Shows
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle EastThe Future of Employee Wellbeing: Integrating Digital Health & InsuranceIntegrating Digital Wellness & Insurance: The Future of Employee WellbeingIn this special episode of the FS Group podcast, we host a panel discussion on the critical topic of health, specifically focusing on integrating digital wellness and insurance. Our guests are Jasmyne Rana, a mental health practitioner and consultant, and Mirka Strano, Regional Director for Employee Benefits Consulting at Howden for the Middle East and Africa. They explore the future of employee wellbeing and personalized health, delve into the impact of COVID-19, discuss holistic employee wellbeing, and highlight the challenges and opportunities in the UAE and broader Middle East. Key points...
2025-09-1434 min
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle EastWhat’s Next for Insurance? CII’s Ambitious VisionBuilding Trust in Insurance: CII's Vision and Pathway for the Middle East & CSAIn this episode, we are delighted to host a representative from the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) to discuss their role in enhancing the insurance and financial planning professions across the Middle East and Central and South Asia (CSA) regions. We explore the organization's goals and priorities for the next three to five years, including increasing their regional footprint, deepening relationships, and hosting events to engage students and corporates. The discussion also covers CII's initiatives like the International Professional Partner Firm (IQPF) and Approved Professional Development Center to...
2025-09-1416 min
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle EastHow to build an Insurtech with ZERO VC funding!Innovating Health Insurance with Vita Virtues – An Interview with CEO Miro Fok | FS Brew PodcastJoin us on this episode of FS Brew, the Middle East’s first podcast dedicated to the world of insurance and Insurtech in the UAE and broader Middle East. Hosts Vidya and Renjit welcome Miro Fok, the CEO and founder of Vita Virtues, a pioneering Insurtech firm specializing in digital health insurance solutions. Dive into Miro’s entrepreneurial journey, inspired by his sales background and a unique vision to streamline the sales process for health insurance through innovative technology.Discover how Vita Virtues is revolutionizing the UA...
2025-06-3035 min
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle EastDeep Dive into Protego insurtech with Koy Lee: Leadership, Strategies, and Brand buildingExploring Insurance Innovation with Koy Nien Lee, CEO of Protego Insurance | FS Brew PodcastWelcome to another episode of FS Brew, the region's first podcast dedicated to insurance and Insurtech in the UAE and the Middle East. In this episode, hosts Vidya and Renjit Philip sit down with Koy Nien Lee, the CEO of Protego Insurance, backed by RAK Bank. Koy shares his captivating journey from engineering in Singapore to leading Protego Insurance in the UAE, highlighting his goals to revolutionize the insurance industry through technology and customer-centric approaches. From leveraging AI for personalized customer experiences to discussing the unique...
2025-06-1437 min
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle EastInside the InsurTech Revolution: Jonathan Cooper Tells AllWelcome to FS Brew, the UAE and Middle East’s first podcast dedicated to insurance and Insurtech.In this episode, Renjit Philip and Vidya Veerapandian sit down with Jonathan Cooper, CEO and Founder of WIS Group (Worldwide Insurance Solutions).Jonathan shares his journey from working in claims at a local insurer to building an innovative Insurtech company offering travel, cyber, pet, and gadget insurance.We dive into: • The rise of personalized travel insurance • How AI is reshaping policy delivery • Trends in embedded insurance • Local market dynamics and expansion plans into Saudi Arabia and Europe • Building ancillary revenue streams for the travel s...
2025-05-2033 min
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle EastHow to Lead with Courage in InsurTech: Insights from Sabine VanderLindenExploring InsurTech and Innovation with Sabine VanderLinden | FS Brew PodcastWelcome to the FS Brew Podcast, the UAE and Middle East's first podcast dedicated to all things insurance and InsurTech. In this episode, hosts Vidya, and Renjit are joined by Sabine VanderLinden, a renowned corporate strategist and current CEO of Alchemy Crew. Sabine shares her 25-year journey in the industry and discusses her work with Alchemy Crew, a venture lab focused on accelerating innovation in the insurance sector.The conversation dives deep into various topics including the evolution of InsurTech, the challenges of integrating startups into established insurers, and the...
2025-05-1045 min
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle EastFrom DJ to CEO: Richard Mockett's journey in the insurance industryInnovations & Insights in Middle East Insurance with Howden's Richard Market | FS Brew PodcastIn this episode of FS Brew, hosts Renjit Phillip and Vidya Veerapandian welcome Richard Mockett, CEO of Howden Insurance Brokers for the Middle East and Africa. Discover how Richard transitioned from a DJ to a leader in the insurance industry, and delve into Howden's strategic expansion in the Middle East and Africa. The dialogue covers Howden's approach to cybersecurity and climate risk resilience, innovative insurance solutions like the Cyber Plus product, and the pioneering use of parametric insurance. Richard also discusses the role of AI in insurance...
2025-04-2542 minFS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle EastLegends in Insurance: Mr. Fareed Lutfi on Tech, Talent, and TransformationWelcome to FS Brew, the UAE and Middle East’s first podcast dedicated to insurance and InsureTech. In this episode, hosts Renjit Philip, a boutique consulting firm partner, and Vidya Veerapandian, founder of Forward, engage in a riveting conversation with Mr. Fareed Lutfi, the legendary Secretary General of the Emirates Insurance Association and Gulf Insurance Federation.With over 40 years of industry experience, Mr. Fareed Lutfi shares his journey into insurance, the pivotal roles of industry federations, and the future of insurance amidst digital transformation and AI integration. Gain insights on the critical challenges and potential growth areas in the GC...
