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InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Chris Eberly, Insurance Practice Lead: Datos Insights: From ratios to risk ops: what the next chapter means for insurers (370)In this special edition of the InsTech podcast, Robin introduces listeners to new colleague Chris Eberly, Insurance Practice Lead at Datos Insights, following Datos’ recent acquisition of InsTech. Chris brings more than 30 years of carrier experience and a unique practitioner’s perspective on the forces shaping insurance today. Together they explore what this new chapter means for InsTech members, the wider insurance ecosystem, and why Datos’ blend of advisory, research and community makes a timely fit. Along the way, Chris shares why operational efficiency is top of the agenda, how underinsurance is being tackled, and why AI is no...

2025-08-3128 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Partners’ Chat - What the future holds for InsTech and beyond (368)In this milestone edition of Partners Chat, Robin and Matthew sit down for their first episode since InsTech's transition to new ownership. With nearly 11 years of leadership behind them, they reflect candidly on founding and growing the business, navigating a sales process and what lies ahead under Datos Insights. Listeners will get rare insights into what it actually takes to sell a company: what they learned, what caught them off guard and how it’s changed their understanding of fundraising and Private Equity partnerships. This episode offers honest takeaways for any founders or leaders thinking ahead to th...

2025-08-1725 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Curious minds & bold beginnings (336)In this special first episode of 2025, Zoja takes the hosting seat to ease us back into work and life post-New Year with a reflective and forward-looking conversation. Here’s what you can expect: 2024 Highlights: A look back at InsTech's key themes, including the growing buzz around catastrophe modeling and exposure management. Zoja shares insights from the year’s most popular webinars, including: Know Your Models: An Underwriter’s Guide to Flood Modelling (in collaboration with Fathom). JBA Risk Management’s session on lessons learned from five years of flood modeling. Flood modeling emerged as a standout topic, highligh...

2025-01-0505 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens How insurers are overcoming underwriting challenges in 2024 (304)Unstructured data - is this a challenge that will ever go away? Or can it be a challenge which insurers adapt to work in their favor… At our last New York event in March, InsTech gathered three leading industry experts to candidly discuss what change in the industry looks like to them, specifically in the way unstructured data is handled and managed. We all know streamlining underwriting processes and optimizing data intake & routing will aid with precise risk pricing, but how are the US’s biggest carriers approaching the problem? Hear from Patrick Galli...

2024-05-2625 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Richard Hartley, CEO: Cytora: Decision ready risk - the future of commercial insurance (299)From episodes 68, 227 and now episode 299, InsTech has consistently caught up with Cytora and followed the company’s growth and expansion. Alongside Google, Cytora supported InsTech’s March event in New York, after which Matthew Grant caught up with Richard Hartley on the company’s growth, entering the US market and its impact on the insurance industry. Cytora focuses on data integration, partnering with numerous data providers to enhance the underwriter's workflow and ultimately transform manual insurance processes into digital ones. Key talking points include: Developing the vision as the technology develops Digitizing risk...

2024-04-2137 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Dani Katz, Co-founder & Director: Optalitix: Fix the roof while the sun is still shining (298)Optalitix was borne out of the need for ‘optimization’ and ‘analytics’, as Co-founder and Director Dani Katz realized the biggest blocker for insurance companies was converting spreadsheets. Having now expanded beyond spreadsheets, Optalitix offers three software products to UK (re)insurers and MGAs. Robin Merttens spoke to Dani about the spreadsheet polemic, innovation in the London Market and the permeability of finding solutions to difficult problems in both work and personal life. Key talking points include: Growing out a company - solving challenges for insurers To spreadsheet or not to spreadsheet Reflecting on how far digit...

2024-04-1421 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Tim Rayner, CEO: Verisk Specialty Business Solutions: Innovation in the London Market (290)Robin Merttens is joined by CEO and President of Verisk Specialty Business Solutions (VSBS), Tim Rayner. The discussion covers VSBS’s acquisitions such as Rulebook and Whitespace for a broader digital ecosystem, and the challenges of decision-making and procurement in the London market. Key talking point: Growth and opportunities in the specialty market Acquisitions and the role of Whitespace and Rulebook The impact of London Market modernisation on Verisk The importance of providing solutions rather than products A challenge to the market to innovate If you like what you're hearing, please leave us a review on...

2024-02-1826 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens John Mullen, President and CRO: Guidewire: A view from the top (289)Since its start in 2001, the insurance platform provider Guidewire has grown to be used by more than 540 insurers in 40 countries. Guidewire's President and Chief Revenue Officer, John Mullen, spoke to Matthew Grant about the company's journey as it continues to grow, the climate of the insurance industry and what are the driving forces of innovation in the company. Key talking points: Why standardisation of critical functions is important in the upcoming year How insurers can find ways of being innovative Collaboration - working with other corporates The value of experimentation Supporting InsTech’s New York Event in...

2024-02-1137 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Adrian Coupland, Head of Sales: Earnix: Agile pricing for a world of change (288)In this mid-week special, Matthew Grant speaks to Adrian Coupland at Earnix, a software provider to global insurers and banks. They discuss how the nature of risk in the insurance industry is rapidly changing, presenting new challenges in areas like motor pricing and supply chain management. The podcast ends with a discussion about Earnix's new product 'Underwrite-It' aimed at changing the underwriting process. Key talking points: What challenges are Earnix solving for the insurance industry Changes to the auto insurance sector - increasing repair costs and the impact of pricing regulation Underwrite-ItTM - an automated underwriting...

2024-02-0716 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens January news - $73 million funding, ships, war and thunderstorms (287)After the popularity of our first episode, InsTech is back with another analysis of what happened in insurance in the past month. If you are curious to know what is going on behind the news items you read about in insurance or technology - we’re bringing together experts, founders, insurers and some well know figures to tell us the news items that are capturing their attention – and why. Matthew Grant CEO of InsTech is once again joined by Nigel Walsh, Managing Director, Insurance, Google Cloud US, alongside Martha Notaras, Managing Partner at Brewer Lane Venture...

2024-02-0445 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Sarah Woolliscroft & Wayne Calderbank: Synergy: Passionate about claims management (286)In this episode, Matthew Grant sits down with Sarah Woolliscroft, Group Head of Operations & TPA and Wayne Calderbank, Group Data and Performance Director at Claims Consortium Group (CCG) for an exploration of the importance of technology in the claims industry and CCG's journey into the world of artificial intelligence. Synergy originated as a solution developed internally by CCG to enhance its claims management processes but has evolved since its launch into a platform that streamlines the claims handling process to support customer service and business performance. Key Talking Points Include: The role of technology...

2024-01-2826 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens James Orchard, CEO: QBE Ventures: Driving strategic value through corporate ventures (285)This week James Orchard, CEO of QBE Ventures, joins the podcast and discusses the shift in insurers' appetite for innovation, partnerships with startups, and the importance of collaboration in achieving strategic goals. The conversation covers how QBE Ventures is making strides in data and AI, resilience, and growth in emerging markets, with interesting prospects for cyber coverage and embedded insurance. James also reveals his predictions for 2024, foreseeing consolidation and challenges in investment as well as a focus on AI and strategic partnerships. An immensely packed episode, for everyone curious about how investing and insurance intersect....

