Instech London Podcast

While weather-related catastrophic events are on the rise, insurance policies and federal aid are still inaccessible for many globally. Jonathan Gonzalez is the CEO and co-founder of Raincoat, a platform to support insurers in the development and distribution of parametric insurance solutions for consumers in at-risk countries and regions. He joins Matthew on Podcast 183 to explain how scalable parametric insurance products are helping to reduce the protection gap, Raincoat’s consumer-focused approach, and tailoring solutions to tackle relevant climate risks in different areas of the world. Talking points include: How Hurricane Maria inspired Jonathan to launch a company How he used his software background to build Raincoat What is needed to successfully collaborate with insurers  The indices used to measure perils and how various data sources are handled  The importance of regulation in the application of parametric insurance You can get more information about Raincoat on the company’s InsTech London member

The healthcare industry has faced monumental changes over the past two years, with the pandemic affecting both the provision of services and consumer behaviour. Increased demand and Covid-19 lockdowns led to the acceleration of digital health technology, which in turn is now presenting fresh challenges and opportunities for insurers. Robin talks to Joan Cuscó, Global Head of Transformation at MAPFRE, and Nicolas Monsarrat, Managing Director, Strategy & Consulting, Digital Health Europe Lead at Accenture, about the digital health landscape in 2022 and what it means for the insurance industry. Talking points include: Transitioning to digital - insights from the UK, US, France and Germany Providing more value from personalised health data The role of blockchain in building trust Using digital twins to model and learn Why ecosystems and partnerships are the way ahead More information on MAPFRE’s insur_space accelerator programme is available at insur_space.com. You can also get more information about MAPFRE

Jupiter Intelligence has achieved rapid growth since its launch five years ago and is now providing analytics on the impact of climate change to insurers, governments, and corporations worldwide. CEO and Co-founder Rich Sorkin joins Matthew to discuss how his experience of extreme weather events motivated him to launch the company. Their conversation covers the products and services Jupiter offers, how clients are using its data, and why it is vital that insurers track the long-term impacts and risks they face from climate change. Talking points include: Using data to understand physical and financial portfolio risk Duration mismatch - why planning for the future matters Regulation and reporting - the impacts for insurance The lessons insurance can learn from banking Scaling at speed - building the right team and products Jupiter Intelligence was featured in the InsTech London report, Climate Change Risk Regulation and Measurement: 22 companies to know, which is available as a free download. You can also get

Data has never been so important or abundant in insurance but finding the right information is still a major challenge for insurers. That has led to opportunities for companies like VIPR, which is providing extraction and ingestion solutions to help standardise data from third parties and creating analytics to improve underwriting accuracy. CEO Paul Templar joins Matthew on Podcast 180 to discuss how brokers and insurers are using VIPR’s data and analytics platform to manage data, getting information flowing efficiently across the market, and how VIPR is looking to scale with the help of private equity. Talking points include: Improving communication between insurers, brokers and clients Using the cloud to improve data access and processing efficiency Producing new underwriting insights through improved processing APIs, portals and making technology work Working with clients to drive product direction VIPR was featured in the InsTech London report, Data Extraction and Ingestion: The 40 companies to watch in

Alex Hearn, founder of insurance news and insights platform Slipcase, joins Matthew on Podcast 179 to share his experience of growing a successful business. Formerly a broker at Willis, Alex left the company to develop a digital environment to connect insurance industry professionals. The result, Slipcase, is now an established platform collating and sharing information from insurers, brokers, and service providers to 160,000 users worldwide. Alex and Matthew discuss the process of building the company, the technology behind the platform, and the insurance content that is capturing users’ attention. Talking points include:  Establishing a product market fit and knowing when to pivot Building a quality proposition for corporate clients What users want - tracking behaviour to establish trends How the pandemic changed consumption habits Podcast or press release - the popularity of different content formats More information on Slipcase is available from slipcase.com and you can contact Alex on LinkedIn. The arti

Thousands of UK property claims are made every year related to unseen perils below ground, with climate change already increasing the risks facing homeowners and insurers. Dr Tim Farewell is the Director of Science and Communications at Terrafirma, a Dye & Durham Solution, and one of the UK’s leading authorities on ground risks. He joins Matthew on Podcast 178 to discuss what is causing the problems, and how Terrafirma provides data to help insurers understand portfolio risks from subsidence, mines and voids, sinkholes, and coastal erosion. Talking points include: The science behind different ground risks The most common causes of subsidence and sinkholes How insurers are using Terrafirma data for assessing risks and claims The effect of climate change on ground risks - today and in the future Emerging technologies and tracking ground movement from space You can find out more about climate risk and the work Terrafirma is doing in the next InsTech London report. Climate Change Risk, Regulation and M

Embedded insurance was one of the hot topics of 2021, with a growing number of successful propositions emerging that target potential customers with insurance at the point of purchase. ARMD is one of a crop of new companies putting embedded insurance into action. It offers theft and damage insurance to UK tradespeople purchasing tools through its online shop and supplies IoT sensors to help protect their vehicles.  Co-founder and CEO Devin Chawda joins Matthew to discuss how the technology works, why customers like embedded insurance, and the challenge of building a business and raising funds during Covid-19 lockdowns. Talking points include: Market research and identifying pain points Aligning e-commerce and embedded insurance products Using app technology to expedite digital claims Gathering new data to assess risk and pricing Raising funds via crowdsourcing To learn more about what embedded insurance means in practice and the potential opportunities, download our 'Insurance: to Embed, or not to Embed

