InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens

Send Technology is a software company founded in 2017 that has developed a connected workbench that enables insurers, brokers and MGAs to automate, streamline and optimise its operations. It has recently entered its scale-up phase and secured major clients such as Renaissance Reinsurance and Bowhead Specialty. Send Technology’s Co-founder and CEO, Ben Huckel, joined Matthew to talk about the importance of companies using the right technology, the benefits of leading with a service rather than a product and the advantages of providing a software service that is tailored to clients’ needs. Talking points include:  What Ben has learned from implementing major systems for insurers in the past How the cloud-based commercial insurance platform, Send Connect, has evolved to prioritise integration, adoption and speed and what this means for underwriters The importance of flexibility in software and how it provides insurers with resilience against dynamic markets The role of low code and no code tools How Send Technology plans to incorporate additional functionality such as integrated pricing doctrines and delegated authority to its Underwriting Workbench to support pre and post buying businesses You can find the demo discussed in the episode here. If you like what you're hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn. Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. Continuing Professional Development - Learning Objectives InsTech London is accredited by The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening to any InsTech London podcast or reading the accompanying transcript, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards the CII member CPD scheme. The Learning Objectives for this podcast are: Define some of the functions of modern underwriting technology and their advantages for underwriters Identify the specific considerations a company needs to make when looking to select new insurance technology Summarise how insurers can prepare for the challenges of dynamic markets through the implementation of software If your organisation is a member of InsTech London and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 187 page of the InsTech London website or email cpd@instech.london to let us know you have listened to this podcast. To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.

Arturo delivers on-demand property data using multi-source imagery and provides AI insights for damage assessment after a catastrophic event. John-Isaac "JC" Clark, the CEO of Arturo, speaks to Matthew about how Arturo's information is used. They cover how satellites collect data, what underwriters are doing with it and how he expects this to evolve as innovation progresses. Talking points include: How American Family is producing a technology company from its innovation team The sourcing and accuracy of information used in the lifecycle of an insurance policy What data do satellite and aerial images capture and how they are used to produce insights Use cases of drones and aircraft in the property and casualty markets Examples of who they partner with and why How insurers in the US, Australia and Japan are using Arturo's data If you like what you're hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn. Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. Continuing Professional Development - Learning Objectives InsTech London is accredited by The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening to any InsTech London podcast or reading the accompanying transcript, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards the CII member CPD scheme. The Learning Objectives for this podcast are: Summarise how insurers source the relevant information for insurance policies Describe how satellite and aerial images capture data, and how underwriters use the insights this data produces List some cases of drone and aircraft use in damage assessment, and the advantages for the property and casualty markets If your organisation is a member of InsTech London and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 186 page of the InsTech London website or email cpd@instech.london to let us know you have listened to this podcast. To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.

Traditional insurers’ minimum premiums, small transactions and subsequent inability to absorb clients’ portfolio volatility leave MGAs vulnerable. Accelerant provides insurance capacity, technology and investment for MGAs in property and casualty insurance. Jeff Radke, Co-founder and CEO of Accelerant, speaks to Matthew about the role of Accelerant in championing the latest technology and supporting individuals. They cover the support MGAs get from being members of Accelerant and address the problems that specialty commercial underwriters face and how to tackle them. They also discuss how to handle a remote, global business in the age of working from home and the war for talent. Talking points include: What MGAs should focus on when building capacity The benefits to MGAs of being a member of a company that has a large, diverse portfolio as opposed to a traditional, monolithic insurance company The growth potential of intermittent and embedded coverage The power of algorithmic underwriting and the prerequisites to make it work How different brokers are evolving and their willingness and ability to handle new technology The importance of energy, enthusiasm and experience in Accelerant’s business model Emerging threats of inflation and what pushing higher deductibles back to policyholders could mean for insurers If you like what you're hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn. Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. Continuing Professional Development - Learning Objectives InsTech London is accredited by The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening to any InsTech London podcast or reading the accompanying transcript, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards the CII member CPD scheme. The Learning Objectives for this podcast are: List the benefits a company with a diverse portfolio has over traditional insurers, and why these would be advantageous to MGAs Describe the ways in which technology is advancing traditional insurance processes (such as algorithmic underwriting) Summarise how insurers can prepare for the rising threats of inflation and the impact this will have on policyholders If your organisation is a member of InsTech London and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 185 page of the InsTech London website or email cpd@instech.london to let us know you have listened to this podcast. To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.