2024-01-2142 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Garrett Koehn, CRC Brokerage & Gordon Wintrob, Newfront: Brokers using generative AI today (284)This week, we return with Henry Gale as he caught up with Garrett Koehn, President of CRC Brokerage, and Gordon Wintrob, Co-founder and CTO of Newfront. The discussion covers the potential of generative AI for insurance brokers, with real-world examples of brokers using AI right now. Garrett and Gordon talk about how generative AI can improve the customer experience and discuss which AI solutions are better to build or buy. Listen to this episode to find out more about how “we are all going to become tech companies”. Talking points include: Exploring the u...

2024-01-1435 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Colville Wood & David Fearne: Cognizant: The power and surprises of generative AI in practice (283)Cognizant is a global professional services company helping companies across different industries with generative AI. Henry Gale is joined this week by Colville Wood, Chief Technology Officer for Insurance (UK&I and EMEA) and David Fearne, Global Director of Generative AI at Cognizant. The discussion covers how Generative AI has the potential to automate manual tasks, optimize processes, and provide valuable insights for underwriters in the insurance industry. Cognizant encourages companies to start exploring the possibilities of generative AI and see how it can improve their operations. Key talking points include: Generative AI in t...

2024-01-1030 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Jamie Crystal, CEO & Co-founder: MIC Global: Simple microinsurance for everyday risks (282)In our first podcast of 2024, Jamie Crystal, CEO of MIC Global, discusses with Matthew Grant their aim to close the insurance protection gaps by offering insurance products tailored to the needs of underserved individuals, including income protection, identity theft protection, and incident coverage. MIC uses a business-to-business-to-customer (B2B2C) model and all of its products are embedded within other platforms or services. MIC offers insurance products in various forms including embedded insurance methods, aiming to make the process simpler and more relevant to everyday life. Crystal highlights the company’s partnerships with brokers, digital platforms, and oth...

2024-01-0728 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens InsTech is away but the AI never rests (281)The InsTech team is taking a break and we’ve outsourced this week’s short podcast to ChatGPT. But fear not - humans will be back in the loop next week. Interested to find out more about how insurers are using AI. Sign up to our Generative AI newsletter here. If you like what you're hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn. To find out more about InsTech, our membership and offerings visit www.instech.co or contact us hello@instech.co

2023-12-3101 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Partners’ Chat - Storm clouds and silver linings (280)This Christmas Eve, we bring to you our last Partners’ Chat of the year. Robin Merttens and Matthew Grant reflect on the year and the developments we’ve seen in insurance, particularly those set to define the industry in the next year. As always there are things to celebrate, and some things to be grumpy about. Talking points include: Our increasing understanding of what can or cannot be automated M&A and MGAs - how they fared this year Recognition of interdependence in insurance War exclusions - what are they and why were they relevant in 2023? The...

2023-12-2936 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Bas de Goei, Director of Growth Marketing: Instabase: The AI application platform for unstructured data (279)Instabase offers technology solutions to extract information from unstructured data and automate processes. This week Matthew Grant speaks with Bas de Goei, Director of Growth Marketing at Instabase about how generative AI is helping the insurance industry tackle its pain points, and specifically “give people time back to do things that are uniquely human”. To find out more about how Instabase can specifically help you, visit the AI Hub where you can trial various data extractions from your own documents. Key talking points: Upside down startup - the beginning of Instabase and its journey in in...

2023-12-1738 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens James Gillespie & Grant Dewar: Aon Strategy and Technology Group: Progress, Partners, Plans and Prog Rock (278)This week we hand over the mic to Robin Merttens as he talks to James Gillespie, Head of Pricing, and Grant Dewar, Client Services Director at Aon’s Strategy and Technology Group (STG). In this episode, they discuss the evolution of Aon STG in the 18 months since it was created, what has been learned and what clients are seeking. It goes on to describe the body of services and resources it is building and the scale of its ambitions. Key talking points include: How the role of insurance brokers is changing The development of th...

2023-12-1019 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Beyond the headlines: revealing the stories behind the insurance news (277)We’re piloting a new style of podcast this week and borrowing the InsTech podcast channel to test this out. If you are wondering what is going on behind the news items you read about in insurance or technology then this new podcast is for you. We’re bringing together experts, founders, insurers and some well know figures to tell us the news items that are capturing their attention - and why. Matthew Grant CEO of InsTech is joined face to face in London by fellow podcasting enthusiast Nigel Walsh, Managing Director, Insurance, Google Cloud US, Ja...

2023-12-0340 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Salman Siddiqui, Moody’s Analytics & Adhiraj Maitra, Canopius: State of the Market 2023: Incorporating ESG into P&C underwriting (276)What drives insurers to look into adopting Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors into their underwriting processes? Salman Siddiqui at Moody’s Analytics and Adiraj Maitra at Canopius join Matthew Grant in this podcast to discuss ESG and sustainability in the insurance industry, centring the conversation around the recent Moody's report on incorporating ESG into P&C underwriting. Key talking points: ESG risks and opportunities in the insurance industry What does sustainability mean in the context of ESG The challenges of finding the right data The future is with carbon credits Explore more insi...

2023-11-2634 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Jacques Bosch & Piro Vorster: Inversion: Co-founder stories - winning despite the challenges (275)Inversion specialises in bespoke software development services tailored for the insurance and reinsurance sector. This week Robin Merttens spoke with Inversion's founders, Jacques Bosch and Piro Vorster, and in their conversation they touched on the story behind the creation of the company, and the various secrets to success the founders have picked up by working together. Key talking points include: Founding a company and overcoming unique challenges - both inside and outside the industry Why excellence and expertise are important to Inversion The benefits of having a global, connected workforce Blockchain and AI technology adoption: anything b...

2023-11-1923 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Sid Jha, Founder & CEO: Arbol: Managing climate risks - parametric and beyond (274)Arbol, an MGA specializing in parametric insurance, has been rapidly growing and expanding since we last spoke a year ago. Arbol recently announced a partnership with reinsurer Beazley, enabling them to deploy capacity in the US for weather risks. Tune in to Henry Gale, Senior Research Analyst at InsTech as he speaks to Arbol’s CEO, Sid Jha, about Arbol’s plans to target unmet risks in the energy and agriculture sectors and its new products to help companies manage climate risks beyond insurance. Key talking points include: Insuring renewable energy and agribusinesses with parametric Helping comp...

2023-11-1233 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Mark Varley, Founder and CEO: Addresscloud: Helping insurers understand geographic risk (273)Addresscloud has grown from a team of three to a team of eleven since InsTech last spoke to Founder and CEO, Mark Varley. In this episode, Matthew’s discussion with Mark covers Addresscloud’s core services such as geocoding and peril risk assessment, and its recent launch of a new management platform called Addresscloud Risk. Tune in to hear more about fire blocks and how Addresscloud utilises open-data sets to simulate fire spread for insurance purposes. Key talking points include: Utilizing open-data sources Working with serverless technology Partnerships with Allied World Insurance and solving their...

2023-11-0531 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Kristofer le Sage de Fontenay, Insurance Leader UK: Capgemini: Solving client pain points with the power of digital (272)Capgemini is an information technology services and consulting company which partners with businesses to develop innovation solutions. In this episode, Matthew Grant speaks to Kristofer le Sage de Fontenay, Insurance Leader at Capgemini, about the company's investment in generative AI. Capgemini is focusing on helping clients solve their pain points through digital solutions, investing $2 billion USD in generative AI over the next three years and recruiting 30,000 new people with expertise in data and artificial intelligence. Tune in to find out how Capgemini is trying to alleviate pain points including legacy systems, data access and control, and talent...

