Cherry Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm led by a team of entrepreneurs with experience building fast-scaling companies such as Zalando and Spotify. The firm backs Europe's boldest founders, usually as their first institutional investor, and supports them in everything from their go-to-market strategy and the scaling of their businesses. Cherry Ventures has previously invested in the seed stage of over 50 companies across Europe, including FlixBus, Auto1 Group, Infarm, Rows, Forto, and TourRadar. Cherry Ventures is based in Berlin and invests across Europe with operations in London, Paris, and Stockholm.

Cherry Ventures

Creades is an investment company investing in businesses that have the potential for revaluation and value creation. Creade's business concept is to provide a good risk-adjusted return to its shareholders by investing in businesses where Creades can act as an engaged owner, primarily in small and medium-listed and unlisted Swedish companies. The firm is a spin-off from Investment AB Öresund.

Creades AB

Obvious Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests in the early and growth stages. The firm was founded in 2014 and is based in San Francisco, California.

Obvious Ventures

D-Ax is a partnership between Axel Johnson, a Swedish retail conglomerate and RECAPEX, a Nordic Investment company. Axel Johnson’s aim with D-ax is to invest in digital entrepreneurial companies. The ambition is to increase the trading group’s digital resources. As one of the Nordic region’s leading trading groups, Axel Johnson aims to meet with customers across all contact channels and develop new digital offers. The ambition is to is to increase the trading group’s digital resources.  The firm looking for entrepreneurial digital companies that do business in trading and services. The companies should have achieved a certain level of sales and have a proven business model. While they may be e-commerce companies, this is not a must; they might also be companies that work with other digital business ideas within the spectrum covering online marketing, data transparency and data analysis.

D-Ax Corporate Venture Capital

Anthemis Group is a multi-stage asset management platform that cultivates change in the financial system by investing in, growing, and sustaining businesses committed to resiliency, transparency, access and equity. Founded in 2010, our deep understanding of markets and models, passion for emerging technology and values inspire everything we do. By creating fertile ground for a diverse group of startups, investors, entrepreneurs, institutions, academics, and visionaries to converge, we believe we can solve the financial systems’ most pressing challenges faster, better and for the benefit of all.

Anthemis

Nineyards Equity invests in entrepreneurs and game-changing companies looking to scale, and we support them the whole nine yards.

Nineyards Equity

CommerzVentures specializes in early- and growth-stage companies in the financial services and insurance sectors. Established in 2014 as the venture capital fund of Commerzbank. Independent investment management company since 2019. CommerzVentures is a return-driven, non-strategic venture capital investor. We back early- and growth-stage companies in the financial services and insurance sectors, starting at Series A. We aspire to invest in the very best startups in a given sector. For their portfolio companies, we offer access to key decision makers across the banking and insurance industry. Our initial investment size ranges from €2 million to €10 million. We invest mostly in Europe, Israel, and the USA, and are always looking to work with entrepreneurs who have vision and enthusiasm!

CommerzVentures

Novax is part of Axel Johnson, a family business founded in 1873 and now run by the fourth and fifth generations. With trade as a starting point, the Group has changed shape and form over the years. On the other hand, the will and drive to change in combination with developing long-term profitable business has been intact.

Novax

Adelis is an active partner in creating value at small and medium-sized Nordic companies. Adelis was founded in 2012 with the goal of building the leading lower middle market investment firm in the Nordics. Our name, Adelis, is a loose combination of the Latin words meaning bold (audax) and trustworthy (fidelis), but the full word also means ''noble'' in Germanic.  We believe our name reflects both our values and our ambitions well.

Adelis Equity Partners

SEB (Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken) is the leading corporate and investment bank in the Nordic countries, serving large corporations and financial institutions with corporate banking, trading and capital markets and global transaction services. Comprehensive pension and asset management solutions are also offered. It offers small and medium-sized corporate customers several customised products that were initially developed in cooperation with SEB’s large corporate clients. In addition, numerous services are specifically designed for small companies and entrepreneurs.