2025-04-0933 minFS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle EastAttention Hacking in Insurance: Insights from Dr. Robin KieraThe Future of Insurance: Digital Transformation, Social Media, and Innovation with Dr. Robin KieraWelcome to FS Brew, the first podcast in the UAE and the wider Middle East focused on insurance and InsureTech. In this episode, hosts Vidya Veerapandian, founder of Forward, and Renjit Philip, a consultant in M&A funding and go-to-market strategies for startups, sit down with Dr. Robin Kiera. Dr. Kiera is a prominent voice in the insurance industry, an advocate for its digital transformation, and the author of 'Attention Hacking: The Power of Social Media, Selling, and Insurance in...
2025-03-1536 minFS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle EastFrom Unicorn Dreams to Revenue Reality: Minh Q. Tran on Venture Capital in InsurtechInsurtech Innovation & Collaboration: Insights from VC Expert Minh Q. TranWelcome to FSBrew, the Middle East's premiere podcast on insurance and insurtech. In this episode, hosts Vidya and Ranjit Phillip speak with Minh Q. Tran, a seasoned venture capitalist with over 25 years of experience in tech and finance, particularly focusing on Insurtech, FinTech, and PropTech. Minh leads Mandalore Partners which specializes in corporate venture capital as a service, helping insurance companies strategically invest in innovative startups.The discussion delves into multiple topics around startup funding and collaboration within the insurance industry, emphasizing the importance of revenue generation, market fit, product...
2025-02-0438 minFS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East40 Years in Insurance: Ayman El Hout's Lessons and PredictionsJoin us on FS Brew, the UAE's first podcast dedicated to insurance and Insurtech in the Middle East, as co-hosts Vidya Veerapandian and Renjit Philip engage in a deep conversation with Ayman El Hout, CEO of Marsh McLennan in the Middle East.
With over 40 years of industry experience, Ayman provides insights into his career journey, the evolution of Marsh McLennan in the region, and the future landscape of the insurance sector.
Key topics include the importance of AI, the challenges of medical inflation, climate risk, and the potential of tokenization as a future disruptor. Also, get a sneak peek...
2025-01-3140 minFS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle EastThe Evolution of KSA's Insurance Landscape: Get ready for growthIn this episode of F S Brew, Vidya and Renjit interview Hasham Piperdy, GM of KSA and Director at Badri Consultancy, discussing the remarkable growth in the KSA insurance market.
Hasham shares insights into the factors driving this growth, from an industry valuation of around 36-37 billion in 2020 to a staggering 64 billion last year. This includes the role of regulatory changes, successful campaigns to insure more drivers, and the potential of renewable energy projects.
The conversation also covers the impact of advanced data collection methods, climate risks, and future market opportunities. Join us as we delve into the dynamics...
2024-12-1357 minFS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle EastFrom Tradition to Transformation: Insurance in the Digital AgeDigital Transformation in Insurance: Insights from Dark Horse Digital Solutions
In this episode of FSBrew, we sit down with the team from Dark Horse Digital Solutions, including Naren, Kishore, and Utkarsh, to delve into their journey and perspectives on digital transformation. They discuss the founding of Dark Horse, the evolving role of IT in business, and the significance of change management. The conversation spans across different sectors with a particular focus on the nuances of digital transformation in the insurance industry. They also shed light on challenges such as legacy systems, customer data integration, and compliance. Finally, the team...
2024-12-1046 minFS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle EastFS Brew Insurance and Insurtech News with Analysis Nov 2024FS Brew: Exploring UAE's New Broker Regulations and Insurtech Innovations
In this episode of FS Brew, hosts Vidya and Renjit discuss the latest in the UAE's insurance and Insurtech landscape. They delve into new broker regulations issued by the Central Bank of UAE, focusing on premium collections and outsourcing rules that aim to bring stability to the industry. The hosts also spotlight emerging Insurtechs such as LookInsure and Shory, highlighting their innovations and market strategies.
Additionally, they review global Insurtech funding trends, the performance of reinsurance companies, and interesting technological applications in climate risk...
2024-12-0624 minFS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East50: Digital Insurance, Insurtech & Leadership Insights with Gabriel LazaroIn this episode of FS Brew, we sit down with Gabriel Lazaro, EVP at Chubb Overseas General, overseeing APAC, EMEA, and LATAM regions. Gabriel shares his journey into the insurance industry, the role of Chubb Studio in the group's strategy, and the evolving insurtech landscape.
We cover diverse topics, including:
- Gabriel’s transition from marketing to insurance
- The role of Chubb Studio in embedded insurance and partnerships with insurtechs
- How embedded insurance is gaining traction in banks & fintechs across regions
- Innovative insurance solutions for e-commerce
- Leadership evolution and navigating challenges at Chubb
Plus, Gabriel sh...
2024-10-0245 minFS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East49: From Science Labs to Insurance Labs: Ken Maw's JourneyNavigating the Insurance Industry with Ken Maw: Insights and LeadershipWelcome to FS Brew, where we dive into the world of insurance and Insurtech in the UAE and the broader Middle East. In this episode, hosts Renjit Philip and Vidya Veerapandian interview Ken Moore, Managing Director at Al Futtaim Willis. With over four decades of experience in the #insurance sector, Ken shares his unique journey from working in the food industry to becoming a key figure in insurance. He discusses the evolution of the industry, the role of trust in building client relationships, and the...