2023-10-2920 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Jason Liu, CEO: Zywave: Focus on the customer front-end (271)Zywave provides a platform of modular solutions that enables digital distribution and revenue operation optimisation for insurers and brokers. Over the past five years, the company has made ten acquisitions, spending nearly $1 billion dollars to bring leading brands and innovative companies together under one unified organization. Join Matthew as he speaks to Zywave CEO, Jason Liu on how the company is a fast growing and ambitious player in the space, as well as how it focuses on the customer and external front-office operations. Curious to find out more? Jason Liu co-authored with Don Bailey “The Sal...

2023-10-2239 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Liselotte Munk, CEO: Fadata: A rare chat with a female CEO in insurance technology (270)Robin speaks to Liselotte Munk, CEO of core administration system provider Fadata, available across all major lines of business to help insurers contribute successfully to the security and well-being of customers. Join Robin and Liselotte as they discuss meeting customer demands in an increasingly digital world, the benefits of a diverse and global workforce, the power of networking and the experience of running the insurance technology company as a woman CEO. Topics covered include: The importance of trusting yourself The shift towards cloud-based solutions Experience of being a women in technology and insurance If...

2023-10-1523 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Jakub Dryjas: CEO, Tensorflight: Connected property data (269)Tensorflight uses AI, aerial and street view imagery to provide property data for risk analytics on commercial, personal and industrial properties globally. Matthew Grant was joined by Jakub Dryjas, CEO of Tensorflight. They discuss various topics including the importance of partnering, advances in commercial property information by using AI, and tips for aspiring CEOs. Talking points include: What makes Tensorflight different in the aerial imagery space Lessons from a tech start-up CEO Why collaboration is necessary Developing commercial property characteristics If you like what you're hearing, please leave us a review on whichever...

2023-10-1128 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Jonathan Gonzalez: Co-founder & CEO, Raincoat: Enabling parametric protection that scales (268)What does parametric insurance mean to Jonathan Gonzalez, Co-founder and CEO of Raincoat? Raincoat is a technology company that works with brokers and insurers to develop and distribute parametric climate insurance for consumers in at-risk regions. The company is involved in parametric schemes around the world and aims to extend parametric protection to those exposed to disasters globally. In this week’s podcast Jonathan speaks to InsTech’s Henry Gale, to discuss how Raincoat has expanded since the last podcast, and asks us to consider whether parametric insurance will ever simply be known as “insurance”? Talk...

2023-10-0831 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Sam Taylor & Paul Merrey: KPMG: Generative AI - the insurer’s guide (267)Chat GPT was launched a year ago in November 2022, and its existence has consistently brought to the forefront questions surrounding adoption and implementation of AI and technology. It comes as no surprise that insurers are increasingly exploring new opportunities made possible by generative AI. In this podcast, Matthew Grant speaks to Sam Taylor and Paul Merrey from KPMG to discuss how generative AI tools can be integrated into the insurance industry. The conversation covers the importance of education and experimentation with regards to the implementation of AI, as well as the exciting developments occurring as a result o...

2023-10-0130 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Anthony Joseph & Andrew Caswell: PwC: Faster and better decision making - scaling up specialty insurance (266)The first podcast in our series with PwC touches on the Scale-up programme for insurtechs and the key to transformation in speciality insurance. Matthew Grant speaks to Anthony Joseph, Partner and Andrew Caswell, Director of Insurance Consulting at PwC UK, on why insurers are now progressing with the move to digitization, what transformation really means and how - and which - insurtechs are the key to change. Talking points include: The PwC insurtech Scale-up programme Digital adoption in the industry Specialty insurance and transform New generations of underwriters and new tools You can find out mor...

2023-09-2730 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Gavin Spencer: Chief Insurance Officer, Parsyl: Insuring perishables - bridging the data divide (265)Parsyl is an integrated risk management and insurance solution for supply chains in food and health, which underwrites policies globally via its managing general underwriter in the US, its Lloyd’s cover holder and its Lloyd’s syndicate (Syndicate 1796). Robin Merttens is joined by Gavin Spencer, Chief Insurance Officer at Parsyl, to discuss how the company is able to establish its identity as a data-led insurtech and a Lloyd’s of London consortium. This episode touches on the importance of data in improving underwriting, growth and development of start-up businesses, as well as how traditional marketplaces can coopera...

2023-09-2424 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Richard Garry: CCO, Gamma Location Intelligence: Managing climate risk at home (264)The climate has been on our minds since the record-breaking summer heat we had across the world. In this podcast we turn to matters closer to home. In this episode, Matthew speaks to Richard Garry, CCO at Gamma Location Intelligence, which provides software and data services to help insurers understand location risk and climate. Tune in to find out more about how Gamma is helping insurers adapt to the changing weather in the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as listen in to InsTech’s first live demonstration on the podcast of Gamma’s Go Green platform, done in coll...

2023-09-1723 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Amrit Santhirasenan: Co-founder & CEO, hyperexponential: Pricing decision intelligence for insurers (263)This week on the podcast Matthew speaks to a returning guest, Amrit Santhirasenan who is the Co-founder and CEO at hyperexponential. Their discussion focuses on pricing decision intelligence and what this means for insurers. Listen to find out more about hyperexponential’s evolution as a start-up since Amrit previously spoke on the podcast in 2019, and how hyperexponential want to “take the tech risk away” for “insurers to focus on the insurance risk”. Are you an insurer or reinsurer interested in finding out more about hyperexponential? We are hosting a Breakfast Event in partnership with hyperexponential on 26th of September...

2023-09-1039 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens David King, Artificial Labs & James Slaughter, Apollo Underwriting: Augmented underwriting technology with human expertise (262)This week on the podcast we go into detail about an exciting partnership between two InsTech members. Robin Merttens is joined by David King, Artificial Labs and James Slaughter, Apollo Underwriting, following the two companies announcing an augmented underwriting collaboration. The portfolio will be underwritten Apollo's 1969 syndicate and will run on Artificial Labs' technology. Listen in to find out more about how this collaboration of innovators is going to transform underwriting. Talking points include: Artificial Labs and Apollo - why collaborate? Technology as the driving force for change Why we need to embrace augmented underwriting technology. Wider...

2023-09-0326 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Curious George meets Bob the Builder (261)In this episode Robin Merttens moderates a panel discussion organised by Optalitix and hosted at Lloyd’s. Joining him were Dani Katz, Optalitix; Alison Quinlivan, Google; Ruta Mikiskaite, Swiss Re and Chris Mullan, Eigen Technologies. The discussion touched on how the future of insurance is being changed by new technology and data sources and how the industry needs to respond. Tune in and hear from a panel leading the clamour for change and understand how Curious George and Bob the Builder can help… Talking points include: 04:39 Real-time risk management is crucial. 06:45 Legacy technology hinders insur...

2023-08-2732 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Paul Templar & Greg Massey: VIPR: Data-driven intelligence (260)Matthew Grant is joined by Paul Templar, CEO and Co-founder of VIPR, and Greg Massey, US Advisor for VIPR. VIPR was founded in 2009 in the UK but has continued to grow and is expanding into the US following funding from PE firm Tenzing in 2020. Paul Templar has been with the company since its early days and Greg Massey joined recently having formerly been SVP - Head of Programs for Zurich in the US and a long history of working for US carriers. Topics covered include: The key challenges and opportunities for companies expanding their presence outside...

