AI Fears Undervalue Data Firms

What happened

Market participants devalued B2B information providers. Investors reduced valuations for data companies, citing fears AI will disintermediate their services. This market reaction reflects a belief that AI models will replace the curated data and insights these firms supply. The shift impacts companies providing specialised business intelligence and structured datasets. This valuation drop occurred despite these firms' established roles in critical decision-making processes.

Why it matters

This market action affects investors and founders of B2B data companies. Investors face potential mispricing because market fears misunderstand data firms' value proposition. These firms provide curated, verified information, not raw data, which AI models alone cannot replicate. Therefore, current valuations may not reflect true asset worth. This pattern follows broader concerns regarding AI overinvestment and a potential AI bubble, yet here it results in undervaluation of a critical sector. Procurement teams risk losing access to essential, verified data sources if firms cannot secure funding.