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Insurtech Hartford Symposium Brings Industry’s Tech Innovators Together to Look Ahead

Business Council of Westchester

The annual InsurTech Hartford Symposium, taking place on April 17 and 18 at the Mohegan Sun casino, is described by organizers as “so much more than your traditional industry gathering.”

It is the culmination of insurance innovation, organizers explain, “bringing the best of the best in executive leadership, insight, and technology for the advancement of insurance innovation.” The conference is about “coming together leveraging the bridges we’ve built throughout the insurance ecosystem to drive insurance innovation.” The stated mission is to provide knowledge, insights, and opportunities to build the future of insurance.

Topics to be discussed include AI in Underwriting Today, Simplified Claims for Complex Times, CHatGPT AI and Other Large Language Models, The growing Role of Geospatial Data and Aerial Imagery in Insurance, Building Trust in a Digital Age, and IoT:  The Silent Medley Reshaping Risk Assessment.

There will be a total of 101 speakers at various points during the two-day symposium, including leaders from the Hartford region and Connecticut, as well as from well beyond the state’s borders.

Keynote speakers are Mojgan Lefebvre, EVP and Chief Technology and Operations Officer at Travelers, and Heidi Sirota, Pet Industry and Leadership Consultant. Locally-based speakers include Bhamini Patel, Project Manager, Innovation Lab, The Hartford; Donna Regan, Senior Marketing Partner at Hartford Steam Boiler; Chance Foster, Director, Enterprise Innovation at The Travelers; Ewelina Mroczek, AVP, Product & Market Research at Lincoln Financial; Ojala Naeem, Head of XD Operation, Enterprise Customer Experience at The Travelers; Angie Wyszynski, VP, Global Customer Experience at HSB; and Laura Dinan Haber, Innovation Brand Director at Nassau Financial Group.

Dinan Haber is among eight recipients of the Insurtech Hartford Symposium’s Making Waves Award, which acknowledges thought leaders for their roles in advancing innovation within the insurance sector.

Laurissa Berk, Director of Global & Experiential Education at the UConn School of Business, and Deputy State Insurance Commissioner Jared Kosky are also among the speakers at the Symposium.

The symposium will also include roundtable sessions to explore the latest trends and challenges in insurance technology, with participants urged to “share insights, exchange ideas, and forge valuable connections in these interactive sessions designed to drive collaboration and foster innovation.”  Additionally, attendees will have opportunities to take part in a number of hands-on workshops tailored to equip professionals with practical knowledge and skills “essential for navigating the evolving landscape of insurance technology.” Led by industry experts, these interactive sessions are designed to offer insights and strategies to “drive innovation and succeed in today’s market.”

Those attending the InsurTech Hartford Symposium will also have free access to two other events taking place on April 16th: Cyber Defense Connect and Captive Insurance Forum, also at Mohegan Sun.

Nicholas BreniaInsurtech Hartford Symposium Brings Industry’s Tech Innovators Together to Look Ahead
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Panel Discusses Profound Impact of AI on Professional Services

Business Council of Westchester

Standing, from left, Jason Scott, Partner, Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani; BCW President & CEO Marsha Gordon; Gary Grandstaff, Commercial Banking Regional Manager, Tompkins Community Bank (sponsor); Elizabeth Bracken-Thompson, Partner, Thompson & Bender, and Dwayne Norris, Co-Founder & COO, Soulful Synergy. Seated, from left, Raymond Ebert, Founder, EGIS Partners; Paul Tyler, Chief Marketing Officer, Nassau Financial Group and Donvil Collins, Founder, VeeKast

The Business Council of Westchester (BCW) convened a panel of experts at the Tompkins Community Bank Power Breakfast on Thursday to delve into the profound impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on professional services.

The panel discussion, part of BCW’s AI Alliance 360° initiative, aimed to shed light on how AI is revolutionizing traditional practices, driving productivity, and enhancing client experiences across various industries. Panel moderator Marsha Gordon, President and CEO of the BCW, highlighted the transformative potential of AI in professional services.