2023-08-2024 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Matthew Grant: CEO, InsTech: Generative AI - what’s really going on (259)Last week on the podcast we found out what Chat GPT had to say about InsTech. This week Matthew previews our newsletter on generative AI, particularly who is using it and where are we on the hype cycle. For the curious, we have released a monthly newsletter dedicated to exploring the uses of generative AI across insurance. Topics covered include: The three different reactions from insurers to integrating generative AI Our new Generative AI in Practice newsletter. Sign up here. How InsTech is using automation to help our workflow In addition to hearing from...

2023-08-1310 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Partners’ Chat - Handmade by Humans: Robin Merttens and Matthew Grant (258)We’re back with another “Partners’ Chat” as Robin Merttens and Matthew Grant reflect on what has happened in the world of innovation and insurance and where it is going next. The conversation touches on InsTech’s various events in the year so far, the success of InsTech’s recent carbon offsetting report and a look forward to the progress being made by our members in analytics and data. Talking points include: Claims ecosystems and interdependency An introduction to Carbon Offsetting: an insurance use case Technology resistance and adoption: from the ‘digital lipstick on a pig’ to the ‘...

2023-08-0633 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Tim Quayle, OneAdvent & Matt Jones, Cowbell: The plumbing and wiring for successful insurance businesses (257)Launching a new insurance business is hard, particularly for those with limited experience in the complexities of a regulated market. OneAdvent can help. Joining Matthew this week are Tim Quayle, COO at OneAdvent and Matt Jones, Chief Strategy Officer at Cowbell, a cyber insurance company entering the UK market. We cover some of the important areas when launching an MGA - and proved that talking about insurance can even be quite fun. Topics covered include: Core problems in launching insurance businesses and why “plumbers” are needed to fix them What you need from a partner when enter...

2023-07-3036 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Ali Smedley: Senior Research Analyst, InsTech: Carbon offsetting: the insurance use case (256)Reaching emission reduction and sustainability goals is becoming more important than ever. Supporting the carbon markets, including through new insurance products, can be a key way of doing this. This week Matthew Grant speaks to InsTech’s own Ali Smedley - Senior Research Analyst and author of “Carbon offsetting: the insurance use case”. To learn more, you can download the report here. Topics include: The difference between a carbon offset and carbon credit Examples of carbon offset projects and their risks What’s happening with carbon insurance at the moment How data and techn...

2023-07-2309 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Yann Barbarroux: Co-founder & CEO, Otonomi: Supply chains, cargo delays and parametric insurance (255)While supply chains are under increasing pressure, many losses associated with cargo delays go uninsured. If shipments are late, perishable goods are lost, business is interrupted and budgets are overspent. Henry Gale speaks to Yann Barbarroux, CEO and Co-founder at Otonomi about the insurance product the company has built to cover supply chain delays for third-party logistics companies and freight forwarders. Topics include: Getting cargo underwriters at Lloyd’s comfortable with a delay product Three approaches to distribution for new insurance products How the Ever Given ship stuck in the Suez Canal affected supply chains Customer re...

2023-07-1730 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Richard Tyler & Eric Butler: Phinsys: Financial reporting - one place, all the time (254)Technology comes in many forms - some of it is very visible and accessible - but a lot of the important technology is working away out of sight - and usually out of mind. And many of the most successful companies are those that are building out this critical infrastructure. Richard Tyler, Founder and CEO of Phinsys and Eric Butler, Head of Americas and Bermuda join Matthew Grant to discuss why Phinsys was launched. Topics include: How to help insurers understand where they have been, where they are now and where they are going F...

2023-07-0931 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Andy Moss: Co-founder and CEO, Send: The one-stop shop for managing insurance submissions (253)Send offers modular commercial insurance software to insurers, reinsurers and MGAs. The core offering is an underwriting workbench that supports from initial enquiry to bind. It’s a single place for underwriters to access data, documents and decision points. New insurers can use it as a core system, or for more mature companies, it can be bolted onto existing systems, including legacy. Send was founded in 2017 by three insurance veterans. Topics covered include: How to sort through underwriting information that is unstructured and often unwanted How large insurers are able to accelerate the adoption of new te...

2023-07-0230 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Peter Lacovara: Head of Commercial, Floodbase: Making parametric flood insurance possible (252)Flood events are increasing around the world, with many losses uncovered by insurance. Whilst parametric solutions can help provide new capacity to insure catastrophic risks and widen access to insurance, parametric flood insurance is not yet as widespread as parametric covers for hurricanes or earthquakes, due in part to data and modelling challenges specific to flood. Henry Gale speaks to Peter Lacovara, Head of Commercial, Floodbase about how the company is working to make parametric flood insurance possible with satellite imagery, machine learning and partnerships with insurers and brokers. Topics include: Peter's experience leading p...

2023-06-2830 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens David Schmid, Reask & Brian Espie, Kettle: Building transparent coverage for hurricane risks (251)The Florida insurance market has faced numerous challenges in recent years. For insurers to underwrite profitably in Florida, having the right hurricane reinsurance is essential. David Schmid, Head of Parametric Products, Reask and Brian Espie, Chief Underwriting Officer, Kettle, join Henry Gale to discuss the new parametric reinsurance solution Kettle and Reask have created for Florida hurricane risks. Topics include: Why parametric can help insurers buy reinsurance that reflects their own view of risk The advantages of parametric reinsurance over industry loss warranties (ILWs) The data sources Reask uses to calculate hurricane wind speed at different...

2023-06-2532 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Louw Hopley: Co-founder and CEO, Root: Move fast and stay flexible with embedded insurance (250)Matthew Grant is back talking to another co-founder of a successful technology company. Louw Hopley is Co-founder and CEO of Root which is providing technology to support embedded insurance for companies in South Africa, UK and other countries. Topics include: The advantages of building technology for companies in South Africa What an API really is and how it works The emerging use of Generative AI for writing and testing code Finding your business partner If you like what you're hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Matthew Grant on...

2023-06-1831 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Roger Ferrandis: COO and Co-founder, Wenalyze: Finding the risk, growing your premium income (249)One of the fundamentals of Insurance is understanding the nature of the risk. What happens when a bookshop adds in a coffee shop - is that riskier? Has this been communicated to the insurer? Does the premium change to reflect that? Matthew Grant is talking to Roger Ferrandis, COO and Co-founder, Wenalyze about how the company is helping insurers identify significant changes in their portfolio. Topics include: How a leading insurer increased annual premium income by repricing its clients' business Building a start-up and surviving two pivots Sources of data around the world Making it easy...

2023-06-1128 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Daren Rudd: VP Consulting - Head of Insurance Business & Technology Consulting, UK, CGI: Computers, people and the love of dancing (248)With all the new technology emerging - and insurers thirsty for knowledge - there’s a growing need for someone to help figure out how to join it all together. Robin Merttens talks to Daren Rudd, VP Consulting - Head of Insurance Business and Technology Consulting, UK at CGI. You’ll hear about Daren’s personal experience and how he and his colleagues are helping insurers engage with new and innovative technology, data and analytics. Topics covered include: The most notable developments in how insurers engage with digital from the last decade Why technology is the new Le...

2023-06-0421 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Tom Burroughs: Chief Technology Officer, Synergy Cloud: Building a frictionless claims process (247)This week we’re back talking to Synergy Cloud - it's about claims - and Matthew Grant is talking to Tom Burroughs, Chief Technology Officer, the intrapreneur within the parent company Claims Consortium Group creating a new product and a new business. We cover a range of topics relevant to anyone building or using software, not just in claims, including: What insurance can learn from the travel industry How to build technology in collaboration with the customer It plugs but does it play? Tips for finding the best integrations tools for your product Designing with your customer’s cust...