PitchBook is a financial data and software company that provides insights on private and public markets to help clients better evaluate opportunities. Robert Le, a Fintech Analyst at PitchBook, talks about how it gathers, defines and categorises different sources of information in its databases. He reviews what public market investors expect from insurtech and established technology companies and discusses the insurance areas where he is seeing opportunities emerge. Talking points include: How investors rate risk-taking entities (MGAs and insurers) compared to technology companies licensing products The potential opportunities to assess cyber insurance risk Recent developments in pet insurance, including marketing trends, social changes following Covid-19 and recent technological advancements in the area Use cases today for blockchain in insurance Some companies Robert has been following As a special offer to friends of the InsTech London podcast, PitchBook is offering a preview of their 2021 Annual Insurtech Report. If you like what you're hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn. Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. Continuing Professional Development - Learning Objectives InsTech London is accredited by The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening to any InsTech London podcast or reading the accompanying transcript, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards the CII member CPD scheme. The Learning Objectives for this podcast are: Describe the ways in which insurtech companies can appeal to public market investors Identify some of the emerging opportunities within insurance such as cyber insurance risk Summarise how the pet insurance market has developed as a result of recent social and technological changes If your organisation is a member of InsTech London and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 184 page of the InsTech London website or email cpd@instech.london to let us know you have listened to this podcast. To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.

While weather-related catastrophic events are on the rise, insurance policies and federal aid are still inaccessible for many globally. Jonathan Gonzalez is the CEO and co-founder of Raincoat, a platform to support insurers in the development and distribution of parametric insurance solutions for consumers in at-risk countries and regions. He joins Matthew on Podcast 183 to explain how scalable parametric insurance products are helping to reduce the protection gap, Raincoat’s consumer-focused approach, and tailoring solutions to tackle relevant climate risks in different areas of the world. Talking points include: How Hurricane Maria inspired Jonathan to launch a company How he used his software background to build Raincoat What is needed to successfully collaborate with insurers  The indices used to measure perils and how various data sources are handled  The importance of regulation in the application of parametric insurance You can get more information about Raincoat on the company’s InsTech London member profile page. If you like what you're hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn. Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. Continuing Professional Development - Learning Objectives InsTech London is accredited by The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening to any InsTech London podcast or reading the accompanying transcript, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards the CII member CPD scheme. The Learning Objectives for this podcast are: Summarise what the protection gap is and the role of parametric insurance products in reducing this Understand how various indices and data sources are used to measure risk List some of the relevant climate risks in different areas of the world and some solutions to mitigate against these If your organisation is a member of InsTech London and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 183 page of the InsTech London website or email cpd@instech.london to let us know you have listened to this podcast. To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.

The healthcare industry has faced monumental changes over the past two years, with the pandemic affecting both the provision of services and consumer behaviour. Increased demand and Covid-19 lockdowns led to the acceleration of digital health technology, which in turn is now presenting fresh challenges and opportunities for insurers. Robin talks to Joan Cuscó, Global Head of Transformation at MAPFRE, and Nicolas Monsarrat, Managing Director, Strategy & Consulting, Digital Health Europe Lead at Accenture, about the digital health landscape in 2022 and what it means for the insurance industry. Talking points include: Transitioning to digital - insights from the UK, US, France and Germany Providing more value from personalised health data The role of blockchain in building trust Using digital twins to model and learn Why ecosystems and partnerships are the way ahead More information on MAPFRE’s insur_space accelerator programme is available at insur_space.com. You can also get more information about MAPFRE from the company’s InsTech London member profile page. The 2021 Accenture Health and Life Sciences Experience Survey mentioned in the podcast can be downloaded from accenture.com. If you like what you're hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn.  Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. Continuing Professional Development - Learning Objectives InsTech London is accredited by The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening to any InsTech London podcast or reading the accompanying transcript, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards the CII member CPD scheme. The Learning Objectives for this podcast are: Outline how to transition to digital and the value of personalised health data Define what a digital twin is and how it can increase efficiency Describe the potential future of health insurance and its important elements If your organisation is a member of InsTech London and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 182 page of the InsTech London website or email cpd@instech.london to let us know you have listened to this podcast. To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.

Jupiter Intelligence has achieved rapid growth since its launch five years ago and is now providing analytics on the impact of climate change to insurers, governments, and corporations worldwide. CEO and Co-founder Rich Sorkin joins Matthew to discuss how his experience of extreme weather events motivated him to launch the company. Their conversation covers the products and services Jupiter offers, how clients are using its data, and why it is vital that insurers track the long-term impacts and risks they face from climate change. Talking points include: Using data to understand physical and financial portfolio risk Duration mismatch - why planning for the future matters Regulation and reporting - the impacts for insurance The lessons insurance can learn from banking Scaling at speed - building the right team and products Jupiter Intelligence was featured in the InsTech London report, Climate Change Risk Regulation and Measurement: 22 companies to know, which is available as a free download. You can also get more information about the company on the Jupiter Intelligence InsTech member profile page. If you like what you're hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn.  Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. Continuing Professional Development - Learning Objectives InsTech London is accredited by The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening to any InsTech London podcast or reading the accompanying transcript, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards the CII member CPD scheme. The Learning Objectives for this podcast are: Understand some of the long-term challenges faced by the insurance industry as a result of climate change Define duration mismatch and how important it is for insurers to factor this into business plans Identify some of the products and services available to help insurers mitigate the risks of climate change If your organisation is a member of InsTech London and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 181 page of the InsTech London website or email cpd@instech.london to let us know you have listened to this podcast. To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.

