Start-ups
Innovation lessons insurers can take from lawyers
Insurers and lawyers don’t have a reputation of tech-savvy trailblazers. Yet some of them have adopted new technologies, including artificial intelligence. So, what works and what doesn’t?
Blog: Blockchain, from industry loss warranties to original insureds
Blockchain could revolutionise the insurance and reinsurance industry.
BIA 2016: The future – digital insurance innovation, technology, start-up
Digital Insurance Innovation of the Year; Technology Award; Start-up Award
Broker Halo seeks new private equity backing as it enters GAP market with Mapfre
Halo is planning to seek new investment, six years after the car hire excess insurance specialist launched with Bridges Ventures, a social impact fund started by Sir Ronald Cohen.
Blog: Five steps to accelerate insurance product innovation
Insurers should look at introducing innovative products through digital channels. But much of this opportunity for added value and competitive advantage remains unexploited.
Pay-as-you-go broker Belong Safe shuts down after three months
Just three months after its launch, Belong Safe has shut down completely due to financial and branding troubles.
Blog: Disruption has only just begun
The Next Generation Insurance Network has been providing young professionals with educational and social events in London for the past five years. The network has more than 1500 members from brokers to underwriters, lawyers to consultants.
Insurtech firm Trov raises £17.5m as it gears up to launch in the UK and Australia
Technology giant Guidewire and Australian insurer Suncorp are among the parties involved in the latest fund-raising from US insurance disruptor Trov, as it gears up to launch its on-demand cover for single items in the UK with Axa.
Commercial vehicle MGA launches with £30m capacity
A £30m-capacity managing general agency targeting van and commercial vehicle business will be launched in the UK market by the founder of a claims management company.
Jonathan Davey: New tech start-up Hughub has no plans to compete with software houses
A start-up claims to have devised a white label technology platform that allows brokers and other insurance retailers to enable their customers to manage all of their insurance, life and health products in one place, regardless of the insurer.
Blog: Five reasons insurance incumbents secretly think they aren't going to get disrupted
I was privileged to be able to attend a roundtable discussion this week on innovation in the insurance space and found the conversation surprising.
Hiscox teams up with start-up broker for pay-as-you-go host insurance
Online platform Belong Safe has today launched the first on demand host insurance product to cater for the rising home-sharing market.
2016 billed as 'year of the disruptors' as insuretech start-ups target market share
Digital disruptors are digging out niches and targeting poorly-served sectors as the push for market share ramps up in 2016.
Israeli start-up Passportcard planning UK launch
Travel insurance start-up Passportcard is intending to be operational in the UK by the end of 2016.
Endsleigh digital boss Harper joins millennial insurance start-up Zugar Znap
Endsleigh Insurance’s head of digital, Iain Harper, has joined millennial-focused insurance and lifestyle start-up Zugar Znap Group as digital director.
Industry CEOs concerned by market entrants, PWC survey finds
New market entrants are seen as a threat to growth for established industry players, according to 65% of insurances CEOs surveyed by PWC.
LV and Swiss Re add support to tech innovator
Technology incubator Start-up Bootcamp has partnered with LV and Swiss Re on its Insurtech programme, which announced its 2016 cohort of start-ups last month.
Six UK finalists in London start-up programme
Technology incubator Start-up Bootcamp has announced the 10 international start-ups that will join its London programme in 2016, including six from the UK.
Emergence of 'disruptors' keeping established motor players on their toes
The launch of a broking start-up that provides motor insurance by the hour has been hailed as an example of a “disruptor” that will force established players to refocus on their customer proposition.
Sure Thing plots recruitment drive after promising first year
Scottish-based motor broker Sure Thing claims it has outstripped pre-launch sales predictions by 190% after achieving 80,000 live policies in its debut year, with continued growth expected to lead to a boom in recruitment.
Rias founder Holden eyes £50m GWP with start-up broker
The founders of over 50s insurer Rias and Insure 4 Retirement have launched a Hampshire-based direct to consumer broker with the expectation of surpassing £50m in annual written premiums within five years.
Cobra boss targets 'high-growth' reputational risk market with start-up
Start-up intermediary Reputation Risk Solutions has been launched to take advantage of the “highly underdeveloped” reputational risk sector, amid claims the UK market could be worth £1bn by 2019.
Ipswich-based start-up Liability & General partners with James Hallam
James Hallam has sealed a partnership agreement with Liability & General, a business founded by former Oval and Giles executives Dave Mangan and Rob Allinson.
Ex-Independent colleagues Rutter and Blakemore launch underwriting start-up
The former head of London market at Independent Insurance Keith Rutter has co-founded a start-up underwriting firm alongside his ex-Independent colleague John Blakemore.