“The conversion to artificial intelligence has ushered in a new era of innovation, efficiency, and integration across various industries from advertising and marketing to finance, legal services, and consulting,” said Gordon.

Paul Tyler, Chief Marketing Officer at Nassau Financial Group, provided insights into how AI is being used to predict personnel movements and simplify complex financial concepts using a pilot AI platform. “The pilot will be rolling out next month. It helps people talking to agents explain our some of our very complicated products in very easy ways,” said Tyler.

Jason C. Scott, a partner at Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, emphasized the importance of transparent AI-use policies within organizations. “Our internal policy is that if we’re using generative AI for you, we get your consent in writing. We make sure that the client has full information about that. We’ve only had a few large, national clients specifically ask and want to know exactly what we are doing, how are we using it,” said Scott.

Elizabeth Bracken Thompson, a partner at Thompson & Bender, highlighted the transformative impact of generative AI on advertising and marketing strategies. “It’s empowering all the people who work at our agency to understand our target markets better,” said Bracken-Thompson, who explained that time-consuming research is easier to obtain, analyze and apply to campaigns. “It’s creating a more efficient and budget-friendly experience.”

Raymond C. Ebert, founder of EGIS Partners, discussed the responsible implementation of AI within organizations. “Some of the new adopters who tend to adopt technology very well have been very organized in how they’ve done it. They’ve put a committee in place that basically oversees the use of AI within their organizations,” said Ebert.

Donvil Collins, founder of VeeKast — a video production company — said generative AI allows his staff to develop initial concepts and it gives them more time to improve scripts. “We can’t use it yet for producing the content because there’s definitely some issues with that, where there’s imperfections, some weird things that it would produce,” said Collins. “It just isn’t smart enough yet of course but it definitely creates some really beautiful images.”

Dwayne R. Norris, co-founder and COO of Soulful Synergy, a workforce development and employment training company, said his company uses AI platforms like Boomerang, Grammarly and Perplexity to improve efficiency. “When I’m reaching out to new partners, I’m having (AI) analyze websites and really understand where our service is aligned with one another. I’m having it analyze RFP’s and proposals so I can understand if it’s something that we should pursue or not pursue,” said Norris, noting that his proposal-preparation time has significantly fallen.

The BCW’s AI Alliance 360° initiative will continue with a series of events throughout the year, including discussions on AI in healthcare, academic innovation, cybersecurity, and marketing strategies. Thursday’s program was held at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown.

Nicholas BreniaPanel Discusses Profound Impact of AI on Professional Services
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InsurTech Hartford Announces 2024 Industry Influencer Award Honorees

InsurTech Hartford, a pioneering organization dedicated to the advancement of insurance innovation, today announced the honorees of this year’s industry influencer awards. These awards celebrate individuals who are making waves in insurance innovation and having a positive impact on the industry.

The honorees are:

  • Bobbie Shrivastav, Co-Founder and COO, Benekiva
  • Marissa Buckley, Co-Founder, RevUp
  • Margeaux Giles, CEO, Irys InsurTech
  • Curtis Goldsborough, President, National Insurance Inspection Services
  • Tony Canas, Co-Founder, Insurance Nerds
  • Laura Dinan Haber, Innovation Brand Director, Nassau Financial Group
  • Christopher Frankland, Founder, InsurTech360
  • Alan Demers, President, InsurTech Consulting

This year’s honorees have been selected for their groundbreaking contributions, which highlight the critical role of technology in shaping its future. Finalists were chosen by last year’s honorees: Rob Galbraith, Bryan Falchuk, Adrian Jones, Lisa Wardlaw, Patrick Kelahan, Matteo Carbone, Ema Roloff, David Gritz, Gilad Shai, Abel Travis, and Denise Garth.

