Category Visionaries Sivan Iram, CEO & Founder of Flow: $20.6M Raised to Transform Commercial Insurance Wholesaling with AI
Nov 27, 2024
28:36
Flow is revolutionizing commercial insurance wholesaling through AI-powered operations, focusing on bringing enterprise-grade service to small and mid-market accounts. With $20.6M in funding, Flow has developed a system of AI agents that help brokers streamline every step of the insurance placement process, from submission structuring to policy analysis and comparisons.
Topics Discussed:
- Flow's evolution from a platform-based solution to an AI-enhanced email-first approach
- The critical role of wholesale brokers in commercial insurance
- Challenges and opportunities in serving small and mid-market accounts
- How AI technology enables superior service delivery in insurance
- The importance of human expertise alongside technological innovation
- Marketing strategies in B2B insurance technology
GTM Lessons For B2B Founders:
- Listen to how customers want to work: Flow initially built a platform requiring users to log in, but discovered clients preferred email. Rather than forcing behavior change, they adapted their solution to work within existing workflows while adding AI-powered efficiency behind the scenes.
- Focus on underserved segments: By targeting small and mid-market accounts that traditional wholesalers found unprofitable, Flow created a compelling value proposition. Their AI-driven approach made these segments economically viable while delivering superior service.
- Product-market fit requires deep industry understanding: Despite having a working product and paying customers, Flow didn't achieve true product-market fit until they understood the fundamental role of expertise and guidance in wholesale insurance.
- Cold outreach can work with the right approach: After initial failed attempts at cold emails, Flow found success by having messages come from existing brokers rather than generic company accounts, demonstrating the continued importance of relationships in B2B sales.
- Build for the frontline decision-maker: Flow recognized that their success depends on winning the mental battle when brokers decide how to place business. By focusing on the frontline teams' needs, they've created a compelling service that drives organic growth.
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