2024-08-2643 min
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East48: AI, Trust, and 40 Million Policies: How PolicyBazaar is Revolutionizing Insurance, again!In this episode of FSBrew, the Middle East's premier podcast on insurance and insurtech, we sit down with Sarbvir Singh, Director & Joint Group CEO of PB Fintech (and PolicyBazaar), India's leading insurance marketplace.
Sarbvir shares his journey from investment banking to leading one of India's most successful insurtech companies. He offers unique insights into PolicyBazaar's growth story, from its startup roots to becoming a publicly listed entity.
Discover how PolicyBazaar is leveraging AI and data science to enhance sales productivity and manage risk. Sarbvir discusses the delicate balance between growth and profitability in the competitive insurtech space, and the company's...
2024-06-2645 min
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East47: Making Financial Services Relevant for GenZs and Millennials- CEOs Reveal All.INNOVATING FOR GEN Z & MILLENNIALS 🌎💡
In this power-packed panel, industry leaders explore how organizations, especially in financial services, can drive meaningful innovation to win over Gen Z and Millennial customers and employees.
Panelists Prashant Raizada, Preeti Mundra, Suvo Sarkar, and Vikram Krishna unravel the evolving needs of these digitally savvy, socially conscious generations and the innovation gaps holding brands back.
Key takeaways:
📈 Moving beyond banking to embedded finance for lifestyle/experiences
🤖 Leveraging AI for hyper-personalization while being environment-conscious
👥 Fostering intrapreneurship with youth advisory councils
🌳 Integrating sustainability into the brand's core value proposition
ePath to sustainability: Bottom-up approach + collaborative problem-solving
The consensus? Meaning...
2024-05-271h 11
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East46: 🚀 Dive into embedded insurance with Arijit Chakraborty, Managing Director APAC at CoverGeniusIn this insightful episode of FS Brew, Arijit shares his diverse experience spanning from being a corporate lawyer to leading InsurTech ventures. Discover:
✅ The story behind CoverGenius' cutting-edge embedded insurance solutions for digital giants like Booking.com, eBay, and Shopee.
✅ How CoverGenius leverages AI, NLP, and data science to revolutionize pricing, product innovation, and claims processing.
✅ Arijit's leadership lessons and advice for insurance professionals aspiring to thrive in the InsurTech space.
✅ The future of embedded insurance and the exciting possibilities of IoT-powered, usage-based insurance models.
✅ Rapid-fire insights on work-life balance, inspiring leaders, and Arijit's favorite city to travel.
Join us for an eng...
2024-04-2547 min
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East45: Cracking the UAE Insurance code: Regulations, Open Finance & The Road AheadIn this in-depth podcast interview, insurance legal expert Anand Singh from Al Tamimi & Co. discusses the major new insurance regulations introduced in the UAE in 2023. He provides insights into the context, impacts and implications for insurers, brokers and the overall insurance ecosystem.
Key Topics:
1. The 2023 UAE insurance regulations cover basic governance, risk management, business planning, ombudsman - areas where 60% of the market may not be fully compliant currently.
2. Upcoming Open Finance regulations could drive digitalization and integration of insurers' systems, increasing data sharing and enabling new product innovation.
3. New rules enhance protection of policyholders' medical data and require robust cybersecurity...
2024-04-2336 minFS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East44: Interview with Renee McGowan: CEO, Marsh India, Middle East & Africa🔥 Insider Insights: Marsh McLennan CEO Unfiltered 🔥
Renée McGowan, CEO of Marsh McLennan for the Middle East, India & Africa, gets candid about leadership, Gen AI's impact on insurance, and tackling climate risks.
🌟 Highlights Include:
- Her transparent leadership style that empowers teams
- How their innovative 'Len AI' is transforming client solutions
- Navigating the diverse regulatory landscapes across regions
- The biggest risks facing the world according to their Global Risk Report
- An exclusive sneak peek into her new book "The Friday Email"
Don't miss this power-packed episode as the insurance titan shares her inspiring journey, struggles, and vision for...
2024-04-2042 minFS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East43: News with Analysis: Hayah launches Tribe, Sukoon and Wax tie up and Crypto insurance is hereHosts, Vidya Veerapandian and Renjit Philip review four news pieces from the UAE insurance industry:
- HAYAH Insurance's app called TRIBE BY HAYAH- a great move by the team, creating a more comprehensive 'fintech' proposition starting with term life, medical insurance, and savings-linked investment products
- Sukoon Insurance and WAX partnership- opening up a whole new way of segmenting target audience with a differential proposition- (📣reinsurers, take note of the variety of risks being underwritten here!)
- Cigna Healthcare Middle East & AfricaHealthcare Vitality Study Report- how and why countries like #uae and #ksa have one of the highest vitality scores!
- O...
2024-02-2915 minFS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East42: Scaling InsurTech in Emerging Markets: Insights and Strategies from Amanleek's Journey in EgyptThis episode provides an in-depth look at the journey of Mohab Aboueita, co-founder and CEO of Amanleek, a digital insurance brokerage in Egypt, and his insights into the insurance and InsurTech industry. The discussion covers Mohab's accidental entry into the insurance sector, the foundation of Amanleek, challenges faced in scaling the business, strategies for customer acquisition, co-founder dynamics, and the importance of resilience and grit in entrepreneurship.
It highlights Amanleek's approach to addressing the underserved insurance market in Egypt, its experiences with funding rounds, and the company's future focus.
Additionally, the episode touches on the broader trends in the...
2024-02-0827 minFS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East41: Breaking Barriers: Shady El Tohfa's Insurtech Journey with Amenli in EgyptA wide randing conversation with Shady El Tohfa, the CEO of Amenli, a digital broking company in Egypt.