2023-05-2833 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Brian O’Reilly and Nicole Van Allen: Greenlight Re: A different kind of reinsurer (246)Reinsurers are often the leaders in innovation - and usually identify earlier trends before they go mainstream. In this episode, Robin Merttens talks to Brian O'Reilly, Head of Innovation and Nicole Van Allen, Associate, to discover what Greenlight Re looks for in its business partners. Topics include: What to look for in founders Why actuaries still have a critical role Where to find the best innovation What the future will look like Examples of companies Greenlight Re has worked with We’d love to know what you think about this episode - click here and add...

2023-05-2123 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Tim Smith & Lisa Balboa: Hannover Re: Innovation and the Life and Health protection gap (245)We’re back talking about life and health for this week’s special edition with Tim Smith and Lisa Balboa from Hannover Re. Robin Merttens leads the discussion. Topics include: The role of a reinsurance company in providing protection for insurers and their clients An update on the use of wearables Making health insurance affordable for many How Hannover Re nurtures innovation We’d love to know what you think about this episode - click here and add your thoughts to our LinkedIn post about it. If you like what you're hearing, please leave...

2023-05-1722 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Andrew Yeoman: Co-founder and CEO, Concirrus: Real time insurance for a real time world (244)Concirrus was founded in 2012 and has evolved to become one of the leaders in supporting marine underwriting through tracking ships and managing data. Today the company is expanding into a platform for multiple risk types and provides analytics into areas including aviation and liability. The goal is to make all underwriters as smart as the smartest underwriter in a company using AI tools. With his fourth appearance on the InsTech podcast and third dedicated interview, Co-founder and CEO Andy Yeoman explains to Matthew Grant the lessons and insights since founding the business. Topics include: Creating “decision opt...

2023-05-1432 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Carolyn Kousky: Associate Vice President, Economics and Policy, EDF: Understanding Disaster Insurance: New Tools for a More Resilient Future (243)As climate extremes worsen, insurance plays a more important role in helping people recover from disasters. Yet even many of the most exposed people do not buy the coverage they need, while the global protection gap continues to widen as more homes are developed in high-risk areas. In this episode, InsTech's Ali Smedley and Henry Gale talk to Carolyn Kousky, Associate Vice President for Economics and Policy, Environmental Defense Fund and author of 'Understanding Disaster Insurance: New Tools for a More Resilient Future'. The book provides an overview of disaster insurance markets and the role of the...

2023-05-1035 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Charles Clarke & Chris Cooksey: Guidewire: From system of record to system of insight (242)Guidewire is known for providing technology to the property, casualty and workers' compensation insurance industry. The company is expanding its analytics capabilities and also has an open ecosystem of partners which offer a variety of hardware, consulting and application services. Matthew Grant is joined by Charles Clarke - Group Vice President, Sales and Advisory and Chris Cooksey - Senior Director, Advanced Analytics. Topics covered include: Overcoming the challenges of interoperability for insurers How to deliver data to underwriters when they need it and where they need it Introducing change one step at a time ...

2023-05-0724 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Jacqueline Legrand: Co-founder & CEO, Maptycs: To see is to understand (241)With all the sophisticated models, data and tools available to insurers, it's as important as ever to know where something is. Managing aggregation is vital for successful underwriting and we are going to be seeing a lot more about platforms that bring together different data sources. In this episode Matthew Grant talks to Jacqueline Legrand, Co-founder & CEO, Maptycs. She had a problem - so she built a company to fix it. Topics include: How a problem for insurance brokers inspired the founder of Maptycs Why understanding risk aggregation is so important What risk managers, insurers and...

2023-04-3029 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Dave Connors: Founder and CEO, distriBind: Curing the industry’s obsession with spreadsheets (240)Insurance runs on data which has to be moved between counterparties. Insurers, brokers, MGAs and many others still rely on spreadsheets (or worse) to do that, which causes friction and errors. In this episode, Robin Merttens talks to Dave Connors, Founder and CEO of distriBind, about why he set up the company and how they are working with insurers and others to provide a way to move beyond spreadsheets at the pace that suits them best. Topics include: Avoiding million-dollar mistakes through more robust data transfer Why spreadsheets for data transfer doesn’t work Validation and rec...

2023-04-2321 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Jamie Webb & James Gadbury: Costero Brokers: Filling the gap – solutions for complex risk (239)We might be buying our personal insurance directly these days, but brokers still play a key role when it comes to all but the simplest of coverage. Costero goes one step further and finds solutions for risks that are unusual, and often hard to place but which are solving some of the world’s insurance protection gaps. Intrigued to learn more? This week Matthew Grant joins Managing Director Jamie Webb and Divisional Director James Gadbury, of Costero Brokers. UK-based - but with global clients. Topics include: The role of a broker for speciality business Wh...

2023-04-1636 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Duncan Gemmel & Hayley Maynard: Chaucer Group: Innovation success - go narrow, go deep (238)No technology innovation survives long without a client. Chaucer Group is well known as a successful Lloyd’s insurer and embodies the spirit of Lloyd’s by underwriting unusual and complex business. Matthew Grant is joined by Duncan Gemmel, Chief Strategy Officer, and Hayley Maynard, Head of Innovation, Chaucer Group, for a live recording. Topics covered include: How to engage underwriters in new opportunities Why it pays to go narrow and go deep What Chaucer look for in technology and data offerings The opportunities to provide insurance cover for IVF Treatment, Political Violence, Carbon Offset...

2023-04-0927 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Quentin Saleur & Matthew James: OTT Risk: Business Interruption for the sharing economy (237)The consequences of non-damage business interruption (NDBI), when events like pandemics don't cause physical damage to a business but do result in significant drops in revenue, have been particularly clear since 2020. Small businesses and gig workers are particularly vulnerable to losses of income during events beyond their control, but these losses tend to be uninsured. OTT Risk, an MGA founded during the Covid-19 pandemic, is developing new approaches to underwriting non-damage business interruption insurance. It's now partnered with Apollo ibott Syndicate 1971, at Lloyd's, to offer revenue protection to the users of digital economy platforms. Topics...

2023-04-0232 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Dr Michael Bewley & Tony Agresta: Nearmap: Property in three dimensions (236)With the increasing choices that insurers have of data sources to identify property characteristics, choosing the right level of detail and certainty is essential. This week Matthew travels virtually around the world to talk to Tony Agresta, EVP and General Manager of Nearmap and Dr Michael Bewley VP of AI and Computer Vision. Topics covered include: Achieving 3-D imagery and creating virtual images of property to walk around Differences between aerial imagery from aircraft compared to satellites Working with partners The future opportunities following the Thoma Bravo acquisition We’d love to know wh...

2023-03-2723 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Rachel Olney: Founder & CEO, Geosite: Your gateway to global geospatial data (235)With so much data now available from above us and around us to help understand properties, how should insurers, governments and others know which is the most reliable to use - and importantly - how to deal with the uncertainty and sometimes conflicting opinions? This week Matthew Grant is talking to Rachel Olney, Founder and CEO of Geosite. Join us to discover: The key problem Geosite is solving for insurers and others How Rachel discovered that insurance offered the biggest opportunity to launch a new business Lessons from working with the US Department of Defense Why...