Data has never been so important or abundant in insurance but finding the right information is still a major challenge for insurers. That has led to opportunities for companies like VIPR, which is providing extraction and ingestion solutions to help standardise data from third parties and creating analytics to improve underwriting accuracy. CEO Paul Templar joins Matthew on Podcast 180 to discuss how brokers and insurers are using VIPR’s data and analytics platform to manage data, getting information flowing efficiently across the market, and how VIPR is looking to scale with the help of private equity. Talking points include: Improving communication between insurers, brokers and clients Using the cloud to improve data access and processing efficiency Producing new underwriting insights through improved processing APIs, portals and making technology work Working with clients to drive product direction VIPR was featured in the InsTech London report, Data Extraction and Ingestion: The 40 companies to watch in 2021, which is available as a free download. You can also get more information on the InsTech member profile page for VIPR. If you like what you're hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn.  Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. Continuing Professional Development - Learning Objectives InsTech London is accredited by The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening to any InsTech London podcast or reading the accompanying transcript, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards the CII member CPD scheme. The Learning Objectives for this podcast are: Summarise the challenges for insurers in collecting relevant information and how these contribute to inefficient underwriting List the benefits data and analytics platforms have on improving processing efficiency Identify the role of clients in helping insurers to direct and implement new products If your organisation is a member of InsTech London and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 180 page of the InsTech London website or email cpd@instech.london to let us know you have listened to this podcast. To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.

Alex Hearn, founder of insurance news and insights platform Slipcase, joins Matthew on Podcast 179 to share his experience of growing a successful business. Formerly a broker at Willis, Alex left the company to develop a digital environment to connect insurance industry professionals. The result, Slipcase, is now an established platform collating and sharing information from insurers, brokers, and service providers to 160,000 users worldwide. Alex and Matthew discuss the process of building the company, the technology behind the platform, and the insurance content that is capturing users’ attention. Talking points include:  Establishing a product market fit and knowing when to pivot Building a quality proposition for corporate clients What users want - tracking behaviour to establish trends How the pandemic changed consumption habits Podcast or press release - the popularity of different content formats More information on Slipcase is available from slipcase.com and you can contact Alex on LinkedIn. The article mentioned in the podcast, InsurTech freefall – don't look down, is available here. Our latest report, Climate Change Risk Regulation and Measurement: 22 companies to know, is available to download from our website.  If you like what you're hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn.  Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. Continuing Professional Development - Learning Objectives InsTech London is accredited by The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening to any InsTech London podcast or reading the accompanying transcript, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards the CII member CPD scheme. The Learning Objectives for this podcast are: Summarise some of the potential ways to establish a new business within a product market Identify the key interests for consumers of insurance content and the impact of the pandemic on consumption habits Describe and compare the key advantages for consumers of insurance content between different content formats If your organisation is a member of InsTech London and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 179 page of the InsTech London website or email cpd@instech.london to let us know you have listened to this podcast. To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.

Thousands of UK property claims are made every year related to unseen perils below ground, with climate change already increasing the risks facing homeowners and insurers. Dr Tim Farewell is the Director of Science and Communications at Terrafirma, a Dye & Durham Solution, and one of the UK’s leading authorities on ground risks. He joins Matthew on Podcast 178 to discuss what is causing the problems, and how Terrafirma provides data to help insurers understand portfolio risks from subsidence, mines and voids, sinkholes, and coastal erosion. Talking points include: The science behind different ground risks The most common causes of subsidence and sinkholes How insurers are using Terrafirma data for assessing risks and claims The effect of climate change on ground risks - today and in the future Emerging technologies and tracking ground movement from space You can find out more about climate risk and the work Terrafirma is doing in the next InsTech London report. Climate Change Risk, Regulation and Measurement: 22 companies to know will be available to download from our website from 9am on Thursday 24 February. To keep up-to-date with the latest news and developments in the space, sign up to our new monthly Climate Risk newsletter. If you like what you're hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn.  Sign up to our newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. Continuing Professional Development - Learning Objectives InsTech London is accredited by The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening to any InsTech London podcast or reading the accompanying transcript, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards the CII member CPD scheme. The Learning Objectives for this podcast are: Articulate the impact of climate change on increasing ground risks for property owners and insurers Understand the value of data in ground risk assessment Provide real-life examples of emerging technology mitigating these risks If your organisation is a member of InsTech London and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 178 page of the InsTech London website or email cpd@instech.london to let us know you have listened to this podcast. To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.