Key learning opportunities for an Insurtech founder in the Middle East include:
1. Recognizing the low insurance penetration in the region as an opportunity for digital disruption.
2. Understanding the importance of regulatory compliance and adapting to local insurance laws.
3. Leveraging existing technologies and platforms to build efficient solutions.
4. Focusing on customer education to increase awareness and trust in digital insurance products.
5. Tailoring insurance products to suit the unique needs and preferences of the regional market.
6. Building a strong team with diverse skills, including...
2024-01-281h 00
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East40: Building a Global Insurtech Unicorn: Rob Schimeck of bolttechIn this episode, we spoke to Rob Schimek, the Group Chief Executive Officer of bolttech, the fast-growing international insurtech. He is responsible for the company’s development and growth around the world. Before starting bolttech, he held leadership roles with AIG, FWD, and Deloitte, and has an MBA from Wharton School.
Rob spoke about the evolution of bolttech, and the varied strategic decisions taken, including their stakeholder mix and acquisitions of companies, as reasons behind its exponential growth rate!
Given BoltTech's presence in over 35+ markets, we also discussed the strategies Rob employs to manage and adapt to different regional ma...
2024-01-0451 minFS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East39: UAE and KSA Insurance: New End of Service Benefits, Gen AI, Liva Rebrand and MoreIn this episode of FS Brew, we explore trending insurance sector stories in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia (KSA).
Topics include significant employee benefit changes in the UAE, developments in unemployment insurance, the implications of the BOTIM app acquisition, and the introduction of e-monitoring for car insurance in KSA.
The episode also gets into a discussion on the exciting potentials of Gen AI's application to insurance underwriting.
Lastly, we delve into the fresh rebranding of RSA Middle East to 'Liva' and a tie-up between Zurich and DIFC Innovation Hub.
2023-11-1715 min
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East38: How to pitch to a Corporate Venture Capitalist? In conversation with Harald from Standard Chartered Ventures🔍 Exploring Corporate Venture Capital with SE Ventures
In a recent episode of the FS Brew podcast, Harald, the head of Venture Building at SE Ventures, shared some insightful perspectives on the role of corporate venture capital in shaping the future of FinTech.
SE Ventures, the corporate venture-building arm of Standard Chartered Bank, operates independently, focusing on areas that complement the banking sector. They have invested in about 25 portfolio companies and launched over 30 ventures in just five years! 🚀
The best approach for startups looking to partne...
2023-07-2730 min
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East37: Building a Digital Insurance Company in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia- Preeti Mundhra, CEO of TreeHere's the podcast drop of our interview with Preeti Mundhra, CEO of Tree 🌳, a digital insurance company based in KSA. Deep dive into the burgeoning Saudi Arabian market, its young consumers, and the impact on the insurance industry. We spoke with Preeti at length on many aspects, including: 💡 the customer insights that went into creating Tree 🌳and how Millennials and Gen Zs are driving the strategy for the company- affordability and flexibility as their top requirements! 🎯how continuously testing new #technologies is critical to keeping up with the 'instant' generation; focus on bringing new ideas into the market yet...
2023-07-2746 min
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East36: Biggest Fear and Opportunity is AI! : In conversation with Avinash Babur, CEO of Insurancemarket.aeSure, here are some more details about the key highlights and learnings from the interview with Avinash Babur:
Focus on the customer. Avinash says that InsuranceMarket.ae has built a strong reputation by listening to customers and constantly improving their products and services. For example, the company regularly surveys its customers to get feedback on their experiences. This feedback is then used to make changes to the company's products and services. As a result, InsuranceMarket.ae has a high customer satisfaction rate.
Be innovative. Avinash believes that innovation is essential for any business that wants to stay ahead of...
2023-06-1751 minFS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East35: Building a Venture backable Insurtech : Conversation with Shwetank Verma, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Leo Capital and Co-Founder of India Insurtech AssociationFS Brew has been speaking to #venturecapital firms interested in #insuranceand #insurtech space to know more about what it takes to pique their interest.In this episode, we spoke with Shwetank Verma, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Leo Capital and Co-Founder of India Insurtech Association. He is passionate about insurance and has been championing the cause of insurtechs in his current and previous roles. His VC firm, Leo Capital, invests in some of the leading insurtechs, such as Covergenius, so it was super insightful to know more about what it takes to build a solid insurtech start-up and scale.
2023-06-1037 minFS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East34: HYPE- Chat GPT and AI Take on the Insurance Industry! Insurtechs Vs. IncumbentsThe emergence of Chat GPT and AI technologies has brought about a revolution in the insurance industry. These tools offer promising solutions to the complexity of data-driven insurance operations. Chat GPT, a large language model, can create chatbots that can process claims, answer customer inquiries, and even underwrite policies. AI, on the other hand, can assist insurers in analyzing data, identifying patterns, and making informed decisions about pricing and risk. The integration of these technologies can significantly enhance customer service, reduce costs, and increase efficiency. It can also improve insurers' ability to manage risk, resulting in more accurate pricing...
2023-05-2320 minFS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East33: How to break into VC and how to approach VCs: Ahmed Elgabri from Shorooq PartnersFS Brew has been speaking to #venturecapital firms interested in #insurance and #insurtech space to know more about what it takes to pique their interest and get the fund in! In our first chat with a #venturecapital firm, we spoke with Ahmed Elgabri, an investment professional from Shorooq Partners, a leading #abudhabi based #vc firm with offices across #MENA and #pakistan. It was a super insightful conversation, and we even got to know the whole application process for an insurtech start-up to apply for investment and their turnaround time. We also spoke about the following:
💪 their ethos- to...