The “Making Waves” awards will be presented during the InsurTech Hartford Symposium, an event that is the cornerstone for collaboration, learning, and networking among the brightest minds in the industry. Held April 17th and 18th, the symposium is expected to attract hundreds of professionals from across the world, including representatives from over 100 different carriers and 50 startups.

In addition to the awards ceremony, the symposium will feature an array of workshops and panel discussions designed to reshape the future of insurance and share insights on the latest trends and challenges.

“We are incredibly proud to recognize these trailblazers who are creating a lasting impact in the InsurTech community,” said Stacey Brown, Founder and President of InsurTech Hartford. “Their efforts and dedication inspire a future where technology and insurance converge to meet the evolving needs of society.”

The InsurTech Hartford Symposium is not just an event but a celebration of the spirit of innovation that drives progress within the industry. Attendees can look forward to engaging with honorees, exploring new opportunities, and gaining invaluable insights. InsurTech Hartford is also hosting a press conference that gives industry media the opportunity to interview leading executives, honorees, and keynote speakers bringing real-time insight to our industry.

For more information, please visit www.insurtechhartfordsymposium.com.

Contact:

InsurTech Hartford

***@insurtechhartford.com

Photo(s):

https://www.prlog.org/13010176

Press release distributed by PRLog

View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/insurtech-hartford-announces-2024-industry-influencer-award-honorees-302080190.html

SOURCE InsurTech Hartford

Nicholas BreniaInsurTech Hartford Announces 2024 Industry Influencer Award Honorees
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London, U.K. officials visit Hartford to promote insurtech corridor partnership

The Lord Mayor of London and other U.K. officials visited Connecticut’s Capitol building in Hartford this week to highlight the growth of the CT-UK InsurTech Corridor, a partnership that launched in 2022.

The CT-UK InsurTech Corridor is a partnership between Connecticut, Hartford and the United Kingdom that aims to foster business development in the insurance and financial services industries.

It now has 18 companies in its cohort.

Five U.K-based insurtech companies — Reask, Previsico, Matrix iQ, Slipcase and Sonar Global — have announced they will be locating their U.S. headquarters in Hartford.

Among other things, the business accelerator corridor provides support and industry connections to help companies test their proof of concepts in other markets and learn insights at no cost.

Michael Mainelli, the first American-born Lord Mayor of London, met with Gov. Ned Lamont, Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam and other city and state officials Tuesday afternoon to discuss the partnership and its goals. As lord mayor, Mainelli serves as an international ambassador for the U.K.’s financial and professional services sector and heads the City of London Corporation, the governing body of the Square Mile, a historic district in London.

“We’re very interested in working here with the state of Connecticut, and the city of Hartford in particular, because what we like to do is to connect with other cities and try and create mutual prosperity,” Mainelli said. “The InsurTech corridor is very, very important to us and we’ve already seen five United Kingdom firms moving over here and opening extensions of their existing business. We’re hoping naturally to see some Connecticut firms and U.S. firms moving back in the other direction.”

The InsurTech Corridor launched in 2022 as a collaboration between the U.K. Government’s Department of Business and Trade, Connecticut Insurance and Financial Services trade association, state Department of Insurance, MetroHartford Alliance, InsurTech UK and state Department of Economic and Community Development.

During the first stage of the partnership in 2022, more than a dozen U.K companies participated in the program to prepare for entry into the U.S. market.

The second stage of the initiative launched in 2023, allowing U.S. companies to join the corridor and explore options to enter the U.K. market.

While no announcements have been made yet, Lamont said there will be Connecticut companies opening new regional headquarters in the U.K.

The governor also said there have been talks about establishing a direct flight from Bradley International Airport to London, another example of the growing relationship.

“The reason we have this cross fertilization is because these are small analytic companies, early stage, and they come to the United States, they come here to Hartford and this is an on-ramp to some of the most major insurance companies in the United States,” Lamont said. “We have a lot to learn from the analytics they bring to the table. We give them a lot more exposure and hopefully it’s going to be a two-way street and some of our innovative companies do the same in London.”

