InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens

Flood is the most pervasive hazard in the United States, but despite the huge scale of the risk there are major challenges around the provision of adequate flood cover based on accurate, real-time data. JBA Risk Management has spent the past decade developing flood models covering 99% of the world’s landmass and has leveraged that experience to provide new flood hazard maps and real-time modelling for US insurers. Matthew finds out more on Podcast 136 from Jane Toothill, Managing Director, JBA Risk Management Ltd, and Matt Reid, Managing Director, JBA Risk Management Inc. Talking points include: Integrating flood data into decision-making processes Applying global insights and knowledge to US extreme weather events Real-time probabilistic modelling through JBA’s FLY technology Catastrophe modelling for climate change scenarios The state of the US NFIP and the emergence of a private US flood insurance market If you like what you're hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use, or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn. You can read an edited transcript of the conversation from Podcast 136 on the InsTech London website. JBA Risk Management was named as one of the companies to watch in our recent Location Intelligence 2021 report. More content is also available on the company's InsTech London profile page.  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. To claim 0.5 hours for this podcast, go to the Episode 136 page of the InsTech London website, or email cpd@instech.london.

Good data helps insurers to price and manage risks more effectively, but only if the right information is available, affordable and easy to integrate into underwriting processes. HazardHub are providing solutions to those challenges by supplying insurers with data for perils like flood and wildfire and unique property risk information, including the location of every fire hydrant in the US. The company was selected to join the Lloyd’s Lab last year and was named as one of the companies to watch in our new Location Intelligence report. HazardHub Co-founders Bob Frady and John Siegman join Matthew on Podcast 135 to discuss the types of data they’re offering and how they’re making it affordable and easy for clients to use. Talking points include: Accessing real-time data via APIs Lessons learned from the Lloyd’s Lab Harnessing technology to cut costs Pinpointing wildfire risks through modelling How to make clients confident about data For more information on HazardHub's AgentRiskView, go to agentriskview.com Sign up to the InsTech London newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. If you like what you're hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use, or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn. 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. To claim 0.5 hours for this podcast, go to the Episode 135 page of the InsTech London website, or email cpd@instech.london.

Artificial intelligence has opened up a wealth of opportunities for both insurers and insurtechs, but turning AI’s vast potential into scalable, successful technology solutions is a major challenge. Tractable is a great example of a company that has managed to do it, with its AI solution for assessing vehicle damage now being used worldwide to process thousands of claims every day. Co-founder and President Adrien Cohen joins Matthew to discuss Tractable’s global growth, the challenges of working with AI, and what the company has planned for property insurance. Talking points include: Why insurance is a great use case for AI Data challenges and training AI systems Why insurers struggle to develop solutions in-house Spotting opportunities and expanding into different markets Convincing customers about new technology Sign up to the InsTech London newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. If you like what you're hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use, or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn. 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. To claim 0.5 hours for this podcast, go to the Episode 134 page of the InsTech London website, or email cpd@instech.london.

By installing low-cost, easy to use sensors, Safehub is creating unique insights on how a building would react in the event of an earthquake. The technology continuously monitors a building’s natural frequency to create a profile of potential vulnerabilities and a baseline for assessing structural damage if catastrophe strikes. Co-founder and CEO Andy Thompson joins Matthew to discuss how Safehub is helping to reduce risk and why the wider adoption of affordable sensors benefits both customers and their insurers. Talking points include: Making faster, better decisions through data analysis How different earthquakes affect different buildings Using technology to spot inaccessible damage Understanding vulnerabilities through building frequencies Why user experience is crucial for new technology The RFID Journal article mentioned in the discussion can be found here - https://www.rfidjournal.com/iot-shakes-up-building-intelligence-with-earthquake-sensor-management Safehub is listed as one of the companies to watch in our new Location Intelligence report, which is free to download until the end of April.  Sign up to the InsTech London newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. If you like what you're hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use, or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn. 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. To claim 0.5 hours for this podcast, go to the Episode 133 page of the InsTech London website, or email cpd@instech.london.