2023-03-1941 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Matt Coleman & Bill Clark: The Demex Group: Insuring the gap - protection for frequent weather losses (234)We hear a lot about insurance protection for major catastrophes, but losses from frequent, local events now cause as much damage as the larger disasters that make the news. But insurance coverage is lagging behind leaving insurers and enterprises exposed to loss with no insurance protection. The Demex Group, a spin-out from reinsurer Munich Re is offering parametric cover to fill that insurance gap. This week Matthew Grant and Henry Gale are talking to President & CEO Bill Clark and Chief Risk Officer Matt Coleman, both of whom bring deep industry expertise to Demex. Topics include:

2023-03-1231 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Oliver McGuinness, RightIndem & Tim Rankin, AA Accident Assist: Partners providing value in digital claims (233)Digital innovation is creating new opportunities to support customers and create efficiencies for claims handling. Oliver McGuinness, CEO of RightIndem, and Tim Rankin, Managing Director of AA Accident Assist, join Robin Merttens to discuss how the two organisations are working together. Talking points include: How RightIndem has evolved since being launched in 2016 with a new founder and new focus The opportunities presented by Electronic First Notification of Loss (EFNOL) Advances in claims for motor and auto The role of "estimatics" We’d love to know what you think about this episode - click here and add your thoughts to our...

2023-03-0528 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Oliver Werneyer: Co-founder and CEO, Imburse: Painless payments and the accidental entrepreneur (232)Oliver Werneyer launched his first business aged 16 and later went on to launch Imburse when he discovered the true cost to insurance companies of collecting premiums and paying claims. Another fascinating story about building a business, identifying opportunities and building confidence with clients. Imburse is the glue and pipeline between insurers, their clients and payment providers. Join Matthew and Oliver as they cover topics including: How to find a problem to solve - then build a business Revealing the true cost of inefficient processes - and fixing them Gaining confidence and credibility with insurance buyers Why...

2023-02-2637 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Dr. Christopher Sampson & Dr. Andrew Smith: Fathom: Flood modelling goes global (231)We’re covering two main themes here - building a business that survives and thrives after ten years - and assessing the growing risk from a flood. We’ve been working closely with Fathom for many years. In Matthew Grant’s discussion with the co-founders of Fathom, you’ll discover topics such as: The advantages of building a business with close links to a university How increases in the resolution of data and increased computing power have fundamentally changed flood modelling in 10 years Why and when co-founders should bring in an external CEO Why insurers...

2023-02-1926 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Chris Mullan & Tim Crowe: Eigen Technologies: Making data useful (230)Eigen Technologies provides natural language processing (NLP) technology to clients across multiple sectors. Chris Mullan, SVP of Product; and Tim Crowe, Director of Insurance Solutions, joined Robin Merttens on this episode to discuss how they help the insurance industry get access to all the insightful data trapped in the many bespoke, complex and rapidly changing documents that the industry relies on. Talking points include: Unstructured data and the inherent issues it causes in the insurance process The unique issues that arise from London’s Market reform contracts Past experiences of the insurance industry, including th...

2023-02-1220 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Nigel Walsh: Managing Director of Insurance, Google: Scaling up the future (229)This week Matthew Grant is talking to Nigel Walsh, Managing Director of Insurance, Google Cloud. You'll find out why Google launched its recent “start-up” - Google Cloud - growing in excess of 36% quarter to quarter. Nigel is well known for his love of insurance and engagement across a whole range of innovative topics - and his annual predictions. He relocated to the US from the UK last year so we get a perspective of how attitudes, and technology, vary on both sides of the Atlantic. Topics include What’s changed since the phrase...

2023-02-0537 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Parul Kaul-Green: Chief Digital Strategy Officer, Liberty Specialty Markets: Innovation success in insurance - creating outcomes not outputs (228)This week we are back talking to another leader from one of the largest insurance companies in the world. Liberty Mutual. Parul Kaul-Green is Chief Digital Strategy Officer for Liberty Specialty Markets. Parul is at the sharp end of driving innovation across many of Liberty’s businesses as the company moves to digital. Join us as Matthew Grant discovers how Parul is supporting Liberty’s underwriters and its clients including some of the following: All insurers are moving to become truly digital, but how does a Chief Digital Strategy Officer achieve that? Parul has a team arou...

2023-01-2932 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Richard Hartley: Co-founder & CEO, Cytora: Helping underwriting risk submissions glide through your business flow (227)Cytora is well known in London and increasingly in the US too, as providing analytics for insurers - founded in 2014 and with some well-known clients including Allianz, Beazley and Markel - this is another company that’s made the transition from start-up to scale-up. Richard Hartley is the Co-founder and CEO. In this episode you will discover why the company pivoted from its original premise of sourcing data to help with commercial underwriting pricing - to its new solution, which is making underwriters' lives better, improving, as Richard puts it, how information glides through companies. You...

2023-01-2231 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Dawn Miller: Commercial Director, Lloyd’s of London: Powering innovation to solve new global challenges (226)Since being founded in 1688 Lloyd’s of London has grown into a marketplace supporting over £35 billion of premium. Innovation is at the heart of its success. More recently the “Lloyd’s Lab” has supported over 100 companies from around the world that are helping insurers find new solutions for the insurance protection gap and improving efficiencies. Dawn Miller joined Lloyd’s of London as the Commercial Director in 2022 after a career with some well-known global insurers - having cut her teeth as an investor and entrepreneur. One of Dawn’s responsibilities is helping the Lloyd’s market (which in...

2023-01-1528 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Bob Reville: Co-founder and CEO, Praedicat: Turning risk into profitable and sustained growth (225)There are some fascinating stories about companies that have existed for 10 years. At this point, almost every company will have found its product-market fit, be generating revenue and, in most cases, moved beyond start-up to scale up - but each of them will also have had to navigate through some tough headwinds and in many cases shift tack to identify what their clients really need. Praedicat is one such company and Matthew Grant caught up again with Bob Reville, Co-founder and CEO. With a mission to help insurers, and others, understand the emerging risks and...

2023-01-0838 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens The Reinsurance Podcast: Robin Merttens - InsTech, Industry Challenges and Innovation (223)Even podcasters need a break, so we're borrowing the podcast for this episode from Supercede to bring you founders Ben Rose and Jerad Leigh interviewing InsTech's Robin Merttens. This was recorded back in August 2022 and reviews our Marketplaces and Exchanges report released at that time (available here). Topics include What Is a Platform? The Evolution of Technology Lessons from RI3K Challenges of Digital Risk Documents Vs. Data Difficulties of Industry Consensus The B3i Blockchain Initiative InsTech: Collaboration & Partnerships InsTech Marketplace & Exchanges Report Benefits to the End Consumer If you like what you're hearing...

2022-12-2652 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Partners’ Chat Live at QBE Ventures - Guest host: Peta Kilian, UK Head of Strategy and Partnerships, QBE Ventures (222)We’re back with our occasional “Partner Chats”. Robin Merttens and Matthew Grant reflect on what is going on in the world of innovation and insurance. As usual, there are some things to celebrate, and some things to grumble about. We are the guests of QBE Ventures, the venture investment and development arm of QBE Insurance Group for this episode. Peta Kilian, UK Head of Strategy and Partnerships, joined us ready with a list of questions from her colleagues across QBE. Talking points include: Does insurance need underwriters? What is algorithmic underwriting and does it rea...