For start-ups and scale-ups, funding is the fuel for growth. But after a record-breaking year for insurtech investment, what can we expect to see in the investment space in 2022? Ruth Foxe Blader and Matthew Jones from venture capital investor Anthemis join Matthew to discuss the current financial markets and the opportunities that are attracting investors right now. Talking points include: Assessing IPO performance and the investment appetite for insurtech What Anthemis looks for from new companies and solutions How new sources of data are creating new product opportunities The growth of embedded insurance and what’s next How to encourage entrepreneur diversity in insurtech If you like what you're hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn.  Sign up to our newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. Continuing Professional Development - Learning Objectives InsTech London is accredited by The Chartered Insurance Institute (CI

With climate-related risk becoming a top priority for insurers, Podcast 175 examines where the industry is right now in terms of identifying the specific challenges and opportunities ahead. Matthew talks to Katie Lennon, Head of ESG, UK & Lloyd's at AXA XL, about how processes for measuring and managing climate impact are developing. The conversation covers how Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) differs for business operations and clients, creating consistency around allocating carbon emissions, and the work being done on a global scale to help support insurers. Talking points include: Communicating the purpose of ESG across organisations Practical examples of measuring climate impact and organisational change Where insurers can have the biggest impact on carbon emissions Defining consistent terminology and standardised frameworks Opportunities for third parties around unstructured climate data Climate Change Measurement and Regulation, a new report from InsTech London on reporting insurers’ clim

As the financial risks from climate change continue to increase, insurers are having to come to terms with both the short-term impact of large catastrophe events and new regulatory requirements. Podcast 174 features insights from our Climate Change Risks and Opportunities Today live event, sponsored by S&P Global Market Intelligence, which focused on practical solutions and real examples of how insurance is responding to a changing landscape and evolving risks.  Recorded live at CodeNode in London, Matthew talks to:   Raphael Zindi, Product Manager | Segment Lead, EMEA Insurance, S&P Global Market Intelligence Chris Illman, Head of Responsible Business, Beazley Dana Foley, Head of Catastrophe Research, Chaucer Group Christopher Perceval, Head of ESG Business Development, EMEA, S&P Global Sustainable1 This episode also features additional insights from Fathom’s Chief Operations Officer Dr Andrew Smith and Tom Philp, CEO of Maximum Information. Talking points include: Building risk models for Envir

Matthew talks to author, coach, and speaker Bryan Falchuk on Podcast 173 about his background in insurance and insurtech, and the innovation challenges for insurers and start-ups in 2022. Bryan began his career at Liberty Mutual Insurance and worked for Beazley, McKinsey and Hiscox before branching out as an author. His two books titled The Future of Insurance look at the lessons learned by incumbent insurers as they look to innovate and evolve to meet the needs of their customers. The episode features examples from insurers that have successfully launched innovation projects and why Bryan feels that now is a fascinating time for insurance. Talking points include: Innovating in-house - insurer success stories How start-ups win - why a strong business model beats hype The growth of embedded insurance and moving beyond acquisitions Making claims savings - efficiency vs lower indemnity Going “digital” and how to overcome the challenges facing insurers post-pandemic Bryan Falchuk is also the host of The Future o

What can the insurance industry expect in 2022? We’ve gathered a panel of 16 innovation experts to give us their predictions for the year ahead. Podcast 172, sponsored by Fadata, covers topics, themes and opportunities including the insurtech investment scene (valuations and opportunities), increase in mergers & acquisitions activity, ESG and climate change, operational excellence, talent war, cryptocurrency and the Metaverse. Our panel of innovation experts includes: Matthew Jones, Managing Director, Anthemis Charles Burgess, CEO International Distribution, Munich Re Specialty Group Premal Gohil, Head of Innovation Partnerships & Investments, GRS, Liberty Mutual Insurance Sasa Brcerevic, Global Head of MGA Strategies, Aon Ruta Mikiskaite, Head of Client Solutions UK and Ireland, Swiss Re Jenny Williams, Portfolio Optimisation Director, Convex Joan Cuscó, Global Head of Transformation, MAPFRE Paolo Cuomo, Director of Operations, Brit Insurance Liselotte Munk, CEO, Fadata Keith Aylwin, Director, Alpha

Matthew and Robin wave goodbye to 2021 by reflecting on some of the key insurance, insurtech and innovation themes from the past 12 months. Their Partners’ Chat - New Year special includes thoughts on a record year for insurtech investment, why now is a good time to be an MGA, and predictions for data and technology developments in 2022. Talking points include:  Unicorns, angels and securing early-stage funding The decline of incubators and accelerators Embedded insurance and educating customers about risk How data ingestion and extraction became a top business priority Why brokers remain a key part of the value chain If you like what you're hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use, or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn. All we are up to www.instech.london Sign up to our newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. Continuing Professional Development - Learning Objectives InsTech London is accredited by The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening to any In