Nicholas BreniaLondon, U.K. officials visit Hartford to promote insurtech corridor partnership
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Nassau Financial launches new downtown Hartford business incubator program

By Skyler Frazer, December 6, 2022

Nassau Re/Imagine, a downtown Hartford insurtech incubator run by Nassau Financial Group, is launching a new accelerator program for insurance technology startups early next year, the company announced this week.

Nassau Re/Imagine said its new TalentBridge23 program will begin in January with 10 startups and run for six months. According to the organization, the 10 participating startups are working to address two issues: retirement and health for seniors.

Ahead of next month, startups will be paired with mentors from Nassau, CGI and LTIMindtree, UConn or the University of Hartford, at least one industry advisor, and an investor.

Startups will also be matched with interns in the joint UConn/UHart insurtech program.

The program will give the businesses free access to a shared workspace at One American Row in Hartford, Nassau’s headquarters where CGI and LTIMindtree also maintain their Connecticut offices.

At the end of the six-month program, the startups will have a chance to pitch in front of a group of Connecticut-affiliated angel investors and venture capitalists.

The startups participating in the program include:

Read more: https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/nassau-financial-launches-new-downtown-hartford-business-incubator-program

Nick DesrocherNassau Financial launches new downtown Hartford business incubator program
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Nassau Re/Imagine launches insurtech incubator

by Kaitlyn Mattison, December 12, 2022

Nassau Re/Imagine launched TalentBridge23 an incubator program focused on the Hartford insurtech community. Ten startups focused on retirement and health for seniors have been selected for the program—Benekiva, Charlee AI, Covr Financial Technologies, Frontier Risk, HealthPilot, Estimate, Penelope, Ryskex, Spyglaz and Sureify.

“In the last two years, we have focused our efforts on supporting startups that solve retirement-related problems,” said Paul Tyler is chief marketing officer at Nassau Financial Group. “These include finding better ways to create more informed consumers, encouraging greater levels of savings, and building products that address emerging needs. We’re also looking to help companies make agents and advisors more effective in providing complex advice in a rapidly changing world.”

Read more: https://www.dig-in.com/news/nassau-re-imagine-launches-insurtech-incubator

Nick DesrocherNassau Re/Imagine launches insurtech incubator
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Hartford area business accelerators regain some momentum in new post-COVID landscape

Two years after the pandemic forced many to close or shift their operations, Hartford area startup accelerator and incubator programs are hoping to bounce back in a changed landscape spurred by the return of in-person events.

Hartford’s efforts to develop a startup ecosystem were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with some accelerator programs going to a remote model, or simply shutting down altogether.

In recent months, however, new accelerator programs have popped up, and some that existed pre-pandemic relaunched in-person operations with the goal of helping startups get off the ground, and showcasing Hartford as a landing spot for entrepreneurs looking to add jobs and spur new economic activity.

The larger question still is whether Hartford can become a hub of startup activity, similar to the way New Haven has given rise to the bioscience industry and Stamford is gaining traction with fintech companies.

Paul Tyler

“I’m completely bullish on it,” said Paul Tyler, chief marketing officer at Nassau Financial Group, speaking about Hartford’s potential as a tech hub. “I just think it’s gonna look different than what people expect.”

Nassau Financial Group runs the Nassau Re/Imagine incubator out of its Boat Building offices in downtown Hartford. Tyler said he thinks the accelerator and incubator space will be more centered around events, conferences and person-to-person networking, rather than temporarily moving companies to its Hartford offices, as the world grapples with a post-COVID hybrid work environment.

“It’s not going to happen in a cubicle, it’s just not,” Tyler said.

Startup accelerators have traditionally offered education, mentorship, financing and some sort of office space to early-stage companies. Pre-pandemic, several accelerators were operating in Hartford and brought dozens of early-stage companies to the city, where entrepreneurs interacted with mentors, consultants, local colleges and some of the larger corporate employers interested in testing their wares or ideas.

