Founded in 2015, New Stack Ventures is an early-stage venture firm based Chicago, Illinois. The firm targets pre-seed and seed stage startups investing $300k - $2M.

New Stack Ventures

GFC is a globally oriented, stage agnostic venture capital firm that empowers gifted entrepreneurs. The firm seeks to invest in companies that operate within the internet, retail, financial software, media, communication, and information technology sectors. It was founded by Oliver Samwer in 2013 and is based in Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

Global Founders Capital

Conversion Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm that seeks to partner with top entrepreneurs leveraging emerging technology to tackle the toughest problems in the global economy. Conversion Capital was founded in 2012 and is based in New York.

Conversion Capital

Valia is a global venture capital firm with offices in New York, San Francisco, and London. We back founders building tomorrow's most iconic companies.

Valia Ventures

V1.VC offers in investing in early-stage internet, B2B software, consumer, financial, crypto, and deep tech businesses. They support aspirational founders as long-term, patient capital partners. Our objective as present and previous operators is to be the investor who is most supportive of a founder.

v1.vc

Interlace Ventures is an early stage fund investing in founders reimagining commerce. We invest at pre-seed and seed.

Interlace Ventures

Kearny Jackson is investing in early stage technology companies.

Kearny Jackson

Polymath Capital is a venture capital firm that invests in pre-seed and seed stage companies with an emphasis on community, longevity, and financial democratization. As an operator-led firm, we partner with ambitious founders to build the next generation of market-changing companies.

Polymath Capital

Position Ventures invests in early-stage startups and positions them for success by helping founders nail their positioning and communications strategy.

Position Ventures

SNR.vc

Cambrian Ventures operates as an early-stage venture capital firm.

Cambrian Ventures

Oyster

Oyster is an AI-powered insurance platform for commerce. Through combining business insurance, risk and compliance management software, and customer protection, Oyster’s all-in-one insurance platform is designed to help modern businesses reduce risks and grow confidently. Consumers use Oyster to obtain personal insurance in a seamless purchase journey and manage their policies in one stop. To learn more about Oyster, visit www.withoyster.com.

<div>Oyster offers personal line insurance covering bike, jewelry, phone, and electronics through an end-to-end online platform. The company provides tailored insurance policies for each customer based on their needs and claims its policies can be canceled at any time. It covers damages and theft, and it provides customers the choice to include additional coverage such as medical protection to cover injuries while riding a bike or worldwide protection if the bike is used while abroad.&nbsp;</div>

New insurance models are disrupting a centuries-old industry with a focus on personalization and convenience

InsurTech: Personal Lines

Oyster is an AI-powered insurance platform that provides commercial insurance solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. The company operates as a carrier-agnostic platform, working with over 30 insurance carriers to offer various types of business coverage through a digital interface. Its platform combines insurance services with risk and compliance management software, utilizing AI and large language models (LLMs) to streamline insurance processes.&nbsp;

Simplifying the insurance experience for businesses using technology

InsurTech: Commercial Lines

<div>
 
 Oyster offers personal line insurance covering bike, jewelry, phone, and electronics through an end-to-end online platform. The company provides tailored insurance policies for each customer based on their needs and claims its policies can be canceled at any time. It covers damages and theft, and it provides customers the choice to include additional coverage such as medical protection to cover injuries while riding a bike or worldwide protection if the bike is used while abroad.&nbsp;
 
 
 The company offers a no-code platform that merchants can integrate into their ecommerce site to offer embedded insurance at the point of sale or as an after-sales service. It provides this to merchants free of charge with no integration or ongoing fees.
 
 
 Key customers and partners
 
 
 Oyster&rsquo;s insurance products are underwritten by several carriers including Markel Insurance, AXA XL, and Hanover Insurance. In addition, its platform is integrated by merchants such as Bulls, Bario Neal, Area 13, Big Cat, and Jack Weir and Sons.&nbsp;
 
 
 Funding and financials&nbsp;
 
 
 In December 2022, the company raised
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15302">
 USD 3.6 million in a seed funding
 </a>
 round led by New Stack Ventures. It aimed to utilize the fresh funds to develop its omnichannel insurance platform. The funding also marked the company&rsquo;s emergence from stealth.
 
