Data is the New Oil:
The Valuation Strategy Guide
Refining the raw fuel of the AI economy into a defensible balance sheet asset.
of S&P 500 Value is Intangible Assets
(vs. 17% in 1975)
Book Value of Internally Generated Data
Under Traditional GAAP/IFRS
M&A Multiple Uplift for "AI-Ready" Data
Strategic Premium
We live in the "Intangible Era." According to Ocean Tomo, in 1975, intangible assets comprised just 17% of the S&P 500's market value. Today, they account for over 90%.
Yet, traditional accounting standards (GAAP/IFRS) treat internally generated data as "exhaust"—assigning it a book value of zero. This creates a massive Value Gap between what your company is worth on paper and its true economic potential.
The New Asset Class
"Data Valuation bridges this gap. It applies the principles of Infonomics to transform abstract datasets into defensible financial capital, essential for M&A, collateralized lending, and strategic exits."
The GDP Multiplier: Why Sovereigns Care
Data isn't just company capital; it's national wealth. Recent economic impact studies confirm that open data and AI-ready datasets are massive GDP multipliers.
- 1OECD: Data access could generate $3 Trillion annually in global value.
- 2McKinsey: Open financial data alone could boost GDP by 1.5% in the US/UK by 2030.
- 3World Economic Forum: Earth observation data alone contributes $700B+ to global GDP.
Projected EU GDP impact from the data economy by 2025 (OECD High-Growth Scenario).
The "Refinery" Valuation Model
Just as crude oil requires refining to become fuel, data requires structure to become capital. We measure value at three stages.
1. Raw Crude (Cost)
Logic: What did it cost to extract (collect) and store this raw data?
Metrics:
- Collection API fees
- Data lake storage
- Compliance (GDPR) costs
2. Refined Fuel (Market)
Logic: What are clean, structured datasets trading for on the open market?
Metrics:
- Snowflake Marketplace comps
- API call pricing
- Data licensing deals
3. Energy Output (Income)
Logic: How much power (revenue/savings) does this data generate for the AI engine?
Metrics:
- Algorithm lift %
- Conversion improvement
- Automated decision value
Connecting the Dots: QuantVal & NICI
Data valuation isn't just an academic exercise. It is the engine behind the QuantPillar ecosystem.
For the Company: QuantVal™
The "Micro" Engine. QuantVal turns your abstract "we have big data" pitch into a certified financial report.
- Defend higher M&A exits
- Secure IP-backed lending
For the Economy: NICI™
The "Macro" Monitor. NICI aggregates millions of data points to track the nation's true wealth—its intangible capital.
- Track National IP Value
- Prove ROI on Grant Funding
AI is the Engine.
Data is the Fuel.
We are in the midst of a massive shift. The internet's public data has been scraped dry. The next frontier for AI models (LLMs) is proprietary, high-quality enterprise data.
Companies sitting on structured, clean, and domain-specific datasets are sitting on the new "oil fields." Yet, without valuation, this wealth remains invisible.
Strategic Insight: Investors are no longer just asking "What is your ARR?" They are asking, "Is your data valuable enough to fine-tune a model?"
Data Asset Classes in the AI Era
- 1Training DataHistorical records used to teach models patterns (e.g., 10 years of loan defaults).
- 2Fine-Tuning SetsCurated Q&A pairs that align generic models to specific vertical tasks.
- 3Real-Time Context (RAG)Live proprietary streams that feed context to AI agents for decision making.
Why Value Your Data?
Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
In an acquisition, the buyer is often acquiring your customer insights and AI models, not your office furniture. A data valuation justifies the premium on top of your EBITDA multiple.
Bankruptcy & Restructuring
As seen in the Caesars Entertainment case, the customer loyalty database can be the most valuable asset sold during insolvency. Don't let it be undervalued.
Internal Transfer Pricing
Moving data between international subsidiaries? Tax authorities require a defensible Fair Market Value to ensure you aren't shifting profits illegally.
Collateralization
Modern banks and private credit funds are beginning to lend against high-quality, revenue-generating data assets. Turn your database into working capital.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sam G. Ehsaei
Founder & CEO, QuantPillar
"I've spent 16 years as a CFO and founder watching companies sit on gold mines of data they couldn't quantify. In the AI era, data isn't just an IT asset—it's the primary driver of enterprise value. My mission is to put that value on the balance sheet."
Stop guessing your data's worth.
Get a defensible, investor-grade valuation for your most critical asset.