Startupbootcamp, a London-based company that was hired to run two Hartford accelerator programs focused on grooming insurance and healthcare tech firms, left the market in 2020. A startup accelerator hosted by New Britain toolmaker Stanley Black & Decker this year moved to Baltimore after operating in Hartford for the past three years.

Organizations like reSET and Launc[H] are trying to recapture the momentum.

ReSET is a social enterprise incubator that has returned to in-person events for its 2022 Impact Accelerator program, which lasts three months and includes 11 socially-conscious startups, ranging from a Hartford-based publishing service (Lauren Simone Publishing) to a natural body care company (Ital Creations).

ReSET’s Venture Showcase event, which will take place June 23 at the Connecticut Science Center, will allow entrepreneurs to share their updated business plans and vision for growth in front of investors and other business stakeholders.

“The goal here is to really make sure these folks are walking away with a lot of great new connections, networks and some financing,” said Sarah Bodley, reSET’s executive director. “We’re actually able to distribute $15,000 in cash prizes this year to [our 2022] cohort, … and the goal here is that this is kind of launching them into their next phase of growth.”

Sarah Bodley

The Impact Accelerator operates out of reSET’s Park Street coworking space. Since its 2007 founding, 143 businesses have participated in the program.

Bodley said the coworking space saw a dip in memberships during the pandemic, but the numbers have gone back up recently. All of reSET’s private offices are currently occupied with between 30 to 40 active members, she said.

“I think folks are itching to get out of their homes, but not necessarily go back to the office so coworking is an interesting alternative to a coffee shop or a library,” Bodley said.

Striking a balance

Launc[H], a business and entrepreneur support group, announced in April that it’s partnering with Silicon Valley-based accelerator Plug and Play Health to work with five startups to evolve and grow their businesses.

Launc[H] Director Michelle Cote said that prior to March 2020, her organization focused on bringing startups to the city for in-person programming, but when travel shut down everything changed.

“The pandemic had a huge impact,” Cote said. “Even if they had a small outpost here in Hartford, through any of the facilities that cater to early-stage companies, having a physical presence in the city became really difficult to maintain.”

Michelle Cote

Now, the organization has a mix of in-person and online programming. In early May, Launc[H] partnered with InsurTech Hartford to bring 48 companies to the city for a symposium. Cote said the current accelerator with Plug and Play Health is online, so companies can continue to work virtually from home.

Out of the five startups, only one is based in Connecticut — Stamford’s NourishedRx, a digital health company that uses artificial intelligence to match members with personalized meal and grocery offerings.

Cote said programs like the Plug and Play collaboration strike a balance between supporting startups while also helping build Hartford’s brand as a hub of entrepreneurship and innovation. Hartford-based organizations — including Hartford HealthCare and Trinity College — will offer feedback to participating startups and show them what opportunities the city has to offer as they grow their business.

“We’re working on some opportunities for them to come physically spend time in the city and think of growth strategies that would include a meaningful presence in Hartford,” Cote said.

International reach

In May, The Bridge Healing Arts Center in Farmington hosted its first Well4Tech Bootcamp for startups, and CEO Yisroel Rabinowitz said he hopes to turn the program into a regular event.

Or Haviv, a partner and head of global ventures at Arieli Capital, which was a partner in The Bridge Healing Arts Center’s recent Well4Tech Bootcamp accelerator.

The Bridge announced in May it was collaborating with Arieli Capital, a U.S. and Israeli holding and investment company, to launch the international Well4Tech Bootcamp for technology startups in the physical therapy and mental health fields. Rabinowitz said Arieli has held similar bootcamps in Israel and Italy but this was its first collaboration in America.

“Heath and wellness has become such a huge market, especially as we’re coming out of COVID, so we wanted to try and attract technology startups in those fields,” said Rabinowitz, who has also been an active investor in Hartford real estate and is CEO of development firm Universal Enterprise. He purchased The Bridge building at 304 Main St. in 2015 for $1.4 million.