SEB (Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken)

At Pente, we invest in entrepreneurs and operators who aim to build great businesses. The teams we partner with are true builders, whether they work with wireframes, code, physical products or ideas. We see the emergence of a kinder and more sustainable world, powered by a new generation of businesses. A world where life's luxuries are redefined as design being the central determinator of quality.  We are working with the most promising founders and businesses to catalyze change with radical, empathetic visions for a better future.

Pente Capital

Hedvig

Hedvig is a new approach to insurance. It’s about freedom and being ok with your life, no matter what happens to you. Launched in Sweden in 2018 and today present in all Scandinavian countries, Hedvig is an EU-licensed carrier providing home, contents, accident, travel, clumsiness and car insurance. With stellar service and ultra fast claims handling, Hedvig is creating a service that people actually long to use.

Stockholm-based Hedvig provides homeowners and renters insurance via a mobile app in Sweden, Denmark and Norway. It also launched <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/18538">pet insurance </a>coverage in Sweden in April 2023, in partnership with FirstVet, an on-demand veterinary service provider.

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

InsurTech: Personal Lines

<div>Stockholm-based Hedvig provides homeowners and renters insurance via a mobile app in Sweden, Denmark and Norway. It also launched<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/18991">pet insurance coverage</a>in Sweden in April 2023, in partnership with FirstVet, an on-demand veterinary service provider.</div>

Pet ownership is at an all time high in the United States and the pet care economy is booming.

Pet Care Tech

Stockholm-based Hedvig provides homeowners and renters insurance via a mobile app in Sweden, Denmark and Norway. It also launched <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/18538">pet insurance </a>coverage in Sweden in April 2023, in partnership with FirstVet, an on-demand veterinary service provider.Customers can also file for claims through the app, and the company claims it can manage claims within eight minutes. The company operated under a managing general agent (MGA) model until March 2021, when it obtained an EU carrier license allowing it to write its own insurance policies and expand across the region.Key customers and partnershipsAs of March 2023, the company served 130,000 customers.Fundings and financialsIn March 2023, the company <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/17024">raised SEK 333 million (~USD 31.4 million) </a>in a private equity round led by Adelis Equity Partners, with participation from SEB Venture Capital and Nicklas Storåkers. It aimed to utilize the funds to support its strategic plan, which focuses on a more targeted growth strategy to achieve profitability. Following the investment, Adelis became the new controlling shareholder in Hedvig, while SEB formed a strategic distribution partnership with the company.The company reported total gross written premiums of SEK 200 million (~USD18.9 million) as of March 2023, and claimed that 10% of new homeowners in Sweden chose Hedvig when purchasing new home insurance.

<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

<div>
 
 Stockholm-based Hedvig provides homeowners and renters insurance via a mobile app in Sweden, Denmark and Norway. It also launched 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/18991">
 pet insurance coverage
 </a>
 in Sweden in April 2023, in partnership with FirstVet, an on-demand veterinary service provider.
 
 
 Customers can also file for claims through the app, and the company claims it can manage claims within eight minutes. The company operated under a managing general agent (MGA) model until March 2021, when it obtained an EU carrier license allowing it to write its own insurance policies and expand across the region. 
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships&nbsp;
 
 
 As of March 2023, the company served 130,000 customers.
 
 
 Fundings and financials&nbsp;
 
 
 In March 2023, the company raised SEK 333 million (~USD 31.4 million) in a private equity round led by Adelis Equity Partners, with participation from SEB Venture Capital and Nicklas Stor&aring;kers. It aimed to utilize the funds to support its strategic plan, which focuses on a more targeted growth strategy to achieve profitability. Following the investment, Adelis became the new controlling shareholder in Hedvig, while SEB formed a strategic distribution partnership with the company.&nbsp;
 
 
 The company reported total gross written premiums of SEK 200 million (~USD18.9 million) as of March 2023, and claimed that 10% of new homeowners in Sweden chose Hedvig when purchasing new home insurance.
 
