infrastructure.

13 snips
Aug 27, 2025 • 50min
Arcesium's David Nable - architecting private markets technology infrastructure for the future
David Nable, MD and Head of Client and Partner Development at Arcesium, shares his expertise on transforming private markets through technology. With a rich background in fund administration, he highlights how tech can streamline operations for asset managers. David discusses the growing importance of data harmonization in private equity and the implications of AI innovations on investment strategies. He emphasizes that a tech-forward approach is crucial for firms to remain competitive in evolving markets, addressing both opportunities and operational challenges.

Aug 21, 2025 • 1h 3min
Juniper Square's Alex Robinson - "high tech and high service," balancing AI with the human element in fund administration
Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today’s episode dives into what the future of fund administration could look like with a tech-forward approach and the application of AI.We sat down with Juniper Square CEO and Co-Founder Alex Robinson to discuss how and why they’ve built a digital first fund administrator for private markets, starting with real estate and since expanding into other asset classes.Fresh off of a $130M Series D fundraise led by Ribbit Capital, Juniper Square has expanded globally, into fund administration through its acquisition of Forstone, and has launched JunieAI to bring AI to fund administration.Alex and I had a fascinating conversation. We discussed:Why Alex started Juniper Square and how his two entrepreneurial endeavors has informed how he’s built the firm.The problem Alex set out to solve by building Juniper Square.After dealing with FedEx’s to make investments, how he set out to build an investor experience that was digital.How AI will impact fund admin.Why every GP should have an AI agent according to Alex.Why Juniper Square decided to move from a technology firm to add fund administration capabilities in house.Does AI benefit larger firms or smaller firms more?Thanks Alex for coming on the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast to share your expertise and wisdom on fund administration and AI.A word from AGM podcast sponsor, Juniper SquareWhen was the last time things were easy for GPs?Fundraising remains challenging, providing liquidity to investors is even harder—and broadly speaking, most GPs are underwater operationally.It’s not about to get easier, either. Especially for managers vying for capital from the wealth channel. Sure, there’s increased demand from HNW and UNHW investors to gain private markets exposure…but managing their expectations for the investing experience is a whole different ballgame.Reams of paper and a new KYC process every single time they subscribe to a fund? Brutal.But what if committing capital to private equity, venture, and real estate funds was digital and seamless for investors — and scalable to manage for GPs?Meet Juniper Square, the fund operations partner to over 2,000 private markets GPs worldwide.Juniper Square gives GPs the connected software, data, and fund administration services needed for modern private markets. No matter how ambitious your next raise is, how many investors you manage, and how complex your investment vehicles are, Juniper Square empowers GPs to raise capital faster, reduce operational risk, and deliver a world-class investor experience.And with JunieAI, Juniper Square's enterprise-grade AI built for private markets, GPs can truly and finally unlock the power of AI to work smarter, move faster, and focus on relationships and returns.Scale your business, not your operational burdens and costs. Visit junipersquare.com/agm today to learn more.Show Notes00:03 Juniper Square: Revolutionizing Fund Management01:38 Welcoming Alex to the Podcast01:59 Alex's Journey to Founding Juniper Square02:10 Juniper Square's Mission and Services02:38 The Early Days and Challenges03:41 The Digital Transformation of Private Markets04:15 Focusing on the GP Experience04:30 Balancing GP and LP Needs04:54 The Naivete Advantage05:12 Overcoming Industry Challenges06:58 Real Estate: The Starting Point08:41 The Evolution of Juniper Square09:38 Technology Adoption in Private Markets17:21 The Importance of Customer Feedback18:09 The Vision for Market Efficiency20:10 Expanding Across Asset Classes21:09 The Role of Personal Relationships22:49 Becoming a Full-Stack Service Provider24:31 The Complexity of Fund Administration28:55 The Future with AI29:21 Challenges of Implementing AI30:31 The High Cost of Mistakes31:18 AI's Impact on Employee Productivity31:52 Challenges of Adopting AI in the Workplace32:20 Launching JunieAI32:59 Understanding AI Models33:44 Customizing AI for Reporting34:44 Mastering Data for AI35:13 AI in Software Development35:59 Leveraging AI at Juniper Square36:19 Ensuring Accuracy and Context in AI Models37:30 AI's Limitations in Financial Insights37:52 Future Improvements in AI Models38:36 Feeding AI the Right Context39:11 Connecting AI to Tools and Workflows40:19 Automating Fund Administration43:39 AI's Role in Competitive Advantage44:24 AI's Impact on Different Asset Classes46:16 Best Practices for GPS Using AI47:02 AI's Benefits for Large vs. Small Firms48:58 Integrating AI Across Business Functions51:39 Balancing AI with Human Relationships54:33 Future Vision for Private Markets55:02 AI Agents in GP Work56:07 Transforming GP-LP Matchmaking01:00:50 Investment Opportunities in AI and Real Estate Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.