2023-04-1933 min
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East32: In conversation with Gautam Datta- Building a Takaful Insurance Giant using M&AHere's our latest podcast episode with Gautam Datta from Watania Takaful! When we interviewed him a few weeks back, the freshly merged Dar Al Takaful PJSC and #Watania entity were on the verge of revealing their new name, which he makes reference to in the interview. We had a great time speaking to him about a no. of things, ranging from: 🕰️ the timeline of this seemingly complex merger; how it all panned out ⛳ the importance of having a singular company culture post-merger 📢 criticality of a good comms strategy and how Dar Al Takaful PJSC being Dubai- based and #Watania being Abu Dhabi based help...
2023-03-3040 min
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East31: Women in Insurance and insurtech - Empowering, Energizing and Leading from the frontHappy Women's Day! 👩🏻💼
To commemorate this year's international women's day, we spoke with three leaders from the UAE insurance industry. We asked them about their approach to advancing gender diversity and inclusion within the industry, navigating complex situations, and their leadership style.
We also discussed in detail some of the common challenges women face in the insurance industry, especially within the Middle East; we delved into some practical actions women can take and what the broader ecosystem can do for women to thrive in their workplace.
It was a fascinating panel discussion, and we urge our listeners to tune in to know h...
2023-03-1139 min
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East30: FS Brew speaks to Mohamed Seghir - CEO of Hayah, UAE's Digital Insurer. Driving Cultural Transformation in InsuranceIn our latest episode, we spoke with Mohamed Seghir, CEO of HAYAH Insurance, UAE's recently branded insurance company that specializes in life, medical, and savings.
It was a delightful chat as we dug deeper into how Mohamed Seghir went about rebranding and redesigning the organization which was previously AXAGreen Crescent, before AXA Gulf's exit from the region.
We spoke about HAYAH's ideal customer and the behaviors which drive their digital strategy, trends that are shaping the life & health insurance market, how AI shapes their product strategies, and how a cool & young organization cannot be run by one cool person o...
2023-02-1848 min
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East29: Interview with Lars Gehrmann of QIC DV- Announcing the latest Hackathon!FS Brew spoke with Lars Gehrmann from QIC Digital Venture Partners and got exclusive details about the #MENA-wide #startup challenge they recently launched!
We also spoke to him about the gaps in the insurance ecosystem in the region for innovative insurtechs to take shape here and what is QIC Digital Venture Partners doing to fill those gaps.
Through this #startup challenge leading up to a summit that is to take place in May this year, the selected start-ups will get access to RI capacity, venture-building support, and access to talent, amongst others!
Listen in to learn more about this e...
2023-02-1324 min
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East28: Rohit Nambiar- Group CEO of Tune Protect on Partnerships, Transformation and Culture.In our first episode of #FSBrewInternational for 2023, we speak with the passionate and exuberant, Rohit Nambiar, Group CEO of Tune Protect, based in KL Malaysia!
This interview was a playbook on how to run an insurance company that is 'fit-for-purpose' in all aspects- customer, employee, business strategy, culture, partnerships...you name it, Rohit had clear views on what it takes to run a successful D2C and a parallel, flourishing B2B components of the business!
Some of the things we've spoken in length are:
- Tune Protect's Business model- their D2C proposition, reinsurance business which is spread...
2023-02-1354 min
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East27: UAE Insurance Market: 2022 Roundup and 2023 PredictionsUAE Insurance Market: 2022 Roundup and 2023 Predictions. Today we have a very special episode on how 2022 has been for the insurance companies in the UAE so far and potentially what that means in terms of how we will be ending the year and setting the tone for 2023.
Has 2022 been one of the worst years for the insurers? Will 2023 be any different?
To answers some of the burning questions, we have with us Navin Ghorawat, who is a senior manager at Badri Consultancy. Navin, in a recent event, spoke about the UAE Insurance market performance and drivers & findings. And we simply...
2023-02-1351 min
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East26: FS Brew Hype: Open Insurance and its implications in the Middle East regionIn FS Brew's latest HYPE episode, we deep dive into Open Insurance to understand: - What is open insurance? - Who are the suitable partners who can benefit from open insurance - International examples & use cases - Business and technology readiness to build open insurance capabilities - Product lines and sectors that make sense for the region to benefit from open insurance - Finally, the all-important regulations required to bring this concept to life! #openinsurance #fsbrew #insurance #insurtech #embeddedinsurance
Renjit Philip:
Newsletter: https://www.onemorethinginai.com
Socials:
Twitter / X: @renjitphilip
LinkedIn:
2023-02-1325 min
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East25: Hala Insurtech- Innovate offshore and regulate onshoreHere's our interview with Walid Daniel Dib, Co-founder, and CEO of Hala Insurance, the OG millennial insurtech founder from the #UAE!
We spoke with Walid on many nuances and factors involved in running an agile insurance start-up brand like Hala:
🎯Hala's business model- tech seems like the starting point...surprisingly, it is not!
🔍Test & learn culture- using hypotheses versus assumptions to test & learn product fit
🤑How did they go about building their first set of customers...did the #cacstack-up?
🏝️That one 'trend' they are keen to develop... is exciting as it is micro-level penetration of insurance
💸Current VC and funding environment out...
2023-02-1349 minFS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East24: News with Analysis: Oct 2022Here's our #newswithanalysis episode after long! 💃🏻
In this episode, we've picked trending #news pieces from the #uae market exclusively, because there's just SO MUCH going on!
