In this episode of Momentum: Where FinTech Meets AI, Stan Altshuller sits down with Pouya Taaghol, founder and CEO of Big Data Federation, to explore how AI and alternative data are changing the way investment firms forecast company performance. From satellite imagery and geolocation data to AI-powered financial models, Pouya explains how investors can identify market signals long before traditional financial reports are released.

They also discuss why scientific, data-driven investing outperforms intuition, how to reduce bias in investment decisions, and the challenge of maintaining alpha in increasingly competitive markets. If you're looking to understand how AI is reshaping quantitative investing and the future of alternative data, this episode is packed with practical insights.

Key Moments:

04:53 Profiles of fintech company founders

08:06 Staying focused amidst market noise

12:23 Analyzing historical company sales data

15:18 Understanding alternative data use

17:58 Starting an investment fund

21:04 Challenges of alternative data in investing

25:17 Discussing data sources for analysis

27:18 Using alternative data strategies

About the guest :

Pouya Taaghol is the founder and CEO of Big Data Federation. With a background in wireless technology and multiple networking patents, he now helps investment firms use alternative data and AI to predict company fundamentals, uncover market opportunities, and build data-driven investment strategies.

How to connect Pouya :

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pouyataaghol/

Big Data Website: https://www.bigdatafed.com/

Financial AI: https://thefinancial.ai/

About the host :

Stan Altshuller is a leading figure at the intersection of fintech and artificial intelligence. As an investor, founder, and advisor, he has collaborated with some of the world’s top hedge funds, asset managers, and data companies, helping them leverage technology for smarter decision-making and growth. Stan hosts the Momentum podcast, where each week he shares practical AI strategies designed to help financial professionals cut through the noise, beat data overload, and build intelligent, data-driven workflows. With a passion for exploring what’s next in finance, Stan empowers his audience to stay ahead of the curve by turning ideas into actionable results.

Connect Stan :

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanalt/

Website www.acadia.im

In this episode of Momentum: Where FinTech Meets AI, Stan Altshuller sits down with Ashutosh Agarwal, CEO of Matterfact, to explore how AI is transforming hedge fund research, workflows, and the pursuit of alpha. Drawing from his experience at Millennium and Google, Ashutosh explains why the real power of AI is not just automation - it’s uncovering insights that investment teams would otherwise miss.

They discuss AI prompting, workflow design, the rise of podcasts as an investment research source, and how smaller funds can now access capabilities once reserved for the largest institutions. If you’re looking to build smarter research workflows, improve decision-making, and stay competitive in an AI-driven investment landscape, this episode delivers practical strategies you can apply immediately.

Key Moments:

04:47 Origin of the SaaS idea

08:15 Common mistakes in AI prompting

10:19 AI's current limitations and needs

12:46 Using AI for car inventory analysis

18:05 Industry discussions and market trends

20:53 Understanding current AI capabilities

25:16 Final thoughts on empowering ideas

25:53 Ken Griffin impressed by AI system

About the guest :

Ashutosh Agarwal is the CEO of Matterfact and a former quant at Millennium and tech lead at Google. He focuses on building AI-powered tools that help investment professionals uncover deeper insights, improve research workflows, and generate alpha more efficiently.

How to connect Ashutosh : https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashutoshagwl/

About the host :

Stan Altshuller is a leading figure at the intersection of fintech and artificial intelligence. As an investor, founder, and advisor, he has collaborated with some of the world’s top hedge funds, asset managers, and data companies, helping them leverage technology for smarter decision-making and growth. Stan hosts the Momentum podcast, where each week he shares practical AI strategies designed to help financial professionals cut through the noise, beat data overload, and build intelligent, data-driven workflows. With a passion for exploring what’s next in finance, Stan empowers his audience to stay ahead of the curve by turning ideas into actionable results.

Connect Stan :

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanalt/

Website www.acadia.im

In this episode of Momentum: Where FinTech Meets AI, Stan Altshuller sits down with Monel Amin, founder of DiligenceVault, to explore how AI is reshaping operational due diligence for institutional investors. From managing overwhelming amounts of data to streamlining workflows between allocators and asset managers, Monel explains how technology is transforming one of the most time-intensive areas of investment management.

They discuss the evolution of diligence processes, the challenges of fragmented information, and how AI-powered collaboration is helping firms make faster, smarter investment decisions. If you’re looking to modernize due diligence, reduce operational inefficiencies, and improve decision-making across investment teams, this episode delivers practical insights into the future of institutional investing.

Key Moments:

05:05 Discussing varying risk tolerances

08:30 Discussing data room limitations

10:02 Digitizing manager communication process

13:15 Streamlining document collaboration

17:02 Verifying facts with AI

22:16 AI and investment due diligence

About the guest :

Monel Amin’s journey to founding DiligenceVault began over a decade ago while working at Citi. During her tenure, she held a pivotal role overseeing risk both as an asset manager and as an allocator. This unique vantage point allowed her to observe firsthand the complex dynamics between allocators and asset managers, particularly the due diligence process they undertake when evaluating one another. Witnessing the challenges and inefficiencies in this critical process inspired her to launch Diligence Vault, with the vision of transforming how diligence is conducted across the asset and wealth management industry.

How to connect Monel:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monel-amin/

Website : https://diligencevault.com/

About the host :

Stan Altshuller is a leading figure at the intersection of fintech and artificial intelligence. As an investor, founder, and advisor, he has collaborated with some of the world’s top hedge funds, asset managers, and data companies, helping them leverage technology for smarter decision-making and growth. Stan hosts the Momentum podcast, where each week he shares practical AI strategies designed to help financial professionals cut through the noise, beat data overload, and build intelligent, data-driven workflows. With a passion for exploring what’s next in finance, Stan empowers his audience to stay ahead of the curve by turning ideas into actionable results.

Connect Stan :

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanalt/

Website www.acadia.im

• (00:00:00) - The Future of Fintech & AI
• (00:00:58) - Monel Amin on Diligence Vault
• (00:06:19) - How To Manage RFPs & Due Diligence Requ
• (00:11:46) - Inventors vs. Managers: The Network
• (00:12:25) - The Advantage of Manager-Led Processes
• (00:14:11) - Diligence Vault: The Future of AI
• (00:15:03) - Does AI Improve the Due Diligence Process?
• (00:18:16) - WSJD Live: Asset Managers Open to AI
• (00:19:00) - Is There Anything That AI Should Do in Operational Due diligence?
• (00:23:54) - How To Get In Touch With Due Diligence Experts