The Alternative Data Podcast The Natalya Dmitriyeva Episode
Feb 2, 2026
Natalya Dmitriyeva, former senior data strategy executive at Two Sigma and Schonfeld, who built data sourcing and lifecycle functions. She recalls the early hunt for novel datasets and how data teams evolved into curators. She talks Battlefin buzz around AI and governance. She explores agentic AI, entity resolution, crowding risks, and what makes datasets valuable.
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Hunting Hidden Data Sources
- At Two Sigma she shifted from data engineering to data sourcing and ran a "data discovery" hunt for novel datasets.
- Vendors often weren't aware they had sellable data, so the team educated and onboarded nascent providers.
Make Data Discoverable And Usable
- Prioritize bringing rich, well-documented data and let researchers evaluate usefulness.
- Focus on making data discoverable and translating vendor offers into researcher-ready formats.
Market Maturation Reduced Early Edges
- The alternative data market matured with marketplaces and professionalized vendor marketing.
- It's now easier to learn about datasets but harder to find unique, uncontested signals.