They bring decades of experience with a hands-on approach to working closely with start-ups. Their investment and support team leverages deep technical, entrepreneurial and venture experience to help their companies succeed. Their network includes some of the brightest minds in health, machine learning, enterprise technology, mobility, robotics, hard sciences and biology.

AV8 Ventures

Distributed Ventures invests in entrepreneurs as they transform the future of risk across FinTech, InsurTech, Digital Health & Benefits. As former founders, investors, and operators, we provide deep subject matter and early-stage operational expertise to help companies find success from day one.

Distributed Ventures

Ludlow operates differently because we’re a different kind of VC. We believe in VC without ego. We wear our hearts on our sleeves, avoiding the puffery and posturing that has given venture capital a bad name. We fund the dreams of entrepreneurs and startups, becoming close friends with all of the teams we invest in.  Truly great companies are built on trust and friendship (and rainbows and luck). VC is a customer service business. Whether it’s testing product, leveraging our network, or forcing people to download your app, we’re here to help. You make our dream jobs possible and we’re forever thankful for that. Check out some of our other projects - www.carpool.vc and www.computer.show

Ludlow Ventures

We're a Detroit-based Venture Capital firm on a crazed mission.  We back seed and early-stage technology companies who have a purpose.  Our purpose is to help rebuild the Detroit area through entrepreneurial fire.  We view business building as a palate for creative expression and an opportunity to make a difference and change the world.  If not, why bother?  We are creative business builders, not money managers.  We are entrepreneurs helping other entrepreneurs build and grow meaningful companies.   It's not just about the idea or the industry.  To us, it's about backing passionate entrepreneurs that can both dream and execute. Great thinking trumps fancy diplomas. Imagination beats pedigree.  Looking for investment opportunities in these sectors: internet, digital media, marketing technology, direct-to-consumer, sports & entertainment, social media, e-commerce, software.  Your biotech or advanced manufacturing idea may be groundbreaking, but that's not our focus.  We'd just screw it up if we got involved.

Detroit Venture Partners

Annox Capital invests in and advises businesses that take a bold approach to doing things. Annox's approach to business is unconventional, and often, profoundly different. In many cases, this involves the use of disruptive technology or online strategy that unambiguously improves a business process or human experience. In every case, the business is managed by a leadership team that is unafraid, in fact, eager to take the road less traveled.

Annox Capital

Everywhere Ventures (fka ''The Fund'') is a first-of-its-kind early-stage venture fund created ​by founders for founders​ to support the next generation of entrepreneurs. Everywhere Ventures is a community-powered venture investing platform that integrates the capital, expertise, and mentoring of experienced founders and operators across ten micro funds. The Fund's $50M+ under management comes almost exclusively from the over 500 founders and operators who are its limited partners. Everywhere Ventures operates from the belief that those who have actually built successful companies are best suited to advise and support early-stage startups. Everywhere Ventures invests in pre-seed deals globally usually in the first financing round the company raises. Emphasis is placed on purpose-driven teams across money, health and work verticals.

Everywhere Ventures

Portage Ventures is a global fintech-focused venture capital investor. The firm makes early-stage investments in promising Canadian financial tech companies that have potential for global impact.

Portage Ventures

CoverTree

CoverTree offers a digital insurance solution for manufactured home residents. The company's primary goal is to bring digital distribution, automated underwriting, and data-driven pricing to specialty personal lines of insurance. CoverTree’s manufactured home product is available in Arizona, Indiana, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, Illinois, and Tennessee. The company is headquartered in Detroit, Michigan.

CoverTree is a managing general agent (MGA) that offers digital homeowners, renters, and landlords insurance covering modular homes, accessory dwelling units (ADU), and trailers. The company’s policies are priced by an automated underwriting process utilizing its own data sets.

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

InsurTech: Personal Lines

Exclusive: CoverTree raises $13M to insure manufactured homes

CoverTree is a managing general agent (MGA) that offers digital homeowners, renters, and landlords insurance covering modular homes, accessory dwelling units (ADU), and trailers. The company’s policies are priced by an automated underwriting process utilizing its own data sets.The homeowners and landlords insurance covers start at USD 25 per month, while the renters insurance cover starts at USD 12 per month. The company claims its insurance policies lead to savings of USD 250 per year for its customers. In addition, CoverTree also has a referral program, where customers receive USD 20 for every successful referral.As of September 2022, CoverTree operated in Arizona, Indiana, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, Illinois, and Tennessee, with plans to expand into Texas, South Carolina and Georgia. Key customers and partnershipsThe company’s policies are underwritten by specialty insurer–Markel American Insurance, with whom it collaborated to develop its Manufactured Home Program.CoverTree <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13418">collaborated with Socotra, </a>a software provider for policy lifecycle monitoring and management, to launch its insurance lines. The partnership enabled CoverTree to deploy its services via an omnichannel allowing users to purchase policies via a website, mobile app, or digital insurance agency. In addition, the company integrates Socotra's APIs to automate its underwriting process and to connect to third-party data providers such as <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13418">Cape Analytics </a>. Key funding and financialsIn May 2024, the company raised USD 13 million in a <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/29316">Series A </a>funding round, led by Portage. It had planned to use the fresh funds to expand its enterprise suite, which features Maple, resident insurance management software for property managers; Bonsai, a binding and underwriting platform for independent agents and lenders; and Sequoia, an automated underwriting and quoting system for insurance book conversions.

<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.Key customers and partnershipsIn May 2020, Clearcover partnered with claims management solution vendor Snapsheet to fully digitize its own claims function from First Notification of Losses (FNOLs) to disbursements. Moreover, it collaborated with Experian to offer car insurance on the latter’s insurance comparison site <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/18045">in April 2023 </a>. This was part of Clearcover’s strategy to expand its distribution channels.Fundings and financialsIn April 2021, the company raised USD 200 million in a Series D funding round, led by Eldridge, at a valuation in excess of USD 1 billion. The company expects to use the funding toward product development and increasing headcount.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.

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 insurers 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

ANALYST_QUICK_TAKE

<div>
 
 CoverTree, a firm providing digital insurance for manufactured homes, has successfully secured USD 13 million in a Series A funding round. This round was spearheaded by Portage and also saw participation from AV8, Distributed Ventures, Detroit Venture Partners, Ludlow Ventures, and Annox Capital, among others. In total, the company's capital raised to date amounts to USD 23 million.
 The firm intends to utilize the raised capital to further its mission to innovate in the home insurance industry. This will involve expanding its enterprise suite which includes a variety of software and platforms. Among these are Maple, a resident insurance management software ideal for property managers; Bonsai, a binding and underwriting platform designed for independent agents and lenders; and Sequoia, an automated underwriting and quoting system specifically for insurance book conversions.
 
</div> Analyst QuickTake : 
 CoverTree previously raised USD 10 million in <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/13155"> seed funding </a> in September 2022. The funds were utilized for recruitment, geographic expansion, and product development in areas such as distribution portals and automated underwriting and for investment in major partners.

CoverTree

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