InsTech London was really pleased to be involved in a panel discussion on Allyship in the workplace hosted by The Camelot Network’s Inclusion & Diversity Think Tank and sponsored by Genasys. The diverse panel explained what Allyship is, how to action it and the impact it can have in creating a truly inclusive society. The speakers include: Rebekah Bostan – Director of Research and Insight, InsTech London Lethabo Motsoaledi – Co-founder, Creator and CTO, Voyc Dr Joanna Abeyie MBE – Founder and Director, Blue Moon Paul Jardine – Chairman, Asta and Chaucer The discussion was moderated by Miriam Reason, Founder at Reasonful. Talking points include: What is Allyship, and why should you care? Why is Allyship the most powerful thing you can do at work? Why is the future of work about intersectional inclusion and Allyship? What do all the relevant terms mean? For more information on The Camelot Network, go to thecamelotnetwork.com. If you like what you're hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform

The global pandemic and the shutdown of the Suez Canal in March highlighted the importance of the global supply chain and the risks involved in shipping goods around the world.  Tracking what happens at sea is a major challenge, however, innovations in data and technology are now allowing insurers and businesses to track ship and cargo movements from start to finish.  Matthew is joined on Podcast 169 by George Devereese and Turloch Mooney from IHS Markit, a global data provider and the primary source of information on vessels being used for international trade.  The conversation covers how technology is being used in the real-time monitoring of vessels and the data and analytics IHS Markit provides to marine insurers to assist with underwriting, risk allocation, and claims investigation/mitigation. Talking points include:  The main risks involved in container ship journeys How sensors are being used to track individual cargo containers Using data to forecast global supply chain delays Partnering with insurer

In October 2021, Getsafe extended its Series B funding round to $93 million, including investment from Swiss Re. The start-up is now a fully licensed insurer in Germany and operates as an MGA in the UK, targeting younger generations with personal lines insurance products. Robin talks to co-founder and CEO Christian Wiens about how Getsafe has scaled since being founded in 2015, the company's plans for expansion, and innovation trends to watch. Talking points include: How to sell insurance to first-time customers The benefits of being a full-stack insurer Distribution channels for personal lines insurance Changes in CEO responsibility as start-ups scale Venture capital trends in Europe and the US If you like what you're hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn.  Sign up to our newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. Continuing Professional Development - Learning Objectives InsTech London is accredited by The Chartered Insur

This week, we’re bringing you the highlights from our recent live event featuring companies providing and using near real time hazard data to speed up claims handling, reduce costs and provide more accurate underwriting. Data is only any good if it can be easily embedded in the workflow - so we get practical and specific with all our guests to explore real case studies and challenges they have overcome.  Matthew leads off talking to CEO and founder of ICEYE Rafal Modrzewski and Head of Insurance Solutions Lisa Wardlaw. Extracts follow from: Forbes McKenzie, CEO, McKenzie Intelligence Services Alun Jones, Chief Commercial Officer, Addresscloud Andrew Smith, Chief Operations Officer, Fathom Jonathon Hopper, Claims Manager, Atrium Underwriters Colin Masson, Head of First Party Complex Claims, Beazley Gethin Jones, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Skyline Partners Talking points include: Using radar satellite imaging technology to assess flood depths at individual building level Tracking climate risks and ri

When it comes to innovation, claims technology has not always got the level of focus it deserves. That situation is changing though with several companies, including this week’s podcast guest, providing new technology solutions to speed up and improve claims processes. Matthew talks to Jeremy Hyams, CEO and founder of Claims Consortium Group, about building a claims service provider, innovating at speed during Covid-19, and how its Synergy Cloud platform is helping the AA to manage home insurance claims in-house. Talking points include: Claims handling technology in practice Building technology for third parties The growth in remote claims assessments Linking partners and customers through platforms Validating claims using real-time weather data If you like what you're hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use, or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn. Sign up to the InsTech London newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. Continuing Professional Development - Learni

Descartes Underwriting, founded in 2018, has scaled quickly to provide parametric insurance against climate risks to corporate clients around the world. Co-founder & Head of Underwriting Sébastien Piguet joins Matthew on Podcast 165 to discuss trends in parametric insurance and Descartes' experiences with its clients. Talking points include: Why some corporates are replacing indemnity policies with parametric Educating brokers and risk managers about parametric Insuring solar and wind farms Data sources for natural perils The potential for parametric cyber insurance Descartes Underwriting was featured in our report Parametric Insurance - 2021 outlook and the companies to watch, which is available to download for free to InsTech London members. If you want to keep up-to-date with the latest parametric insurance news and developments, sign up for our Parametric Post newsletter. If you like what you're hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use, or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn. Sig

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 crypto insurance Applications of parametric insurance An insurance use case for NFTs (non-fungible tokens) InsTech London's latest report, Demystifying Crypto: the insurance opportunities and challenges, sets out what the insurance industry should know about crypto in more detail.  To learn more about Ensuro, you can read an insight article we wrote about the company earlier this year,