2022-12-1835 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Tropical Cyclone - Managing Tomorrow’s Climate Risk Today with Reask and Fathom (220)In this episode we cover the highlights of our recent live event in London “Tropical Cyclone - Managing Tomorrow's Climate Risk Today with Reask and Fathom”. We heard about how insurers and portfolio managers are taking account of the increased need to understand the combined risk of floods and hurricanes. We were joined by some of the companies providing climate analytics and data including: 1:38 Jamie Rodney, CEO, Reask; Andrew Smith, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, Fathom; David Vicary, Research and Development Manager, Brit Insurance 15:01 Robert Porter, Product Director, VAVE; Oliver Wing, Chief Research Officer, Fathom; Sue...

2022-12-1154 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Daniel Grimwood-Bird, McKenzie Intelligence Services & Troy Stewart, Brush Claims: The partners improving post claims loss assessment (219)McKenzie Intelligence Services (MIS) provides catastrophe event response intelligence to the insurance market. It combines space and ground imagery with human intelligence and AI to estimate losses, helping insurers aggregate exposure data. Brush Claims is a US-based property and liability claims service provider. Matthew Grant and Ali Smedley spoke to Daniel Grimwood-Bird, Head of Sales and Marketing at MIS and Troy Stewart, COO and President at Brush Claims. They cover the way the two companies are working together and how responses to future events will change as a result. Other talking points include:

2022-12-0422 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Glynn Austen-Brown & Michael Cook: PwC: Insurers going digital - learning from the leaders (218)PwC is a professional services network of firms. The company is one of the largest professional services networks in the world and is considered one of the Big Four accounting firms. Glynn Austen-Brown and Michael Cook, Partners at PwC, joined Matthew and covered topics including why insurance companies need to move to be fully digital and what that takes. Other topics include: Examples of where analytics are improving how companies support their customers How companies are overcoming the historical challenge of the “trust gap” Underinsurance in Southeast Asia and how insurtechs can address this mark...

2022-11-2735 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Jacob Grob: Chief Revenue Officer, Tensorflight: Property characteristics - new data for new challenges (217)Tensorflight uses AI, aerial and street view imagery to provide property data for risk analytics on commercial, personal and industrial properties globally. Matthew Grant was joined by Jacob Grob, the Chief Revenue Officer at Tensorflight. They discuss his personal experience with Hurricane Ian, some of the latest developments in providing property data and the challenges of social inflation pushing up costs. Other topics include: The difference in the way insurance is sold in the US compared to the rest of the world The “assignment of benefits” and how it impacts Florida Using data to make b...

2022-11-2033 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Sean Ringsted: Chief Digital Business Officer, Chubb: Driving scale and revenue with embedded insurance (216)Chubb is one of the largest global property and casualty insurance companies. It provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to individuals, families and businesses of all sizes. Sean Ringsted is the Chief Digital Business Officer at Chubb and joined Matthew Grant to discuss developments at Chubb including Chubb Studio and increased use of IoT devices in insurance. Topics include: How Chubb is expanding its global client base with Chubb Studio Why the growth of neobanks in developing economies is making insurance easier...

2022-11-1333 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Johnny McCord: Founder and CEO, Loadsure: Freight insurance - variable, reliable, available (213)Loadsure is a Lloyd's backed MGA using analytics to automate the underwriting of shipped goods and cargo. Matthew Grant is joined by Johnny McCord, Founder and CEO of Loadsure. Topics they discuss include the benefits of an instant embedded solution to offer insurance, why traditional insurance is unable to offer flexible products and the importance of a strong company culture in attracting the right talent. Further talking points and learning points include Examples of how practical ways that improved use of technology and digital exchange of information support the customer needs. How the use...

2022-10-2331 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens From underwriting to claims - taking the pain out of payments (202)In the second of this two-part podcast with highlights from our live event Matthew Grant looks back on the conversations Robin Merttens had on stage with Andrew Passfield (ICE InsureTech), Freddy Macnamara (Cuvva), Daniel Poole (Cover Genius) and Adrian Davis (Stripe) at our recent London event, “Making Payments Pay: Making the Most of Payments Technologies”. Part one looked at why the method of making and receiving payments is critical to insurers and the evolving needs of customers. This part focuses on managing the movement and financial management of money, the benefits of flexible insurance and the integral role...

2022-08-0726 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Making payments frictionless - from cashless to cardless (201)Join us for the highlights of our live event “Making the Most of Payments Technologies”. Supported by Mastercard and Stripe, we lifted the lid and explored examples of the latest digital payments capabilities from some of the largest, and most innovative companies in this area. In the first of this two-part podcast, Matthew reflects on conversations he had with Ruth Polyblank, Jason Reddington, Alice Glenister, Ian Slater (Mastercard); Ben Smyth (Arma Karma) and Bruno Soares (Imburse). Talking points include: Why payments are so critical to insurers What consumers really want How Mastercard data is bein...

2022-07-3128 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens The Partners’ summertime summary (200)On episode 200 of the InsTech podcast, Matthew and Robin get together for another occasional chat about what is happening in the world of insurance innovation, insurtech and InsTech itself. Since the launch of the podcast, InsTech has released around 133 hours of podcasts, featured 220 guests and had 170,000 downloads. Our top listener countries are the UK, USA, Germany, Italy and Canada. Talking points include: Good news on funding for early-stage companies from the Amsterdam DIA conference An overview of our Risk Exchange report Our real-life insurance stories Celebrating our podcasts guest with the “1,000 fans awards” Our expa...

2022-07-2425 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Andy Greff: CEO, Plnar: Measuring loss remotely, cheaply, easily (195)Plnar’s technology platform allows users to capture detailed property and loss information on their phones, with the data being used by insurers to support underwriting and claim processes. Matthew speaks to CEO Andy Greff about how images captured remotely by policyholders are providing new insights on property characteristics, speeding up claims by removing the need for a home inspection and Plnar’s plans for further expansion. Talking points include: The importance of creating digital measurements when performing remote claims assessments How Plnar evolved during Covid-19 The importance of the policyholder and the role of “dig...

2022-06-2628 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Mia Vioulès, AXA Climate & Robert Schablik, CoreLogic: Hailstorm parametric insurance - an innovation success story (192)One of the strengths of using parametric insurance for climate-related perils and events is the ability to offer an immediate payout to policyholders who can’t afford to wait for financial assistance. AXA Climate Underwriter Mia Vioulès and Robert Schablik, Associate Vice President, Head of Global Risk Management Sales at CoreLogic, join Matthew to discuss how the two companies are providing parametric insurance for property damage and business interruption caused by hailstorms. The conversation covers how the technology behind the product works and the pain points being solved by parametric insurance. Talking poi...

2022-06-0539 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Garrett Koehn: President, CRC Brokerage: Wholesale broking, innovation and investment (189)Garrett Koehn is President at CRC Brokerage, and he is also an active investor, mentor and forward thinker on topics such as crypto, cyber and parametric. He joins Matthew to discuss the emerging trends in risk, investment and insurance. We find out about wholesale broking and the appetite of traditional markets for new risks. Companies discussed include Ensuro, AgentSync, Zenefits, Evertas, Stere.io, Beazley, and Lloyd's. CRC Group is one of the largest wholesale insurance distributors in the US. Its insurance offerings and practice groups include commercial property, casualty, professional lines, construction, energy...

2022-05-1528 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Rich Sorkin: CEO & Co-founder, Jupiter Intelligence: The climate change risks that can’t be ignored (181)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 p...