🎂Shory - (we had to start with this!), our review about the Shory digital experience so far, their 'socially invested' angle and more
📄Policybazaar UAE - tie-up with Adamjee Insurance UAE to provide exclusive #healthinsurance products to cater to the #Pakistani residents in the UAE and their family back home;
🏹SALAMA - Islamic Arab Insurance Co. - seemingly renewed strategy with multiple exclusive and interesting tie-ups; special shout-out to their #Kindness campaign #KindBeingsofDubai
🚀InsuranceMarket.ae™...
2023-02-1316 min
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East23: The TAM for micro-insurance is huge- Interview with Andy AnnHere's our #FSBrewInternational interview with Andy Ann, CEO of YAS MicroInsurance based in #HongKong. Fascinating conversation and a must-watch for all #insurers aspiring to target or innovate to attract #genz and #millennials as their audiences.
We spoke extensively on many aspects of a customer lifecycle and innovation including:
🔬Extensive customer research to understand the psyche of the #millennialsand #genz that YAS MicroInsurance is targetting- Andy shared some insights that were fascinating and hilarious! 😂
🏃🏻♀️Moving away from insuring people and their belongings to time and event-based insurance- a clear shift from a 'limiting' factor of population to a 'limitless' possibility of events
🔮Insuring...
2023-02-1349 minFS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East22: Digital Transformation in the Asia Pacific Region- Conversation with a New LeaderWe spoke to Roopa Malhotra- Head of Customer & Digital, APAC, Zurich Insurance Group
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roopamalhotra
APAC is a hugely diverse, exciting and complex landscape to manage with each country having its unique strengths and opportunities. We dug deeper into what it takes to drive digital transformation in the region, building on insurtechs innovation and incumbent's distribution strengths to build a solid insurance business, the importance of people focus a key sauce to success and much more!!
Roopa Malhotra is the Head of Customer & Digital, APAC for Zurich Insurance Group, and became a member of the...
2023-02-1336 min
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East21: Unit economics matter- Interview with Nicolo Robba, Co-founder of the Indonesian Insurtech LifePalIn our first episode of #FSBrewInternational, we spoke with Nicolo Robba from Lifepal.
Lifepal is the no. 1 B2C #insurance #aggregator in #indonesia. Nicolo Robba is an e-commerce leader in the South East Asia region, and has held senior roles within Alibaba.com and Lazada previously before co-founding Lifepal.
Listen in to Nicolo as we dig deep into what it takes to create a leading insurance brand in one of the most dynamic countries in the world and fastest-growing insurance market (expected to reach $58bn by 2025).
They have a very strong customer value proposition and its success is evident in...
2023-02-1332 min
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East20: Claims Transparency can increase Life Insurance adoption in the MENA: Wilson Varghese of Zurich Middle EastWe caught up with Wilson Varghese, General Manager and Head of Operations, Zurich Middle East, part of Zurich Insurance Group.
Wilson spoke in length about the Customer Benefits report recently released by Zurich Middle East and the relevance of this report in order to raise awareness about #lifeinsurance and #BeBetterPrepared. We also spoke about the incredible changes within the health insurance space, the various #trends like #wearables and #tech that are shaping the industry and how an incumbent insurer like Zurich Insurance are gearing up to these changes!
We even got to dig deeper into his roles and responsibilities and h...
2023-02-1331 min
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East19: Creating a Health and Wellness Insurtech from the ground-up: In conversation with the founders of Wellx.aiCheck out our interview with wellx.ai founders, Vaibhav Kashyap and Javed Akberali! wellx.ai is the newest #healthinsurance brand in the UAE, rewarding its customers for leading a #healthylifestyle.
We spoke in length about:
🧩wellx.ai's business model- its core components, the rewards system, and the business case behind it
🧑🏼🤝🧑🏿Customer acquisition process- how they acquired their first set of customers, what is working, and their renewed distribution strategy
🐾 Exciting partnerships they now have in place and their future diversification plans
🚦Start-up mindset, their outlook on the funding process in the region
And finally, reach out to Javed Akberali if you are seeking...
2023-02-1346 min
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East18: Building an Innovation Ecosystem for Insurance: Lars Gehrmann of QIC Digital Venture PartnersLars Gehrmann is the Group Chief Digital Officer of Qatar Insurance Group and Head of QIC Digital Venture Partners, a new digital organization with an aim to build and invest in digital ventures, the InsurTech ecosystem, and international partnerships while transforming the way Qatar Insurance Group operates digitally.
Lars and the team have injected renewed energy into the region's insurance ecosystem with MENA's 1st Insurtech Hackathon, where the top 6 finalists will pitch in the grand finale at the MENA Insurtech Summit which is being held in Doha on 23rd June!
We spoke to Lars about the QIC Digital Venture Partners, t...
2023-02-1325 min
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East17: Digital Transformation of a Health Insurance giant - conversation with Frederik Bisbjerg of DAMANHere's our latest podcast episode, a power-packed conversation with Frederik Bisbjerg, Executive Director- Digital & Innovation with Daman - National Health Insurance Company! He's a well-known personality within the insurance industry and has specific and workable tips and insights into running a successful, digital-first insurance business in the region. Amongst a host of things, we spoke about:
🧩 Importance of breaking down the giant digital transformation plan into smaller, 3-month goals
📚Advice to Chief Digital Officers- keep educating your board; use metrics like customer effort score (CES) to articulate the impact
👩🏻⚕️Is there a solid business case for reward-based health insurance here in the UAE? Inst...