Nigel Walsh from Google Cloud steps in as a guest host on Podcast 132 to talk to Matthew about our new report, Location Intelligence 2021 - the Companies to Watch: Where, what and how risky? The report offers a comprehensive look at the technology helping insurers identify and manage risk, and profiles more than 50 companies that are leading the way in the provision of location intelligence. Talking points from Nigel and Matthew’s discussion include: Key considerations for pricing and selecting risks Data and developments for supporting claims Insights for residential and commercial property How location intelligence can help with ESG Consumers, trust and having too much data Our Location Intelligence report is free to download until the end of April. You can get your copy from: https://www.instech.london/insights/location-intelligence-2021-companies-watch-where-what-how-risky Sign up to our newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. If you like what you're hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use, or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn. 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. To claim 0.5 hours for this podcast, go to the Episode 132 page of the InsTech London website, or email cpd@instech.london.

Robin and Matthew catch up for their quarterly Partners’ Chat on Episode 131 to discuss the latest news and themes emerging in insurance. Talking points include: Whether Covid-19 has actually accelerated innovation Why Robin is expecting a rise in insurtech M&A activity The emergence of real AI insurance products and solutions How Zego managed to become the UK’s first insurtech unicorn Vaccines, face-to-face dinners and a return to The Steel Yard Sign up to our newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. If you like what you're hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use, or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn. 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. To claim 0.5 hours for this podcast, go to the Episode 131 page of the InsTech London website, or email cpd@instech.london.

Changes to the US government’s National Flood Insurance Programme have created opportunities for insurers to offer alternative solutions for protection against flood risk. Fathom is one of the technology companies helping insurers to do that by providing accurate flood modelling hazard data for the entire US, down to a resolution of one metre. Matthew is joined on Podcast 130 by Fathom’s Chief Operations Officer Dr Andrew Smith and Chief Research Officer Dr Oliver Wing to discuss the creation of its US flood model and how Fathom evolved from a university research project into a successful commercial product. Talking points include: the impact of different types of flooding making data consumable through technology platforms tracking vulnerability as well as hazards the key focus areas for growing a business why insurance technology is attracting interest from other sectors Sign up to our newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. If you like what you're hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use, or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn. 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. To claim 0.5 hours for this podcast, go to the Episode 130 page of the InsTech London website, or email cpd@instech.london.

The most useful insurance products are often a combination of a simple concept powered by complex technology.  Flyreel’s AI Assistant is a great example, harnessing the potential of AI in a practical application that allows policyholders to conduct self-inspections using their phone camera. Founder and CEO Cole Winans joins Matthew to discuss how insurers are using Flyreel’s technology to create a comprehensive baseline record for underwriting, risk management and claims. Cole also shares some great tips on starting a company, finding customers and how to scale a business. Talking points include: Balancing AI with human intervention How to sell to insurers Developing portfolio risk characteristics through data Why a mutual customer benefit is vital Building a company culture and collaboration Sign up to our newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. If you like what you're hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use, or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn. 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. To claim 0.5 hours for this podcast, go to the Episode 129 page of the InsTech London website, or email cpd@instech.london.

Using its own constellation of microsatellites, ICEYE is providing insurers with high-resolution, building-level flood depths around the world immediately after an event. VP of Solutions Charles Blanchet joins Matthew to discuss how the company is making satellite technology commercially viable, and how insurers are now able to provide rapid flood loss estimates and efficient claims settlements.  Talking points include: How synthetic aperture radar can see through clouds Why the insurance division of this company has been engaged by leading insurers in only 12 months How aerial imagery is augmented with third-party data Parametric product solutions Making a complex offering easy to use  Look out for ICEYE on our Live Chat panel on Thursday 1 April. The company will also be one of more than 60 featured in our forthcoming Location Intelligence report.  Sign up to our newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. If you like what you're hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use, or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn. 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. To claim 0.5 hours for this podcast, go to the Episode 128 page of the InsTech London website, or email cpd@instech.london.

The ability to accurately forecast annual changes in the likelihood of damaging hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons occurring has been a challenge in the past.    Now, with advances in technology, research and the use of AI, new companies are emerging with techniques to provide insurers with the evidence they need to confidently change their assessment of potential catastrophe risks over the short term (less than one year). Australia-based reask is rethinking how catastrophe models are built, with a global solution that has caught the attention of leading insurers and investors. Co-founders Nick Hassam and Thomas Loridan join Matthew on Podcast 127 to discuss how they are helping insurers understand climate change, and why it is driving a greater frequency and intensity in natural disasters. Talking points include: Why today’s models need a global focus Seasonal forecasting Machine learning and neural networks Integrating new approaches with historical views Tracking storms after landfall Sign up to our newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. If you like what you're hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use, or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn. 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. To claim 0.5 hours for this podcast, go to the Episode 127 page of the InsTech London website, or email cpd@instech.london.