PTC'26 Center Stage: Digital Infrastructure at Scale: Financing the AI Revolution

As AI drives unprecedented demand for data centers and fiber, digital infrastructure is scaling faster—and larger—than ever before. This center stage panel gathers industry leaders to explore the rise of AI mega-campuses, increasing government involvement in managing power and water resources, and the evolving capital landscape. With more investors eyeing partnerships with power producers to secure long-term energy needs, the lines between digital and energy infrastructure are blurring. In this session, leaders discuss access to capital, future IPOs, and other strategies for recycling or harvesting investment, all amid a volatile macro and political environment. How are investors adapting, and where are the next scalable opportunities emerging? Discover these insights in this forward-looking discussion on the convergence of infrastructure, capital, and AI-driven demand. Speakers: • Madonna Park, Chief Financial Officer, Switch • Michael Coleman, Managing Director, Wafra • Wes Cummins, Chairman and CEO, Applied Digital Corporation • Jon Mauck, Senior Managing Director, DigitalBridge Investment Management • Brandon Amber, Managing Director, Palladium Partners → Learn more: https://www.ptc.org/?utm_source=youtu... Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction & Panel Overview 01:49 – AI Infrastructure vs Dot-Com Bubble: Demand & Use Cases 03:05 – Hyperscaler Investment & Fundamental Demand 04:26 – Risk of Overbuilding or Underbuilding 06:38 – Data Centers Backed by Confirmed Customer Demand 07:35 – Underwriting AI Workloads: Training, Inference, Cloud, Edge 10:23 – Financing Challenges at Gigawatt Scale 13:27 – Emerging Financing Structures & Project Financing 17:27 – Partnerships, Equity Collaboration & Capital Strategies 18:50 – Power Supply Challenges & Grid Integration 22:28 – Government Engagement & Regulatory Considerations 26:32 – Community Impact & Sustainable Development 30:14 – Middle Market Opportunities & Fiber/Connectivity 32:24 – Balancing Speed-to-Market, Customer Commitments & Resources