As the digital economy accelerates, the infrastructure behind it is becoming one of the most compelling investment themes of our time. From AI and cloud computing to streaming and remote work, the demand for data is surging—and with it, the need for the physical infrastructure that powers it all.
In this Q&A, I sit down with Matt A’Hearn, Head of Blue Owl Digital Infrastructure, to explore how data centers have emerged as the “picks and shovels” of the AI era. We discuss the evolution of the sector, the strategic role of hyperscale partnerships, and why digital infrastructure is increasingly resonating with private wealth investors seeking durable, long-term exposure to transformative growth potential.
Matt A'Hearn: This is one of the most dynamic and durable themes we’ve seen in digital infrastructure in a long time.
Let’s start with what we mean by “digital infrastructure.” We’re talking about the foundational technological systems and services—data centers, fiber, towers—that power everything from cloud computing to AI to streaming and remote work. It’s the roads and bridges of the digital world.
What’s exciting is the sheer scale of demand. Global data creation has grown 100x since 2010 and is expected to double again by 20281, driven in large part by AI, but also by the broader digitization of everything—from enterprise software to consumer behavior. All of that content, communication, and computation needs somewhere to live, and that place is the data center.
What makes this opportunity even more compelling is the strategic importance of these assets. They’re critical not just for economic growth, but also for national security and global connectivity. And with the world’s leading technology companies investing heavily in long-term capacity2, we see a generational opportunity to invest in the infrastructure powering the digital economy by partnering with some of the largest and most innovative companies in the world.
Figure 1
FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY
Matt A'Hearn: It’s been a remarkable evolution. When we launched IPI in 2016, cloud computing was still in its early stages. Our focus was broad across stabilized, value-add, and development in key U.S. markets. But we saw a gap: some of the largest global hyperscalers—companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Google—needed partners who could move at their speed and scale to solve their growing data needs. For context, hyperscalers are the companies that provide massive, scaled cloud computing infrastructure and services to a wide range of enterprise users. They operate global networks of large data centers and are responsible for the fastest-growing share of total data center demand.
FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. There can be no assurance that historical trends will continue
That’s what IPI, now Blue Owl Digital Infrastructure (BODI), was built to do—solve the infrastructure needs of the largest global hyperscalers through a focused investment strategy grounded in partnership and alignment. Since then, the sector has transformed. The revenue opportunity tied to cloud computing continues to grow, AI has accelerated demand even further, and hyperscalers have doubled-down on scaling their global data center footprints.2
We’ve evolved alongside hyperscalers since our founding by building deep relationships and development track records that perfectly position us to capture this generational opportunity. Today, we’re developing assets across the U.S., EMEA, and APAC, with a pipeline that can ultimately fuel the next wave of stabilized opportunities.
Matt A'Hearn: At its core, our success is driven by focus, scale, and trust—but what truly sets BODI apart is how deeply embedded we are in the hyperscale ecosystem. We’re not just participating in the digital infrastructure space—we’re one of the key players making a meaningful impact on its evolution.
Taking a step back, BODI was purpose-built to help meet the infrastructure demands of some of the world’s largest technology companies, and we recognized early that hyperscalers needed more than capital—they needed partners who could help deliver with speed, precision, and global reach. That foresight has translated into a platform with access to over 1,000 professionals across our wholly owned portfolio companies, giving us operational depth and agility across 25+ markets.4
In a fragmented market, we can offer speed and certainty of execution
Solutions designed to meet hyperscale global expansion demand.
Long standing relationships and a vertically integrated approach
In terms of our track record, we’ve already developed or acquired over 100 data center assets, and our pipeline reflects the scale and momentum of the opportunity ahead. But scale alone isn’t the differentiator—it’s how we deploy it. Our ability to move quickly, negotiate directly, and deliver turnkey solutions is powered by a team of seasoned professionals with deep expertise in site selection, power procurement, regulatory navigation, local tax strategy, and cutting-edge development and operational technologies. These are individuals who’ve spent their careers solving complex infrastructure challenges— so we’re not learning on the job. We’re executing with speed and certainty in dynamic markets where precision matters.
And building data centers at scale is a complex undertaking—it requires advanced engineering, meticulous planning, and experienced development teams. Our proven ability to develop and deliver at scale has translated into growing partnerships with the hyperscalers across the U.S., EMEA, and APAC. Backed by substantial capital resources and an expansive footprint, we take on the foundational infrastructure— securing land, power, and building shells—so our partners can focus their capital on what drives their business: outfitting data halls with the technology that powers AI and cloud computing.
That alignment is key. We’re not just a capital provider—we’re a strategic partner. We believe our consistent delivery and repeat engagements have earned us the trust of hyperscale clients positioning us to grow alongside them in a global opportunity we were built to meet.
Matt A'Hearn: It’s a great question, and one that’s becoming more relevant by the day. We’re seeing a generational “wave-on-wave” opportunity driven by the acceleration of AI on top of already significant cloud computing demand. Recent estimates suggest AI training and inference in the U.S. alone could require an additional 50GW of capacity by 2028—that’s more than 80% growth compared to today’s global data center footprint.5 As this new capacity comes online, we see a massive opportunity in stabilized assets over the next few years—that will likely require long-term takeout capital.
What makes these assets so compelling is the profile of the tenants. We’re talking about long-term leases with investment-grade hyperscalers who have already invested significant capex into these facilities.6 These dynamics can create high renewal rates and minimal churn, and—because we’re not exposed to the underlying chips or servers—can also potentially mitigate technology obsolescence risk. Once stabilized, these assets tend to behave more like core infrastructure—think toll roads or utilities—with long useful lives and strong cash flow visibility.
Figure 4
FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. There can be no assurance that historical trends will continue.
At the same time, the fundamentals are exceptionally strong. Vacancy in top-tier markets is under 2%, and new development is constrained by limited access to land and power in strategic locations. That supply-demand imbalance supports long-term rent growth and asset appreciation. And when you underwrite these assets, you’re often looking at a yield premium relative to the corporate debt of the tenant—which is a very attractive place to be from a risk-adjusted return standpoint.
For investors, it’s a way to access the digital economy with infrastructure-like stability and tech-like growth. That’s a rare and powerful combination.
Matt A'Hearn: Global digitization and artificial intelligence are two of the most exciting and important investment themes that exist today. While we don’t yet know which companies or technologies will emerge as long- term winners, every AI model, cloud-based application, and streamed video relies on digital infrastructure to function. If AI is the gold rush, then data centers are the picks and shovels—the essential tools that make it all possible.
From a portfolio construction standpoint, digital infrastructure offers many characteristics that private wealth investors tend to value: long-term income, strong credit quality, inflation protection, and low correlation to traditional markets.
And as access to private markets continues to expand, we’re seeing more structures designed with individual investors in mind—offering features like lower investment minimums, simplified tax reporting, and periodic liquidity. That combination of durability, demand, and accessibility is what makes digital infrastructure such a compelling opportunity today.
We believe that we’re still in the early innings. The demand drivers—AI, cloud, global connectivity— they’re not slowing down; they’re rapidly accelerating. And the infrastructure behind it all has to keep pace.
That’s where we come in. At Blue Owl, we’re not just investing in assets— we’re building long-term partnerships with the world’s most important technology companies. That alignment, combined with our scale and expertise, puts us in a unique position to help shape the future of digital infrastructure.
It’s a rare opportunity to be part of something foundational, and we’re just getting started.
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Endnotes
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