🎥 I Squared’s Dr. Sadek Wahba - it’s time to “Build”

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.

We went to Miami to sit down with the professor of infrastructure investing and Founder, Chairman, and Managing Partner of I Squared, Dr. Sadek Wahba.

Sadek has blended academic knowledge and a practical approach to infrastructure investing to build I Squared into a $60B infrastructure investment firm in 14 years, some of which he has adroitly distilled into the 2024 book that he authored, Build: Investing in America’s Infrastructure.

We had such a fascinating and wide-ranging discussion that I’ve decided to break down our conversation into chapters.

A word from AGM podcast sponsor, Ultimus Fund Solutions

This episode of Alt Goes Mainstream is brought to you by Ultimus, the full-service fund administrator and transfer agent powering asset managers in private and public markets. As alts go mainstream, you need real expertise to handle complex fund structures, connect with key distribution partners, and handle sophisticated compliance, reporting, and transparency demands.

That’s Ultimus: high-tech, high-touch solutions for over 450 clients and 2,500 funds with $775B in assets under administration. Backed by an expert team of over 1,200 employees, they place client service at the core of their business, helping you navigate complexity during your fund structuring or launch and then supporting you through every stage of growth. Whether you’re already in the market or thinking about entering private wealth, you can trust their team’s deep expertise in retail alternatives to help you reach your goals.

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We thank Ultimus for their support of alts going mainstream.

Show Notes

00:00 Welcome to Alt Goes Mainstream at I Squared in Miami

01:39 A Message From Our Sponsor, Ultimus Fund Solutions

02:41 Meet Dr. Sadek Wahba

03:18 Career Path Origins

03:59 World Bank Lessons

07:36 Private Sector Contrast

08:55 I Squared Focus Model

10:22 Platform Playbook

13:02 Dr. Wahba’s Book

14:35 AI Infrastructure Wave

16:19 No Free Lunch: Ownership and Regulation

16:58 Politics And History

19:57 Municipal Debt Funding

21:55 User Fees Reality

25:55 Ownership Management Regulation

29:57 Incentives

32:40 If It Sounds Too Good To Be True

33:57 I Squared Investing Approach

37:29 Risk Return Discipline

39:17 Building Durable Infrastructure

40:37 Regulation Risk Reality

42:27 Balancing Risk Return

43:50 Why Middle Market Wins

45:14 Great Management Traits

46:22 Infra Tech And AI

49:51 Platform Building Playbook

52:59 Capital Flows And Competition

57:57 Democratizing Infrastructure Ownership

01:04:11 Privatization And Listed Airports

01:07:42 Retirement Accounts For Infrastructure

01:09:28 Nearshoring And National Security

01:16:02 Investor Skillset And Edge

01:18:01 What Drives The Mission

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