The insurance industry has so many barriers to entry, founders often run out of energy and money just trying to get in.  The Gateway is a one-stop-shop for founders, where they can get underwriting paper, investment capital and advice on how to design and build their startup, all surrounded by great insurance partners. The Gateway fund supports the portfolio post incubation, to Series A and beyond. “The Gateway are our insurance sherpas, guiding us through the wilderness of insurance” Mark Musson, co-founder, Humn.ai (Gateway portfolio company) Insurers often struggle to innovate within their own businesses, the Gateway enable insurers to do this in a safe environment. They facilitate insurers, technology partners and insurtechs to get to know each other and work together, over the whole duration of building a business. The Gateway would like to meet early-stage founders with game-changing ideas or products, and progressive (re)insurers who are interested in collaboration.

Insurtech Gateway

Pentech Ventures is a venture capital fund focused on finding category defining software companies. Their passion is helping founders develop their startup into an internationally successful organisation. They have done this multiple times, partnering with leading VCs, corporations and investment banks along the way. They consider any opportunity capable of becoming a market leader but are most comfortable being the first venture investor, supporting founders through the early stages of proving product and market fit. Their initial investment is likely to be £500K to £2M, with up to £10M invested over the lifetime of the investment. They invest in founders who are ambitious to build a global company, have the passion and ability to attract the best team and who are focused on the data and understand the key drivers in proving and building their business. They support the founders they invest in to develop and grow with their business.

Pentech Ventures

LocalGlobe is a UK-based venture capital firm that focuses on seed and impact investments. Seeding ambitious UK founders since 1999 inc Citymapper, Improbable, Lovefilm, Moo, Tweetdeck, Transferwise, and Zoopla.

LocalGlobe

Founded as an investment firm focusing on the most promising startups, we have evolved into a unique set of private market funds investing globally in equity and debt across complementary sectors and stages. We fuse traditional values with a contemporary approach and balance exacting processes with the agility to capture commercial opportunity and compelling investment returns. Our continuous search for new opportunities has led us to create a balanced collection of complementary funds and relationships.

Salica

Tech Nation Fintech is helping UK fintech startups scale, at home and abroad. Their new fintech programme is aimed at company founders. Through a 24 hour induction, series of in-depth learning sessions, networking events and a three-day international showcase trip, you’ll become part of the very first Tech Nation Fintech cohort. Insights sessions will be delivered by some of the most established fintech entrepreneurs, investors and partners, who will cover topics such as regulation, partnering with banks and expanding internationally.

Tech Nation Fintech

Buoyant Ventures operates as an early-stage venture fund investing in digital solutions to climate risk. The firm was founded in 2019 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

Buoyant Ventures

Global Brain Corporation is a venture capital firm that invests in companies from seed or early to pre-IPO startups.  Global Brain has invested in 300+ startups from seed/early to pre-IPO startups and achieved 25 IPOs and 61 M&As as a result of providing hands-on support services and resources to its portfolio startups. Global Brain has managed a pure investment fund as well as multiple corporate venture capital funds partnered together with tier 1 public companies of telecom, real estate development, financial service, beverages, agriculture food, logistics, and electronic devices.

Global Brain Corporation

Our experienced investors work closely with the Munich Re Group businesses across the globe to fund and partner with the best emerging companies that are developing new technologies and business models – and risks – for tomorrow’s world. As one of the global providers of reinsurance, primary insurance and insurance-related risk solutions, Munich Re is uniquely positioned to help the world adopt new innovations by transferring the risks from invention and by developing solutions for loss prevention.  As strategic investors, Munich Re Ventures provides capital and guidance to current and future Munich Re partners who are creating the world around us. We invest out of three funds with the Munich Re Group companies as Limited Partners: the Munich Re Fund for the Reinsurance Group, the HSB Fund for specialty insurer Hartford Steam Boiler, and the ERGO Fund for European and Asian primary insurer ERGO. With Munich Re’s strong balance sheet, flexibility and vast insurance and industry relationships, these businesses provide value to our investments from day one. Whether de-risking the go-to-market strategy for an early stage renewable energy technology provider company or providing insurance capacity for a startup offering a new type of insurance for autonomous vehicles, our businesses deliver innovative solutions in an ever-changing world.

Munich Re Ventures

PT1 is a fully independent venture capital firm that focuses on pre-seed & seed investments in transformative real asset technologies. Real assets (real estate, infrastructure and energy) are undergoing a profound transformation caused by the increasing scarcity of natural resources, carbon budgets, square metres and skilled labour. PT1 invests in #Futurebuilders, startups benefitting from these megatrends by serving the high economic, social and political demand through scalable solutions. Using its proprietary AI-enabled deal flow database, PT1 finds, funds and fosters real asset innovations. PT1 consists of a pan-European, entrepreneurial team that is supported by experienced Venture Partners with diverse backgrounds ranging from unicorn founders to industry veterans and investment experts, creating a rich pool of wisdom, track record and network.  PT1 is part of ERIC Group, a platform that unites progressive minds making collective investments along transformational megatrends. Members include (U)HNWIs, successful entrepreneurs, forward-thinking corporate and institutional investors that aim to benefit in two dimensions from interacting with #Futurebuilders – financial ROI combined with inspiration, data and technology access for their own transformational journeys.

