The alternative data market is large, growing, and increasingly difficult to navigate. Hundreds of providers offer datasets covering everything from satellite imagery to social media sentiment. Budget allocation for alternative data is rising across hedge funds, asset managers, and private equity firms, but most teams report that integration, evaluation, and compliance remain harder than expected. This guide covers what institutional investors need to know when buying and implementing alternative data in 2026.
What alternative data is (and is not)
Alternative data is any information about a c