Six companies from Europe, Israel and the U.S. participated in meetings with investors and industry leaders that culminated in a May 26 pitch event. Companies had investment opportunities during the bootcamp, and were offered office space for up to one year as part of the program.

Alexandra Dantzig, co-founder of fitness software company JET SWEAT, came from Manhattan to participate in the bootcamp.

“It was really great to be a part of this pitch day because we’re in our first fundraising round now, so we’re excited to get some expansion capital to scale the business,” Dantzig said.

JET SWEAT helps connect boutique fitness studios and professionals with customers using a proprietary video streaming software, allowing them to grow and compete with bigger companies like Peloton. Dantzig said her JET SWEAT has many part-time employees but hopes to expand the team after raising money.

Maya Dayan and her brother, Kfir Dayan, traveled from Israel to showcase their parenting technology company Jama. The duo are fundraising so they can expand their footprint into the U.S. They said it was their first time networking in the country.

Jama — a phone application for new parents to share tips, tricks and ideas — has about 50,000 users in Israel, but the company is ready to look globally after launching in 2020. Connecticut could be on the founders’ short list for a U.S. office.

“We’re targeting the U.S. market,” Kfir Dayan said. “It seems like you have a good infrastructure for business here in Connecticut.”

Or Haviv, a partner and head of global ventures at Arieli, said Connecticut has a lot of what his firm looks for when thinking about business startup programs: universities, available capital, and a welcoming, strong business ecosystem. He said his firm plans to hold more accelerator programs at The Bridge in the future.

“Connecticut is known for having a serious health and insurance industry,” Haviv said. “We hope we can show companies what Connecticut has to offer.”

Read the full article, here: https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/hartford-area-business-accelerators-regain-some-momentum-in-new-post-covid-landscape

Ashley SaundersHartford area business accelerators regain some momentum in new post-COVID landscape
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Nassau to Host “State of the State – New Developments in CT’s Captive Industry”

Join Connecticut insurance and business leaders for the CT Captive Insurance Association’s ‘State of the State’ on June 1st from 4-6pm.

Join Connecticut insurance and business leaders for the CT Captive Insurance Association’s ‘State of the State’ on June 1st from 4:00pm-6:00pm to celebrate the passage of HB 5506 and learn more about exciting new developments in captive insurance and innovation in Connecticut. This special event will be held at the Nassau Re/Imagine insurtech incubator based in the company’s iconic Boat Building.

Click here to reserve your seat, now!

Ashley SaundersNassau to Host “State of the State – New Developments in CT’s Captive Industry”
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Seeking foothold in U.S. market, British insurtech sets sights on Hartford

by Zachary Vasile

British insurtech building what it calls an easier, more intuitive consumer insurance experience is setting down roots in Hartford, a venture the firm’s co-founder described as a natural next step as his team looks for new opportunities in the U.S.

“Symbolically, Hartford is seen as the home of U.S. insurance,” said Niall Barton, executive chairman of London-based Wrisk. “It’s seen as a very influential place, it’s a hub. So [setting up there] seemed logical.”

Wrisk recently announced plans for its first American office, and Barton said the company is still in the early stages of finding a site for its workers in Connecticut’s Capital City. The plan for now is to set up a temporary base in the “Boat Building” on Constitution Plaza in downtown until a permanent location is secured.

Barton anticipates there will be between 10 to 20 employees based in Hartford by the end of next year, a sizable unit for an organization with about 40 workers total.

Wrisk offers companies a customizable platform they can deploy to help clients evaluate and manage their insurance needs. The mobile-first technology originally centered on “content” insurance — insurance for certain high-value personal possessions — but has since been embraced by players in the automotive world, and company officials hope to expand in that same sector in the U.S. while also branching out into other industries.

“The U.S. is the prize,” Barton said. “We feel we can enter a market where nothing has changed in a while and bring in a platform that makes insurance frictionless.”

Emphasis on experimentation

Barton co-founded Wrisk with Chief Product Officer Darius Kumana in 2015.