2022-03-1335 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Paul Templar: CEO, VIPR: Data - seen it, clean it, sort it (180)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...

2022-03-0628 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Marco Mirabella: Founder & CEO, Ensuro: Crypto capital for insurance start-ups (164) Start-ups looking to sell insurance products often struggle to secure the insurance capacity from incumbent (re)insurers they need as a managing general agent (MGA). Ensuro is piloting an alternative source of insurance capital: using cryptocurrency funds from investors, locked in smart contracts on a blockchain, to underwrite risks. Founder and CEO Marco Mirabella joins InsTech London's Henry Gale on Podcast 164 to discuss the opportunity for cryptocurrency to be used as insurance capital and how Ensuro's technology works. Talking points include: The crypto market and decentralised finance (DeFi) The regulatory landscape for cr...

2021-11-1419 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Robin Merttens & Andrew Yeoman: Navigating algorithmic underwriting in Property & Casualty (160) Robin is joined by Concirrus CEO and Co-founder Andrew Yeoman on Podcast 160 to discuss how commercial insurers are beginning to use algorithms to support underwriting decisions. The conversation covers the findings from the InsTech London report, A Practitioner's Guide: Algorithmic underwriting in commercial and specialty insurance, which examines where industry adoption is right now and what’s needed to move the technology forward. Andrew shares his insights on the potential of algorithmic underwriting, plus practical examples of how Concirrus is using algorithms to identify marine risks and build dynamic pricing models. Talking points inc...

2021-10-1727 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens The founders‘ stories - start-up to scale-up (158)Podcast 158 features the highlights from Part 1 of our first live event back at The Steel Yard in London and is packed with advice for start-ups looking to grow and future founders. Ed Leon Klinger (Flock), Oliver Brew (CyberCube), Andre Symes (Genasys Technologies), and Jonathan Spry (Envelop Risk) returned to the InsTech London stage to discuss their experiences of the journey from start-up to scale-up. They shared their insights with Matthew and Robin on surviving the ups and downs of early-stage growth and building successful products, right through to securing hundreds of millions of dollars in...

2021-10-0335 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Niall Barton: Co-founder & Executive Chairman, Wrisk: A marathon not a sprint - surviving and thriving as an insurtech (154)For insurtechs to flourish, companies need to match their innovative technology solutions with market opportunities and an understanding of how the industry works. Some of the best innovation in recent years has come from combining new technology with deep insurance knowledge and experience, and this week’s podcast guest is a great example. Originally an underwriter, Niall Barton co-founded Wrisk in 2015 and has gone on to become one of the leading figures in the UK insurtech scene. Niall joins Matthew on Podcast 154 to discuss the growth of Wrisk, his experiences as a founder, developing insurance technol...

2021-09-0533 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Todd Rissel: Chairman & CEO, e2Value: Product launch 2.0 - smart tech, simple solutions (153)When you think of insurance innovation, there is a whole host of exciting start-ups and scale-ups that spring to mind, but this week’s podcast guest has been consistently innovating for the past two decades. Todd Rissel founded e2Value 20 years ago and has built a company that now provides Insurance to Value (ITV) data and products to over 500 clients in the US and Canada. Matthew and Todd discuss how e2Value has managed to stay relevant and move with the times, including its latest product offerings for estimating repair costs and gathering data about pro...

2021-08-2932 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Jerad Leigh: Co-founder & CEO, Supercede: The founder‘s journey: surviving and thriving as a start-up (151)There has been no shortage of founders looking to transform insurance over the last five years, but turning innovative insurtech ideas into successful businesses is an incredibly tough challenge. Jerad Leigh is the co-founder of Supercede, one of many companies we’ve worked with at InsTech London that have made the leap from 'early stage' to ‘established'. He joins Matthew on Podcast 151 to share his experience of that journey and some great advice on how to build a business. Talking points include: How to test your idea before you quit your job Wheth...

2021-08-1542 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Partners' Chat - Summer Special: Robin Merttens and Matthew Grant (149)Recorded after the InsTech London Summer Party, our first public event since Covid-19 restrictions were lifted, Matthew and Robin catch up for their quarterly partners’ chat. The conversation covers their pick of the latest insurance and insurtech news stories, reaction to our report on embedded insurance, and even Robin’s restaurant recommendations. Talking points include: Face-to-face events and our return to The Steel Yard Insurtech investment and lessons learnt from the last five years Embedded insurance opportunities The rise of the tech-enabled MGA Climate change, ESG and the demand for data The InsTech London r...

2021-08-0133 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Gethin Jones, Skyline Partners & Calum Williams, AEGIS London: The parametric platform delivering new insurance solutions (146)Skyline Partners and AEGIS London have launched a new parametric product to provide US small and medium business owners with cover in the event of a shooting. The Active Assailant policy uses police department data to define when an event has taken place, triggering a non-damage business interruption cover payment of up to $50,000. An initial launch is taking place in Dallas, Texas with the aim of scaling the policy out to other states across the US. Skyline Partners Co-founder Gethin Jones and Calum Williams from AEGIS London join Matthew to discuss the product’s development and...

2021-07-1135 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Robin Merttens & Simon Torrance: Insurance - to Embed, or not to Embed (144)The attraction and vast potential for ‘embedding’ insurance products has made it one of the hottest topics of 2021. Robin Merttens chats to Simon Torrance on Podcast 144 about the opportunities offered by embedded insurance and insights from the InsTech London report, Insurance: to Embed or not to Embed. Talking points include: The definition of embedded insurance Embedded success stories from around the world Why customers like embedded solutions Third-party distributors and platform business models The challenges facing incumbents If you like what you're hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use, or co...

2021-06-2742 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Marine Utgé-Royo: Chief Strategy Officer, Tesselo: Geospatial intelligence for forestry risk (143)Tesselo is one of the companies looking to help its clients manage the impact of climate change, using satellite data and remote sensing to monitor tree and crop health and support forest owners and farmers in mitigating risks. The company, based in Lisbon, is now exploring insurance applications for its data and analytics and was recently selected to join Cohort 6 of the Lloyd’s Lab. Matthew talks to Chief Strategy Officer and co-founder Marine Utgé-Royo on Podcast 143 to discuss how Tesselo’s technology is tracking changes in forests and how it can help with complian...

2021-06-2033 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Florian Graillot, C-founder, astorya.vc; What insurers want - an investor's view (87)One of the fastest ways to find out what's making an impact right now when it comes to innovation in insurance is to talk to the people investing in, and advising to, the companies building new tools and technology. Florian Graillot has over 10 years of experience in investing and chose insurance as the market in which to launch his fund astorya.vc. Today the fund is investing in Aazzur, Wetterheld, Zelros and, in the few days since we recorded this interview, has announced its investment in Sesame it. Florian is also well known as a daily commentator and publisher o...

2020-06-1443 min

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens - the InsTech London partners chat with Insurance Insider's Catrin Shi (86)Another slight shift for this week's episode. The tables were turned and Robin Merttens and Matthew Grant were interviewed as one of the keynotes for the recent Insurance Insider event "InsiderTech". Catrin Shi asked such great questions - and we haven't recorded a partners' chat for a while - so we polished it up and here it is. We managed to fit all of these into 30 minutes: - What does Insurtech actually mean these days? - How is funding getting in for insurtechs, start-ups and others? - Acceleration in activity over last few...

2020-06-0723 min