Key Takeaways
- • iConnections announced a collaboration with Preqin, a part of BlackRock, to integrate Preqin's private markets data into Violet, iConnections' AI-powered capital introduction platform.
- • The integration gives Global Alts event attendees access to Preqin data on fund managers, institutional investors, funds, benchmarks and indices within the platform where they book one-to-one meetings.
- • iConnections' network spans more than 26,000 allocators, fund managers and industry participants representing over $55 trillion in assets, according to the company.
- • Preqin, acquired by BlackRock in 2025, serves more than 200,000 professionals globally, per the release.
- • The rollout begins with Global Alts Asia in November.
Summary
iConnections, the company behind the Violet capital introduction platform and the Global Alts series of alternative investment events, announced a collaboration with Preqin, a part of BlackRock, to bring Preqin's private markets data and intelligence into Violet. According to the Business Wire release, the data spans fund managers, institutional investors, funds, benchmarks and indices.
The integration is aimed at Global Alts attendees, who will be able to use Preqin intelligence within their own workflows to research organizations, evaluate potential relationships and prepare for the one-to-one meetings that define the events. The companies said the rollout begins with Global Alts Asia in November. The release states that thousands of allocators and managers already use Violet to discover one another, book meetings and build relationships.
iConnections CEO Ron Biscardi said alternative investing has always been driven by relationships, and that bringing Preqin's institutional intelligence into the platform gives allocators and managers a richer understanding of whom to connect with and where opportunities may exist. Stephen Baker, Global Commercial Lead for Preqin at BlackRock, said the collaboration extends Preqin's market intelligence into the places where investors discover opportunities and make investment decisions. Rob Tappero, Chief Revenue Officer of iConnections, said the arrangement was designed so members, Preqin and iConnections all benefit.
The release cites scale on both sides: Preqin says more than 200,000 professionals rely on its data, built over more than two decades, and iConnections reports a network of more than 26,000 participants representing over $55 trillion in assets. Preqin was acquired by BlackRock in 2025 and complements BlackRock's Aladdin platform. Financial terms of the collaboration were not disclosed.
The integration is aimed at Global Alts attendees, who will be able to use Preqin intelligence within their own workflows to research organizations, evaluate potential relationships and prepare for the one-to-one meetings that define the events. The companies said the rollout begins with Global Alts Asia in November. The release states that thousands of allocators and managers already use Violet to discover one another, book meetings and build relationships.
iConnections CEO Ron Biscardi said alternative investing has always been driven by relationships, and that bringing Preqin's institutional intelligence into the platform gives allocators and managers a richer understanding of whom to connect with and where opportunities may exist. Stephen Baker, Global Commercial Lead for Preqin at BlackRock, said the collaboration extends Preqin's market intelligence into the places where investors discover opportunities and make investment decisions. Rob Tappero, Chief Revenue Officer of iConnections, said the arrangement was designed so members, Preqin and iConnections all benefit.
The release cites scale on both sides: Preqin says more than 200,000 professionals rely on its data, built over more than two decades, and iConnections reports a network of more than 26,000 participants representing over $55 trillion in assets. Preqin was acquired by BlackRock in 2025 and complements BlackRock's Aladdin platform. Financial terms of the collaboration were not disclosed.
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