</div>

<div>
 
 Digitail offers a cloud-based software platform for veterinarians that provides an online booking system, electronic record keeping, stock management, invoicing, billing, etc. The platform, which can be accessed from any device (mobile phones, laptops, desktops), is available in different packages on a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) basis; USD 95 per month for mobile vets, USD 79 per month for small clinics, and USD 159 per month for large clinics. As of March 2021, the platform served 2,000 veterinarians across 16 countries.
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 In January 2023, the company raised 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/16032?industryIds=7">
 USD 11 million in Series A funding
 </a>
 led by Atomico to expand its operations in the US and Canada. The round follows its USD 2.5 
 million seed funding in March 2021, led by the VC firm byFounders and Gradient Ventures (Google&rsquo;s AI fund).
 
</div>

Digitail

Gudog is a Spanish on-demand platform that connects dog owners with dog sitters for at-home dog sitting, dog walking, and dog daycare services. The company operates in France, UK, Germany, Ireland and Spain. In February 2019, the company merged with HouseMyDog, a similar company headquartered in the UK, to mutually expand its reach to more than 25,000 dog sitters on its platforms. As of February 2019, Gudog was considered to be the market leader in Spain. In February 2021, the company announced the acquisition of Host My Pet, a Finnish online pet sitting services company, for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition is aimed at expanding operations into Nordic countries, starting with Finland. With the acquisition, the combined entity’s 17 full-time employees will serve approximately 650,000 pet owners across Europe.

GuDog

Urban Leash is an on-demand pet care service provider that offers dog walking and cat sitting services. The app is GPS-embedded, which allows pet owners to track the whereabouts of pets. Its dog walking services and cat services are are offered in Boston within the Fenway and Jamaica Plain neighborhoods, whereas cat sitting services are also provided in several other areas in Brookline. Urban Leash also provides care services for small animals, such as feeding fish, small birds, and small mammals. Administering medication is offered without any fees.

Urban Leash

TeleTails is a veterinary telehealth platform that allows pet owners to obtain advice from veterinarians and behaviorists when needed. The company’s software provides care teams with the ability to offer live video consultations, flexible messaging, and cross-team communication. In May 2020, the company launched TeleTails Instant in response to the Covid-19 pandemic to make veterinary services available at no cost during the crisis.

TeleTails

Based in the UK, PawSquad provides on-demand veterinary telehealth services through video consultations and online chats. Pet owners can instantly access veterinary practitioners without pre-scheduling. The company also offers home visits on request. Advice from general practitioners is priced at around USD 26 per visit, while specialist consultations are priced at around USD 62 per visit. PawSquad provides specialist services in dermatology and plans to introduce other areas, such as endocrinology, behavior, gastroenterology, and oncology in the future. As of February 2021, the company operated more than 1,500 clinics across 12 countries in Europe and had an employee base of more than 22,000, including 6,0000 veterinary professionals.In March 2021, was acquired by UK-based veterinary service provider IVC Evidensia, that operates across Europe, for an undisclosed amount. IVC Evidensia operated more than 1,500 clinics across 12 countries in Europe as of February 2021. The company also has an employee base of more than 22,000, including 6,0000 veterinary professionals.The acquisition will allow PawSquad to expand geographically while also providing pet owners accessibility to IVC Evidendsia’s veterinary professionals through PawSquad’s telehealth platform.

PawSquad

Companies that provide digital veterinary platforms to connect pet owners directly with online veterinary services.

Companies that provide mobile-based platforms to match pet owners with providers of pet services such as pet boarding, pet sitting, and dog walking.

Startups that offer innovative insurance solutions via digital platforms specialized for pet insurance coverage.

Companies that develop and offer technological solutions, such as self-cleaning tech, smart feeding devices, and interactive toys, to enhance and monitor pets' health and well-being.

Uses IoT technology to remotely monitor and interact with pets

AI and ML technologies enable pet owners to monitor and improve pet care

Offers digital platforms, such as veterinary telehealth services, to support the wellness of pets

Hedvig

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