The firm got a big boost early on from a partnership with BMW. Wrisk was selected to participate in the German automaker’s business incubator program, and that collaboration led to Wrisk becoming the sole supplier of BMW and MINI car insurance in the U.K.

The partnership gives Wrisk access to reams of data on customer behavior and preferences, which are used to continuously improve and refine the purchasing experience.

Wrisk has also played with ways to make BMW’s platform easier to use and more attractive for potential buyers, including rolling out periods of free coverage.

That approach is encouraged by the regulatory environment in the United Kingdom, Barton said, where insurers are typically freer to experiment than in the tightly-controlled U.S., and where institutions such as the venerable Lloyds have taken the global lead in rolling out novel and innovative insurance products.

“The British insurance industry is pretty advanced,” he added. “We have regulators that are very good and very receptive to new ideas. London is a fertile and friendly place for insurtech.”

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 was “painful” for the business, Barton said, but the health crisis ultimately helped popularize Wrisk’s offerings by pushing consumers toward digital interfaces.

People emerged better versed in how to navigate online ordering systems and digital appointments, and the idea of buying or evaluating insurance online using similar technology no longer seemed foreign or too complicated to pursue.

“BMW was concerned about the conservatism of some of its clients,” Barton said, noting the average age of a typical BMW buyer in the U.K. “But it turned out 70-year-olds were happy to do it and use those services.”

With the company still so new, Barton admits he and his team “still feel every bump in the road,” including pandemic-induced price fluctuations and semiconductor shortages. But Wrisk has continued to build momentum, he noted.

Wrisk completed its Series A fundraising round in 2021, bringing in about $5.9 million. The firm plans to carry out its Series B in the latter half of this year, and a portion of that investment will support the Hartford operations launch.

Trans-Atlantic partnership
Another factor drawing Wrisk to Hartford was the March launch of an “insurtech corridor” between Connecticut and Britain.

Various industry promotional groups and officials from both governments signed an agreement removing certain jurisdictional barriers to cooperation and expansion, intended to help British insurance-technology companies do business in Connecticut, and vice-versa.

The British government said it was interested in forging closer connections with the Greater Hartford region specifically because it is home to numerous insurance and finance firms, including Aetna, Conning, The Hartford, Travelers Cos. and Nassau Financial Group.

Barton is a co-founder of a British trade group involved in the deal, Insurtech UK, and said the arrangement will help stimulate an exchange of knowledge and ideas between each country’s insurtech sector.

Calling the corridor a “natural Atlantic partnership,” Barton said the Hartford region has the depth of experience needed to make it an attractive landing point for British startups.

Reaching out toward Connecticut also makes more sense than venturing into the European Union, he said, as the company would be faced with navigating multiple new languages, while regulators and potential partners in America all speak English.

With time, Barton expects British companies beyond his own to test the waters in Hartford, and he believes American insurers that want to do the same in Britain will get a friendly reception in London.

“You won’t get an avalanche, but there will be some,” he said. “There are a few companies I can think of that must be thinking about opening in America. And, over time, I think you’ll see Hartford start to become a magnet.”

For more information:  https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/seeking-foothold-in-us-market-british-insurtech-sets-sights-on-hartford

Ashley SaundersSeeking foothold in U.S. market, British insurtech sets sights on Hartford
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Insurtech Hartford Symposium – April 26 & 27, 2022

Nassau is proud to be represented across multiple thought leadership panels by Jacqueline Merl BammanSusan ZophyTisa Rabun-Marshall, MBALaura Dinan Haber and Jan Buchsbaum, at the InsurTech Hartford Symposium, April 26 & 27.

Join industry experts, startups, and investors for two days of making connections, sharing knowledge, and sneaking a peek into the future of insurance.

We hope to see you there!

 

For more information: https://insurtechhartfordsymposium.com/ 

Ashley SaundersInsurtech Hartford Symposium – April 26 & 27, 2022
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