</div>

<div>
 
 Root Insurance is a full-stack insurance provider focusing on usage-based automobile insurance. The company offers a mobile app that collects data on driving speeds, braking patterns, and driving times using smartphone sensors, and applies artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive models to offer a personalized premium to the customer. The company claimed that the latest model utilizes double the proprietary data, demonstrating 17% greater predictive capabilities than the previous model. Moreover, the app incentivizes safe driving by providing greater insight into one&rsquo;s driving patterns and issuing additional discounts for improved driving behavior. Root allows customers to file claims directly through the mobile app. As of January 2024, Root held a carrier license in 48 states and offered automobile insurance in 31 states.
 
 In July 2019, Root launched its renters&rsquo; insurance product and expanded to homeowners insurance in May 2020. The homeowners&rsquo; insurance is provided through a partnership with Homesite Insurance, a Boston-based property and casualty insurer that will underwrite any homeowners insurance policies issued by Root. As of January 2024, the company&rsquo;s renters&rsquo; insurance product was available in 18 states.
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 Root had 259,522 policies in force as of September 2023.
 
 
 Root entered into a partnership with Carvana in July 2022, to offer usage-based auto insurance policies on the latter&rsquo;s used-car online platform.
 
 
 In addition, it had also collaborated with other players in the insurance space to optimize and digitize its insurance services.In January 2021, Root partnered with Tractable, a UK-based provider of AI-based solutions, to leverage its AI Subro solution to optimize Root&rsquo;s end-to-end claims process, starting with subrogation, where two insurance carriers negotiate the division of expenses when multiple parties are involved in a claim. It also partnered with CCC Intelligence Solutions in February 2023, to use its first-party casualty solution to streamline and digitize first- and third-party casualty claims through a single digital workflow.
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 In October 2020, Root sold 26.8 million shares in its initial public offering (IPO), raising USD 724.4 million in the process at a valuation of USD 6.8 billion. In 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/8089">
 January 2022
 </a>
 , Root received a five-year term loan of USD 300 million from BlackRock Financial Management (BlackRock) to extend its debt maturity and improve its liquidity position.
 
 
 For the full year of 2022, Root reported total revenue of USD 310.8 million (down 10.0% YoY), while its net losses improved to USD 297.7 million from a loss of USD 521.1 million in 2021. Its gross loss ratio improved to 82.1% from 86.0% in 2021.
 
</div>

Root Insurance

<div>
 
 Hippo is a digital homeowner insurance provider. The company offers its homeowner policies online, with each policy accompanied by a complementary smart home monitoring system that will help identify risks proactively. It provides coverage using a combination of machine learning, satellite imagery, and other public records and actively reviews for any changes to the property overtime.
 
 
 Hippo also provides home insurance to buyers of newly built homes that is directly integrated to the digital mortgage and title process through its Builders business. Further, it launched 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/16051">
 Hippo Builder Insurance Agency (HBIA)
 </a>
 in January 2023, to allow builders of all sizes to partner with HBIA to send leads of homeowners in return for a fee.
 
 
 The company also offers an on-demand homecare and maintenance app (Hippo Homecare) which it launched in 2019 following the acquisition of Sheltr, a home maintenance platform, during the same year. It also launched &ldquo;Book a Pro'' feature within its mobile app in Q4 2022, which allows homeowners based in Texas to connect to home improvement professionals as well as message its Hippo&rsquo;s own home care experts to get advice. Hippo also plans to roll-out this feature to other states in the future.
 
 
 In June 2020, Hippo entered into an agreement to acquire long-time insurance partner Spinnaker Insurance Company, which is a property and casualty insurer registered in all 50 states, for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition was expected to help the company expand its geographical reach. The company&rsquo;s homeowner offering was available in 40 states as of January 2023.
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 Hippo had 332,000 customers as of September 2022, and it claimed nearly 75% of its new customers were Gen B.
 