2023-02-1345 min
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East16: Power of Data in Micro-insurance and beyond- Tanja Magas, DemocranceWe caught up with Tanja Magas, Chief Data and Analytics Officer at Democrance, a UAE- founded #insurtech with the mission to digitalize the value chain for insurers, brokers, and distribution partners.
Tanja digs deep into her role as the Chief Data Officer which involves a multi-layered strategy; she also spoke in length about how insurance is the best-poised industry to utilize the power of advanced ML technology to mitigate fraud.
We also discovered the many service offerings Democrance currently provides, apart from its original offering of #microinsurance.
If you consider yourself a data geek or you are an aspiring data...
2023-02-1326 min
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East15: A Foreign insurer with a long history in the UAE- New India AssuranceHere's the much-awaited interview with LAVANYA MUNDAYUR, Chief Executive of The New India Assurance Co. Ltd., Dubai. We spoke in length about various nuances within the #UAE and #India's insurance landscape and much more: 🔭 The New India Assurance Co. Ltd.'s storied history and its purpose of setting up an overseas branch in many countries including here, in the UAE
🎯Commonalities and differences between the 2 markets and the impact of CEPA specifically for NIA
🇮🇳 India, despite its insurance maturity and the longevity of the industry, the penetration rate is less than 2%; the opportunities that lie within and the s...
2023-02-1348 minFS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East14: FS Brew Hype- NFTs in the world of Insurance?In this episode of HYPE, hosts, Renjit Philip and Vidya Veerapandian discuss #NFTs- what are they; their growing popularity within the region, specifically #dubai becoming a hub (no surprises there!) and the progress made so far within the global insurance sector to 'insure' NFTs.
It is an evolving and exciting subject and we at FS Brew think it is one to watch out for! Let us know if you think #NFTs are hype or not! And more importantly, should #insurers in the region quickly cater to this asset?
🔥We are SUPER excited to launch our first-ever contest! 🚀
Check out the episode...
2023-02-1305 minFS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East13: A "Pet" subject for Insurtechs- a lesson in launching a new insurance productHere's our conversation with the young, ambitious, and promising duo- Matthieu Etourneau and Talal M. A. from Royal Technologies Limited!
They firmly believe to have cracked a profitable distribution strategy for #petinsurance and created a product that will be loved by the people of UAE and soon, the wider GCC.
The 'wifi gods' were not with us during the interview, but the chirpy birds in the background and fantastic insights kept us going through this conversation.
Listen in to the full interview to know more about:
🐶 the lessons learnt from the downfall of petinsurance portfolio during 2000s in the UAE
👨...
2023-02-1326 minFS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East12: Go back to the fundamentals of Insurance: Interview with Hatim MaskawalaHere's the much-awaited podcast with our guest, Hatim Maskawala, Managing Director, Badri Management Consultancy.
Hatim spoke with us candidly on many pressing topics that need #insurance industry's attention:
🚖 Motor portfolio running at 'below burn' rates- the knock-on effect of discounting heavily beyond the COVID lockdown period
👨👩👧👦 Consolidation and M&A opportunities in the region
🎯 Demystifying IFRS17 and going beyond the 'jargon' intimidation
🔭 Focussing on commercial lines and being 'brave' to retain risk, versus depending on RI
🗂️Bringing underwriting sophistication through GLM and ML
And much more!
Please leave us a comment, like, or share.
Renjit Philip:
Newsletter: https://www.onemorethingin...
2023-02-1336 min
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East11: Much more than an insurance aggregator: Interview with PolicyBazaar's Neeraj GuptaExcited to share FS Brew's special interview with Neeraj Gupta, CEO of Policybazaar UAE!
Neeraj gave us many insights about PolicyBazaar and its DNA, which continues to shape the way they work.
We spoke in-depth about:
🌍 why PolicyBazaar chose UAE as their first overseas market to enter
👨👩👧👦 how they don't consider themselves as an insurance aggregator but a customer experience provider
🎯 PolicyBazaar's marketing mantra (great piece of info on how acquisition costs work for insurance!)
🔭 Their future expansion plans
And much more!
Renjit Philip:
Newsletter: https://www.onemorethinginai.com
Socials:
Twitter / X: @renjitphilip
LinkedIn:
...
2023-02-1326 minFS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East10: FS Brew Hype - Tiktok for insuranceA New Year and a new format- we are happy to bring you short pod bites with items of note, and leave it to you to decide if they are "Hype or not?". In this first episode of the year we cover: Tiktok for insurance.
Renjit Philip:
Newsletter: https://www.onemorethinginai.com
Socials:
Twitter / X: @renjitphilip
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/renjit-philip
Vidya Veerapandian:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/vidya-veerapandian/
2023-02-1306 min
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East09: Customer experience + Insurance aggregator = DisruptionWe spoke to Rachel Al Mughairi (RB Al Mughairi DipCII on LinkedIn ), Chief Engagement Officer from InsuranceMarket.ae
We had an interesting conversation about all things customer and employee engagement, innovation in the UAE insurance market, and key metrics used by the aggregator.
We even tackled the much-discussed topic of pricing in the motor insurance portfolio driven by the 'discount' culture.
Questions and Topics:
Day in the life of a Chief Engagement Officer.
Building an insurance brand in the UAE
Dealing with insurance competitors: aggregators and insurtechs (Beema & Hala) entering the market in full force.
What are some of thi...
2023-02-131h 00
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East08: Data is much more than the “new oil” for insurance. Conversation with Head of Data- RSA InsuranceHere's the much-awaited episode with Varghese Skariah from RSA Middle East!
