Fuel Ventures is a technology fund focusing on marketplaces, fintech, platforms, and SaaS startups in the UK.  The Fuel Ventures Portfolio (the ''Fund'') invests at the most lucrative early stages of internet technology companies that have exceptional growth potential and substantial returns can be achieved. The Fund focuses on marketplaces, platforms, and SaaS business models, identifying investments in seed and growth stages. Bringing together great entrepreneurs into an environment of innovation, collaboration, and support in RocketSpace in the heart of London. We provide a unique combination of mentorship, experience, and access to the investment required to drive a business and ideas to success. Founded in 2015 by entrepreneur and investor Mark Pearson, Fuel Ventures is focused on bringing a unique approach to early-stage investment.

Fuel Ventures

Founders Factory builds and funds startups together with exceptional entrepreneurs and the world's leading companies. We invest across four key themes - fintech, health, climate, and deeptech. Founded in 2015 by Brent Hoberman, Henry Lane Fox and George Northcott, Founders Factory combines capital and bespoke support from a team of over 70 specialists with a broad network of corporates and established entrepreneurs. Founders Factory has backed over 300 technology companies globally. Corporate partners include Aviva, L’Oreal, Guardian Media Group, easyJet, Reckitt, Marks and Spencer, CSC Group, J&J, Deutsche Telekom, Fastweb, Pico Global, Mediobanca and Standard Bank.

Founders Factory

APX is Europe’s leading very-early-stage VC. Based in Berlin and backed by Axel Springer and Porsche, we support and partner with the most ambitious founding teams from Europe and beyond - often as their first investor. We invest up to EUR 500K in startups until a series A starting with a quick EUR 50K investment, and within a few months, depending on traction and speed, we can invest further.    Each month we invest in new teams who become part of the APX community, counting hundreds of other founders. Since 2018, we have invested in 100+ startups across 20+ industries with founders from 20+ countries together with 100+ co-investors.

Magic Fund is built on a thesis that smaller funds run by founders perform best in early-stage investing (pre-seed/seed). We're a fund of micro-funds run by repeat founders with strong expertise in specific industries and geographies.

MAGIC Fund

Indico Capital Partners is the leading independent Venture Capital firm in Portugal investing in global technology companies. Indico focuses on software as a service, artificial intelligence, internet of things, fintech, cybersecurity and digital companies, targeting investments at Seed to Series A level. Founded in 2017, the team at Indico were previously behind the majority of the Portuguese global tech success stories, as investors and entrepreneurs. Headed by the two most senior former Caixa Capital VC Team members, supported by a successful and experienced entrepreneur and a strong group of advisors, top entrepreneurs, they raised our first fund (authorized by the Portuguese Securities Market Commission - CMVM) from a cornerstone institutional investor (EIF) and international family/multi-family offices from Europe, US, and Australia. In addition to Silicon Valley, London, and Berlin, cities like Lisbon have emerging startup ecosystems. Portugal went through a difficult macro environment years ago which led to a growth in the entrepreneurship culture and investment. We have excellent tech graduates and a global mindset. Highly innovative companies like luxury eCommerce platform Farfetch, YC graduate machine learning translation platform Unbabel or the leading student accommodation marketplace Uniplaces have a strong Portuguese DNA and went to raise international rounds in the UK and the US - we want to back the next success stories of the ecosystem.

Indico Capital Partners

Insurtech NY serves as a resource for the insurance innovation community in the New York metropolitan region. Insurtech NY, which was founded in 2019, hosts bi-monthly seminars that bring together carriers, brokers, investors, and Insurtech companies. The objective of Insurtech NY is to attract talent to insurance, make regulation more innovative, attract Insurtechs to the New York metro region, and increase access to financing.

Insurtech NY

InsurTech Fund invests primarily in early-stage InsurTech companies.

InsurTech Fund

Eleos

Eleos partners with consumer brands to embed income protection and life insurance into their online journeys.

Based in the UK, Eleos offers digital life and income protection insurance. The company operates under both B2C and B2B2C models, partnering with other financial providers. It also had plans to launch in the US as of May 2024.

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

InsurTech: Personal Lines

Eleos Raises $4 Million Seed Funding To Transform Digital Life Insurance

<div>
 
 Based in the UK, Eleos offers digital life and income protection insurance. The company operates under both B2C and B2B2C models, partnering with other financial providers. It also had plans to launch in the US as of May 2024.&nbsp;
 
 
 Customers can acquire single or joint life insurance entirely online by answering a few questions and selecting the desired level of coverage. Furthermore, in addition to life insurance, the policy offers benefits such as loss of income, mortgage payment protection, and rent coverage. However, as of May 2024, Eleos has not yet begun issuing life insurance policies.
 
 
 
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 The company does not underwrite its own policies and acts as an agent; however, it did not disclose its underwriting partners.
 
 
 
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 In May 2024, the company raised USD 4 million in 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/29200">
 seed funding
 </a>
 led by Indico Capital and Fuel Ventures. It had earmarked the fresh funds to launch more variations of life and disability insurance, as well as to expand into the US market.&nbsp;
 
 
 As of the same date, Eleos claimed that it is on course to exceed GBP 1 million (~USD 1.3 million) in revenue by the end of 2024.
 
</div>

Based in the UK, Eleos offers digital life and income protection insurance. The company operates under both B2C and B2B2C models, partnering with other financial providers. It also had plans to launch in the US as of May 2024.Customers can acquire single or joint life insurance entirely online by answering a few questions and selecting the desired level of coverage. Furthermore, in addition to life insurance, the policy offers benefits such as loss of income, mortgage payment protection, and rent coverage. However, as of May 2024, Eleos has not yet begun issuing life insurance policies. Key customers and partnershipsThe company does not underwrite its own policies and acts as an agent; however, it did not disclose its underwriting partners. Funding and financialsIn May 2024, the company raised USD 4 million in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/29200">seed funding </a>led by Indico Capital and Fuel Ventures. It had earmarked the fresh funds to launch more variations of life and disability insurance, as well as to expand into the US market.As of the same date, Eleos claimed that it is on course to exceed GBP 1 million (~USD 1.3 million) in revenue by the end of 2024.

<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 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

<div>
 
 Digital life insurer Eleos, based in the UK, has secured USD 4 million in a seed funding round. The round was led by Indico Capital and Fuel Ventures, and saw participation from APX. This puts the total of funds raised by the company at USD 4.8 million.
 Eleos plans to use the new funding to launch additional life and disability insurance products. Moreover, it aims to form distribution partnerships in the UK, as well as to expand into the US market.
 Established in 2022, Eleos provides digital life and income protection directly to customers and collaborates with financial brands to offer embedded white-labeled insurance. The company anticipates that by the end of 2024, it will surpass GBP 1 million, or approximately USD 1.3 million, in revenue.
 
</div>

Eleos

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