 
 The company partnered with property and casualty risk intelligence company, 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/17629">
 Opterrix in April 2023
 </a>
 , to leverage its real-time data on severe weather events to identify at-risk policyholders and improve its claims management capabilities.
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 In November 2020, Hippo raised USD 350 million from Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance company. The company expects to use this funding to support its national expansion plans and also evaluate acquisition opportunities to grow inorganically.
 
 
 For FY2022, the company recorded total generated premiums of USD 811.1 million, which was up 33.8% YoY. Its gross loss ratio improved 62 percentage points to 76% during the year, while its net loss improved 10.2% YoY to USD 333.4 million.
 
</div>

Hippo Insurance

Clearcover is a fully digital automobile insurance provider that offers insurance coverage and claims filing using online channels along with other value-added services such as roadside assistance. The company leverages AI and machine learning models to provide personalized pricing to its customers and validate claims. The company states that it can handle 96% of all claims virtually. Clearcover also launched a <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27767">GenAI-powered claims intake tool</a> to navigate a conversation-driven experience after First Notice of Loss (FNOL) to collect information about an accident. The tool available through its mobile app includes a claims assistant and a real-time customer question resolution feature. It plans to incorporate the tool into its agent portal and website in the future.Clearcover also uses an application programming interface (API) to offer embedded car insurance. This powers <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/21232">Choice, </a>an end-to-end embedded auto insurance solution that allows brands to provide auto insurance policy options from various carriers to their customers.As of January 2024, Clearcover offered its policies in 19 states in the US.&nbsp;For FY2022, the company generated total direct premiums written of USD 140.7 million (up 79% YoY) and recorded USD 61.4 million in net premiums earned. Its net losses amounted to USD 38.7 million for the year, while its loss ratio and combined loss ratios stood at 115% and 158%, respectively.Key customers and partnershipsClearcover partnered with claims management solution vendor Snapsheet (May 2020) to fully digitize its own claims function from First Notification of Losses (FNOLs) to disbursements. It also partnered with ServiceUp (<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/32888">April 2024</a>), a technology company specializing in automotive repairs, to improve the car repair experience for insurance claims.Moreover, it collaborated with Experian to offer car insurance on the latter’s insurance comparison site (<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/18045">April 2023</a>). This was part of Clearcover’s strategy to expand its distribution channels.

Clearcover

<div>
 
 Kin offers digital homeowners insurance with personalized policies featuring premiums determined based on an assessment of the property that includes more than 10,000 data points from sources such as property records, government records, and satellite imagery.&nbsp;
 
 
 The company launched its insurance carrier, the Kin Interinsurance Network, in 2019, which operates as a reciprocal exchange (a form of insurance where underwriting profits are shared with customers). As of May 2024, it had a presence in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Virginia, and Texas.
 
 
 In December 2021, Kin acquired an inactive insurance carrier with licenses in 43 states. This acquisition was part of Kin's plan to expand its operations to most US states.
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 As of February 2024, it served over 115,000 policyholders.
 
 
 The company has partnered with Kangaroo, a smart home tech provider, to offer its customers free home security solutions. Additionally, it has collaborated with Cape Analytics, a property analytics provider that utilizes geospatial imagery for property intelligence, and Snapsheet, a claims management platform provider, to automate their internal processes.
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 Kin Insurance was set to go public through a merger with Omnichannel Acquisition Corp., a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) in a transaction that valued the company at over USD 1 billion. However, this was terminated in January 2022, citing unfavorable market conditions.&nbsp;&nbsp;
 
 
 In February 2024, the company received USD 15 million 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/26317">
 investment
 </a>
 from Activate Capital, with the funds earmarked to accelerate growth by expanding into new markets and developing new products.
 
 
 Kin Insurance recorded gross written premium (GWP) of USD 344.1 million in 2023 (up 50.7% YoY), and generated operating income of USD 5.0 million compared to an operating loss of USD 11.6 million in the prior year.
 