We spoke in-depth about data in the context of the Middle Eastern insurance market:
🚀 the data maturity in the region and ways to improve
▶️ 3 main pillars Varghese Skariah focuses on at RSA Middle East
🌳 importance of building a sustainable insurance model versus the short-term model of playing the 'price game'
🚖 underwriting model of the future with the autonomous vehicles- the knowns & the unknowns
And much more!
#insurance #data #sustainable #middleeast #autonomousvehicles #underwriting
Renjit Philip:
Newsletter: https://www.onemorethinginai.com
Socials:
Twitter / X: @renj...
2023-02-1337 minFS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East07: Pay-how-you-drive insurance is coming to the UAE and Saudi Arabia drafts rules for insurtechsWe are excited to present FS Brew's next 'news with analysis' episode! ☕
In this episode, we have deep-dived into:
- KSA's Saudi Central Bank – SAMA's draft rules on #insurtech set-up
- RAK Insurance's telematics survey for consumers to understand their preferences and behaviours 🚗
- Hala هلا's Home Insurance campaign review....use of both online and offline channels 🏠
- AXA Gulf's preliminary look as a GIG brand Gulf Insurance Group K.S.C.P
- On-going motor insurance campaigns' reviews, including Policybazaar UAE selling under the name Insurance Bazaar!?
Please leave us a like, comment, share, review if you like this episode.
Plea...
2023-02-1312 min
FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East06: Digitally Transforming an Insurance company: Sidd Iyer- Head of Digital, Axa Middle EastWecome to FS Brew! We are delighted to welcome Siddhaarth Iyer (Head of Digital for Axa Middle East, to the FS Brew Podcast!
Sidd is a start-up guy turned corporate with a wide experience in creating amazing Digital journeys for customers across industries like Insurance, Agriculture, Healthcare, Government & Procurement tech. Sidd has been a Digital-tech guy throughout his career with a keen focus on customer/user experience and business innovation. Sidd holds multiple approved US innovation patents in the utility & tech space. In his relatively short 13 year career, products built by him have reached by more than 3mn users acr...
2023-02-131h 14FS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East05: Fireside chat- Past, Present and Future of Insurance with Dr. Sanjeev Jha and Adrit RahaHello and Welcome to FS Brew's first fireside chat with industry leaders. I am Renjit Philip, I advise Startups on their digital business models, go to market strategies, funding and financials. I work with a Insurtech called Symbo, where we help insurers, brokers and agents in going digital.
For today's episode, we have with us two stalwarts from the Industry- Dr. Sanjeev Jha and Adrit Raha.
Dr. SANJEEV JHA is the Founder & Principal of Strumng, a niche consultancy services focused on developing competencies of insurers, insurance brokers, distributors, service providers and emerging insurtech entities.
He is a Consultant to F...
2023-02-1345 minFS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East04: Beema Insurance on a growth path and Hala is #upto something!Hot serving of FS Brew is out! ☕
Welcome to the fourth episode of FS Brew!
In this episode, the hosts, Vidya Veerapandian and Renjit Philip have packed in a whole bunch of local news pieces that are trending:
- Beema Insurance impresses us with its breakthrough growth trajectory
- Oman Insurance Company launch an app for its customers
- hala Insurance is #upto something- find out more!
- AXA Gulf launch 20% flat discount motor insurance campaign & InsuranceMarket.ae™ By AFIA Insurance Brokerage Services LLC's BNPL with Spotii
- Souqalmal.com's innovative financial awareness program for corporate companies
Watch this episode to...
2023-02-1314 minFS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East03: The Rise of the SPACs and Wedding InsuranceThe next brew is in the house! ☕
Welcome to the third episode of FS Brew!
In this episode, the hosts, Vidya Veerapandian and Renjit Philip have scouted a couple of homegrown start-ups to highlight and packed a bunch of trending global news:
- Protect4less, an #InsurTech that provides mobile and gadget insurance, secures funding 📱
- Hippo Insurance, a start-up that sells home insurance in USA, takes the #spacs route (What is that? The hosts dwell into it) 🏠
- AXA Green Crescent launches Employee Saver Secure Scheme
- Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company (ADNIC)’s Wedding Insurance! 💍
- KLAIM.AI, a UAE- based medi...
2023-02-1313 minFS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East02: Pet Insurance and Ramadan Digital Marketing by InsurersWelcome to the second episode of FS Brew!
In this episode, the hosts, Vidya Veerapandian and Renjit Philip, have packed a whole lot of news that is trending in the UAE and globally:
- The hottest Ramadan Motor Campaigns in the UAE 🔥
- A new entrant in the Pet Insurance market 🦮
- AXA Gulf’s Travel Campaign and AXA and Rise's Campaign
- Amazon’s foray into insurance (after Google)
- BLINK by Chubb- an engaging young brand from a sizeable P&C insurer
Watch this episode to know more. Please leave us your comments, likes, and shares.
FS Brew is the region’s...
2023-02-1315 minFS Brew- Insurtech and insurance in the Middle East01: Pilot- Google enters Cyber Insurance and shadow websites12th April, 2021: Welcome to the first episode of FS Brew, where we talk about interesting events, news and products from the world of insurance and financial services.
Each of us have picked few latest market news and developments which we felt was interesting.
Podcast hosts: Renjit Philip (www.renjitphilip.com) : Startup Advisor & Head- Business Development for an Insurtech called Symbo Insurance.
Vidya Veerapandian: CEO/Founder of AndFwd.com
I hope you will enjoy listening to our take on these news items.
Contents:
Google gets into Cyber insurance. Two insurers that have partnered with Google for the offering are Allianz SE...
2023-02-1314 min2021-04-1100 min