Part of the renowned business school, Wharton Research Data Services is using data from the research firm to drive its understanding of investments increasingly favored by the likes of family offices and other wealth players.

Preqin, the research firm, has partnered with part of the Wharton Business School in the US to develop academic research into alternative investments such as private equity, an area attracting seemingly insatiable demand from wealth managers.

The firm is teaming up with Wharton Research Data Services, it announced in a recent statement. Preqin will deliver private equity and venture capital data to the organization.

WRDS provides business intelligence, data analytics, and a research platform for global institutions. It is a part of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

“With so much activity in alternative markets, Preqin offers researchers tremendous insights covering firms, funds and individual investors. We know that Preqin data will be deeply valued by our global research community,” Robert Zarazowski, managing director of WRDS, said. 

The move comes at a time when the multi-trillion alternatives sector, spanning hedge funds, private capital and equity, real estate, infrastructure and commodities, is partially opaque. Preqin is among a segment of firms trying to shine a light on returns, fund-raising and investment trends.

Preqin tracks more than 17,000 fund managers and 8,000 investors, saying it has information on almost 25,000 alternative asset funds.