 
 
</div>

Kin Insurance

Ladder is a startup that provides personalized term life insurance online, with coverage ranging from USD 100,000 to USD 8 million. The company uses multiple publicly available data points to determine a customer’s eligibility and in most cases does not require a medical checkup. Ladder provides a home visit medical test for free if required. Ladder’s dynamic approach to life insurance allows policyholders to increase or decrease insurance coverage based on changing life circumstances. Ladder also provides an application programming interface (API) which allows onboarded partners such as other insurance companies, investment firms, and lenders to issue policies from Ladder digitally. The company is licensed to operate in all 50 states. More than 80% of its customers represented first time insurance buyers.Key customers and partnershipsThe company sells its own life insurance policies in California through its carrier, Ladder Life Insurance Company. In New York policies are underwritten by Allianz Life Insurance, and in all other states by Fidelity Security Life Insurance, Amica Life Insurance Company, Lincoln Financial and USA LIfe Insurance.Ladder had collaborated with many financial service institutions to extend its product offering. It partnered with <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/25889">Envestnet | MoneyGuide</a>, AmeriSave Mortgage, and Halo Investing, to deliver its digital life insurance to customers through the advisors of the latter.Funding and financialsIn October 2021, the company raised USD 100 million in Series D funding co-led by Thomvest Ventures and OMERS Growth Equity, at a valuation of USD 900 million. The new funds will be directed towards further developing its products and expanding its workforce. As of the same date, the company also reported that its revenue grew by over 4x year-over-year (YoY).

Ladder

Startups in the automobile insurance space, predominantly providing usage-based insurance using telematics devices and/or smartphone sensors.

Startups that offer homeowners and renters insurance using artificial intelligence (AI) and smart home devices to issue policies and validate claims.

Startups that provide life insurance through digital channels personalized to an individual’s circumstances and replacing traditional practices, such as medical tests, with data-driven underwriting.

Companies that offer personal line covers for travel and pets through digital channels and use technologies such as flight tracking and online claims processing.

Providers of comparison websites and tools for carriers, agents, and consumers to compare and purchase policies.

Companies that provide personalized health insurance to consumers via digital channels and use technology such as wearable medical devices to monitor health and improve user experience and underwriting.

Companies that offer digital-only insurance for personal belongings (bicycles, mobile phones, laptops, and cameras), providing protection against theft, loss, or damage, with financial reimbursement or replacement.

IoTs used to proactively mitigate risks and offer usage-based insurance

Used for underwriting and claims; infrastructure providers offer AI/ML products to traditional insurers

Uses personal data to underwrite and price personalized policies such as usage-based insurance for vehicles

Limited number of life insurers use genetic/epigenetics to underwrite life insurance

Oyster is an AI-powered insurance platform that provides commercial insurance solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. The company operates as a carrier-agnostic platform, working with over 30 insurance carriers to offer various types of business coverage through a digital interface. Its platform combines insurance services with risk and compliance management software, utilizing AI and large language models (LLMs) to streamline insurance processes.&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/35975">Oyster’s system uses AI</a> to assess hundreds of data points for risk evaluation, allowing businesses to obtain quotes for multiple coverages, including General Liability, Business Owner's Policy, and Workers' Compensation. The platform features a Policy Explorer for reviewing coverage details, automated Certificate of Insurance (COI) management, and a self-serve flow for quote generation. These tools help businesses reduce operational complexity in insurance management while providing comprehensive coverage options. The platform's AI-driven approach enables more accurate risk assessment and faster processing times, which is particularly beneficial for businesses in specific verticals such as beauty, electronics, fashion, and food and beverage industries.