MS&AD Ventures is an early-stage venture fund focused on big data businesses related to the insurance industry. It specializes in the fields of venture capital, financial services, and finance. It was founded in 2018 and headquartered in Menlo Park, California.

MS&AD Ventures

Sony Financial Ventures is the wholly owned investment subsidiary of Sony Financial Holdings Inc.

Sony Financial Ventures

FloodFlash

80% of the world’s catastrophic flood losses aren’t insured. That’s $58bn of uncovered damage, and it’s getting bigger each year because of climate change, population growth and urbanisation. FloodFlash is an insurance technology company that combines computer models, cloud software and internet-of-things sensors into flood cover that protects those the insurance industry has left behind. FloodFlash is the first parametric flood insurance available to the mass market. Each customer chooses a depth of flooding and how much they’d receive when floods reach that depth. When the smart sensor installed at their property detects flood water at the chosen depth, the claim is paid in full. Since the 2019 launch FloodFlash has been at the forefront of the global parametric movement. Their smart cover has set new standards for simple, transparent insurance, protecting thousands that can’t get cover anywhere else and winning over 30 industry awards. Founded by catastrophe risk experts Adam Rimmer and Dr Ian Bartholomew, FloodFlash has raised £2.1m in investment to date. FloodFlash is headquartered in London, is a registered coverholder at Lloyd’s of London and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Based in the UK, FloodFlash is an insurance technology company that combines computer models, cloud software, and internet-of-things sensors into flood cover that provides catastrophic flood claims within 48 hours. FloodFlash offers a rapid-pay-out flood cover through an alternative model known as parametric insurance. It includes a mobile connected smart sensor installed at the property that reports any flooding and provides alerts when the agreed trigger-depth has been reached. Following this, the claim is automatically initiated, and, upon approval, the payment is made.

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

InsurTech: Personal Lines

FloodFlash unveils sensor-enabled parametric flood insurance for US auto dealers

Munich Re

Munich Re Syndicate partnered with FloodFlash to provide more capacity for larger and more complex risks covered by FloodFlash

Climate Risk Analytics

Provides long-term climate risk analytics to cover the gap in traditional insurance products

Based in the UK, FloodFlash is an insurance technology company that combines computer models, cloud software, and internet-of-things sensors into flood cover that provides catastrophic flood claims within 48 hours. FloodFlash offers a rapid-pay-out flood cover through an alternative model known as parametric insurance. It includes a mobile connected smart sensor installed at the property that reports any flooding and provides alerts when the agreed trigger-depth has been reached. Following this, the claim is automatically initiated, and, upon approval, the payment is made.FloodFlash primarily focuses on offering commercial flood cover for businesses, but also provides policies to the mass market, which includes homeowners insurance. In addition to offering services in its domestic market, the company also offers <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14742">flood insurance cover in the US </a>.Funding and financialsIn February 2022, FloodFlash raised USD 15 million Series A led by Buoyant Ventures and Munich Re Ventures.The company intended to use the funding to fuel international expansion in the US, Germany, Australia, and Japan.

Based in the UK, FloodFlash is an insurance technology company that combines computer models, cloud software, and internet-of-things sensors into flood cover that provides catastrophic flood claims within 48 hours. FloodFlash offers a rapid-pay-out flood cover through an alternative model known as parametric insurance. It includes a mobile connected smart sensor installed at the property that reports any flooding and provides alerts when the agreed trigger-depth has been reached. Following this, the claim is automatically initiated, and, upon approval, the payment is made.FloodFlash primarily focuses on offering commercial flood cover for businesses, but also provides policies to the mass market, which includes homeowners insurance. In addition to offering services in its domestic market, the company offers flood insurance cover across all mainland US locations.

<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

ANALYST_QUICK_TAKE

<div>
 
 UK-based flood insurance firm, FloodFlash, has broadened its coverage to include all mainland locations in the US.
 The expansion has been facilitated through a binder extension with Munich Re Specialty - Global Markets Syndicate in response to broker demand.
 
</div> Analyst QuickTake: 
 In <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/25596"> January this year </a> , the company announced its expansion to 10 states in addition to the launch states of Florida, Texas, California, Virginia, and Louisiana.

FloodFlash

EDGE Insights

About EDGE

Contact Us

Resources

Area of Focus

Technology Research Made Effortless