Next Insurance provides digital insurance solutions tailored specifically for small businesses. The company’s product offering includes a range of insurance policies, including general liability, professional liability, commercial auto, and workers’ compensation. The company leverages AI and machine learning to streamline the insurance process, claiming to process policy requests within 10 seconds. It incorporates factors such as risk level, location, and other business-specific factors to provide policy proposals.&nbsp;In March 2021, Next Insurance acquired AP Intego, a digital agency specializing in small business commercial insurance. The acquisition was intended to expand Next Insurance’s reach to more customers in new business classes. In December 2020, the company acquired Juniper Labs, a startup that automates underwriting for sellers insurance to small businesses, to expand its product offering.&nbsp;In October 2024, the company launched standalone&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/34864">professional liability coverage</a> for consultants, offering protection against risks such as errors and omissions, personal injury, and property damage. The coverage can be customized with options for extended reporting periods and prior acts coverage.Key customers and partnershipsAs of November 2023, Next Insurance reported around 500,000 active policyholders, spanning a diverse base of small businesses across various industries, from construction and retail to professional services and fitness.In March 2021, Next Insurance partnered with Amazon to offer insurance solutions to Amazon Prime Business members, providing tailored insurance coverage through the platform​​.&nbsp;In September 2023, Next Insurance partnered with Bold Penguin, an integrated digital solution platform that offers commercial insurance. Through this collaboration, independent insurance agents can access Next Insurance's tailored policies for small businesses, expanding the company's distribution channels.In November 2023, Next Insurance partnered with Allstate and Allianz X. The partnership with Allstate provided Next Insurance’s products to Allstate’s customers and collaborated on developing a new product for commercial auto insurance. The collaboration with Allianz X aimed to strengthen Next Insurance’s reinsurance relationship with Allianz X.In March 2024, it partnered with Tensorflight, a property intelligence platform, to leverage Tensorflight’s property data and risk models to enhance Next Insurance’s underwriting process.&nbsp;

Next Insurance

<div>
 
 Pie Insurance primarily provides workers' compensation to small businesses via an online platform. Pie Insurance uses data and analytics to offer tailored and cost-effective coverage. In addition, Pie Insurance offers commercial auto insurance and a range of supplementary services and products. These include a solution that combines workers' compensation with payroll processing, risk reduction programs, and employer-extended coverages. The company also provides access to an online library of safety training modules and a return-to-work program to facilitate the recovery and reintegration of injured employees.&nbsp;
 
 
 By May 2022, the company had increased its annualized run-rate premium to nearly USD 300 million.
 
 
 In 2023, Pie Insurance transitioned from a managing general agent to a full-stack insurance carrier after it acquired American Insurance Company.&nbsp;
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships&nbsp;
 
 
 Pie Insurance primarily serves small businesses across various sectors, including construction, healthcare, and retail. The company provides its insurance products directly and through partnerships with local, regional, and national insurance agencies. In 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/31431">
 July 2024
 </a>
 , the company partnered with Ford to launch a usage-based offering as part of the &quot;Ford Pro Insure&quot; program, a commercial auto insurance solution designed for Ford Pro vehicle fleets.
 
 
 
 As of September 2022, the company had partnered with over 2,800 agencies nationwide. As of May 2024, Pie Insurance has expanded its coverage to 38 states and the District of Columbia.
 
</div>

Pie Insurance

<div>
 
 Embroker offers a range of insurance products, including directors and officers insurance, employment practices liability, cyber, professional liability, and more. Its digital platform allows businesses to obtain quotes, manage policies, and handle claims online. The company uses predictive, data-driven underwriting models to automate underwriting and improve the accuracy of risk assessment. It claims that its algorithmic-based risk management reduces premiums for businesses by up to 20%.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships&nbsp;
 
 
 Embroker specifically catered to funded startups, tech companies, law firms, and consultants and served over 40,000 customers as of May 2024.&nbsp;
 
 
 In July 2023, the company announced strategic partnerships with Dashlane, a security-first password management provider, and Cowbell, a cyber insurance provider for SMEs. Embroker aimed to enhance customer security using Dashlane&rsquo;s cyber protection services and expand its cyber liability offering by providing Cowbell Cyber Insurance to existing and prospective customers.&nbsp;
 
 
 In November 2023, the company entered into a strategic partnership with Ascend, a provider of financial operations automation software for insurers. Through this partnership, Embroker aimed to leverage Ascend&rsquo;s technological capabilities to improve operational efficiency and optimize its risk management process.
 
 
 
</div>

Embroker

<div>
 
 Foresight Commercial Insurance (Foresight) focuses on providing workers' compensation insurance specifically designed for safety-critical industries, such as construction, manufacturing, agriculture, and landscaping. The company&rsquo;s approach leverages data-informed underwriting and safety engagement tools to offer tailored insurance solutions​. Foresight claims to differentiate itself through its proprietary safety technology platform, Safesite, which aims to reduce workplace incidents by promoting a culture of safety and proactive risk management. Through this, the company claims to have reduced claims frequency by 17% on average as of August 2023.&nbsp;
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships&nbsp;
 
 
 Foresight serves a range of mid-sized businesses, particularly those in high-risk industries.&nbsp;
 
 
 In July 2023, Foresight partnered with CLARA Analytics, a leading AI platform for claims optimization, to implement CLARA's Triage module. This integration allowed Foresight to proactively manage claims, accelerate claim cycles, and collaborate effectively with third-party administrators (TPAs) in the event of workplace injuries.
 
 
 In November 2023, the company entered into a strategic partnership with QBE North America, allowing Foresight to write policies on QBE's paper, thus extending its reach and capacity and allowing the company to expand into new product lines. 
 
</div>

Foresight Commercial Insurance

<div>
 
 INSHUR is a digital insurance provider offering vehicle insurance coverage for on-demand drivers such as Uber and delivery drivers across the US, UK, and the Netherlands. It also provides insurance for TLC (Taxi &amp; Limousine Commission) in the US and private-hire drivers. The company's platform allows drivers to quote, purchase, and renew their policies entirely online through INSHUR's website or mobile app, eliminating the need for paperwork or lengthy phone calls. The company's proprietary data modeling technology enables dynamic real-time pricing and personalized insurance solutions for on-demand drivers. INSHUR's insurance offerings are tailored specifically for the on-demand economy, providing flexible coverage options that adapt to drivers' lifestyles and driving habits.&nbsp;
 
 
 In April 2023, INSHUR acquired American Business Insurance Services (ABI) for an undisclosed amount as part of its growth strategy to expand and scale its operations in the US. The acquisition resulted in INSHUR gaining immediate access to over 50,000 commercial vehicles across all 50 states.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships&nbsp;
 
 
 In 2017, INSHUR entered a capacity agreement with Munich Re and introduced INSHUR 2.0, which is a completely digital insurance product for mobile devices, enabling users to obtain quotes and purchase insurance seamlessly.
 
 
 INSHUR established strategic partnerships with industry leaders such as Uber, expanding its on-demand insurance offerings to support livery drivers in key markets like Arizona, following successful deployments in New York City.
 
</div>

INSHUR

Startups that offer insurance covering financial losses from claims of injury or damage caused by the business’s actions or products, including general, product, and professional liability.

Startups offering auto insurance and usage-based insurance products specifically tailored for businesses, including fleet operators.

Startups that provide coverage to protect physical property, including business buildings, inventory, and contents.

Startups that provide coverage for medical expenses and lost wages incurred by employees injured or falling ill while on the job.

Startups offering insurance covering lost income and additional expenses incurred when a business is unable to operate due to covered perils such as fire, natural disasters, or other disruptions.

Companies in the turnkey and value chain infrastructure segments operate under a B2B SaaS

Infrastructure segments provide AI/ML-based products for carriers to use

PROMINENT_CATEGORY

<div>

 Oyster, a commercial insurance platform driven by AI, has launched a new range of digital products for handling small-to-medium scale businesses' property and casualty insurance. The platform, which is carrier-neutral, blends business insurance with risk and compliance management software.
 This platform covers three main functions: Policy Explorer, which enables policy summaries and exclusions review; COI Management, facilitating insurance certificates' generation and sharing; Self-Serve Flow, capable of procuring quotes for diverse coverages such as General Liability, Business Owners, and Workers' Compensation from both online and offline carriers.
 Oyster maintains that its AI and large language model (LLM) based platform will equip businesses with more authority over their insurance coverage, enhance risk management efficiency, and simplify the business insurance process from quoting up to policy interpretation.

</div>

Oyster

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