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#419
September 27 · 28 min
Theo Butt & Andy Roberts: Kinetic Insurance Services and Guillaume Bonnissent: Quotech: Building an AI-native MGA from scratch: inside Kinetic Insurance Services (419)
Introduction What happens when you build an MGA from scratch with today’s AI capabilities, rather than trying to layer them onto legacy technology? In this episode, Robin Merttens speaks with Theo Butt, CEO of Kinetic Insurance Services, Andy Roberts, CTO of Kinetic Insurance Services and Guillaume Bonnissent, CEO of Quotech, about Convex’s new hybrid carrier-MGA platform, the technology being built behind it and what an AI-native underwriting operation could look like in practice. Theo explains why Convex created Kinetic to extend into lines of business that are complementary to its existing underwriting appetite. The model is designed to give entrepreneurial underwriters some of the advantages of building their own MGA, while providing access to cornerstone capacity, technology, operations, claims and compliance infrastructure. The aim is simple: allow underwriters to spend more time building profitable portfolios and less time building the machinery around them. Andy takes us inside Kinetic’s technology strategy. Starting with a greenfield environment has given the team an opportunity to design around agentic AI from day one, with the ambition of automating as much non-revenue-generating work as possible. That could mean workflows running from the moment an email arrives through to quote generation, while keeping the underwriter in control of the decisions that require human judgement. But building an AI-native insurance business is not simply about automation. Andy explains why explainability, auditability and human oversight have to be designed into agentic workflows from the beginning, rather than added later. Every action needs to be traceable, with controls over what agents can do and clear visibility into how and why work has been completed. Guillaume explores what could come next. As large language models become the interface through which employees access information and complete tasks, he believes underwriters could increasingly start their day in their company’s LLM rather than moving between email, underwriting systems and other applications. The technology to do this already exists, he argues, making adoption, governance and cost control increasingly important challenges. The conversation also looks at one of the biggest advantages and risks of building on the technological frontier. Kinetic does not have the legacy infrastructure that can make deploying AI at scale difficult, but the pace of change means today’s new technology can quickly become tomorrow’s legacy. Building for flexibility and continuous change may therefore be just as important as choosing the right technology today. In this episode you’ll learn: Why Convex chose a hybrid carrier-MGA model for Kinetic How the model aims to give entrepreneurial underwriters more time to focus on underwriting Why Convex intends to provide cornerstone capacity to Kinetic’s underwriting cells How Kinetic is building agentic AI into its workflows from the outset Why explainability, auditability and human oversight are critical when deploying AI in a regulated market How automation could change the roles of underwriting and operations teams Why flexible technology matters when new underwriting teams need to be launched quickly How large language models could change the way underwriters access their systems and information Why AI adoption may now be a bigger challenge than technological capability How legacy infrastructure can make deploying agentic AI at scale more difficult Why the accelerating pace of technological change is forcing insurers to rethink what it means to future-proof their architecture If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Robin Merttens on LinkedIn. Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning.
#418
September 20 · 29 min
Jamie Wilson, VP of Strategy: hyperexponential: Why AI needs to raise the bar of underwriting, not just the floor (418)
Introduction AI is already changing underwriting, but is the industry focusing on the part of the job where it can create the most value? In this episode, Matthew Grant speaks with Jamie Wilson, VP of Strategy at hyperexponential, about the evolution of underwriting technology, the move from AI-assisted tools towards agentic workflows and what 350 senior underwriters across the UK and US say they actually want from AI. Jamie explains why much of the value delivered by AI so far has been concentrated on efficiency and reducing manual administration. Yet when underwriters were asked what makes someone exceptional at their job, speed barely featured. Instead, they pointed to qualities such as risk selection, technical depth, judgement and commercial instinct. It raises an important question: rather than simply helping underwriters work faster, can AI help them make better decisions? The conversation explores what changes as underwriting moves from AI-assisted to agentic. Instead of an underwriter controlling the workflow and calling on AI for individual tasks, an agentic system can move work through the underwriting process itself, involving a human when a decision requires expertise or falls outside predefined guardrails. Jamie discusses why those guardrails will be critical and how different portfolios could require very different levels of human involvement. They also examine the implications for underwriting teams. As technology takes on more routine work, experienced underwriters could spend more time applying their expertise to complex risks, while technical portfolio teams may play a growing role in determining where and how greater autonomy should be used. Finally, Jamie shares one of the most striking findings from the research: the "succession paradox". Underwriters identified the loss of senior judgement before it can be passed to the next generation as their biggest future concern, yet coaching junior colleagues ranked last among the investment priorities explored in the survey. Could AI help bridge that gap by making accumulated underwriting knowledge and expertise more accessible to the next generation? In this episode you’ll learn: Why focusing on efficiency alone could underestimate the potential of AI in underwriting What underwriters believe separates exceptional underwriting from simply working faster The difference between AI-assisted and agentic underwriting How guardrails can determine when an AI agent acts autonomously and when an underwriter steps in Why different portfolios may require very different approaches to agentic underwriting How greater automation could allow underwriters to focus their expertise on more complex risks Why existing technology architecture and point solutions could complicate end-to-end agentic workflows What the "succession paradox" reveals about the industry's approach to developing junior underwriting talent How AI could potentially help transfer expertise from experienced underwriters to the next generation Book recommendation: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman for its insights into human judgement, data-driven decision-making and the psychology of adopting new technology. Read hyperexponential's Underwriting Edge Report Discover what 350 senior commercial P&C underwriters say defines underwriting excellence, where AI is delivering value and what could hold the industry back in hyperexponential’s Underwriting Edge 2026 report. Curious for more? Catch-up with all that happened at hx Live NYC on 17 September. 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 newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning.
#417
September 13 · 25 min
Dom Sindall & Stephen Sheehan: Marsh Re: From days to minutes: rethinking facultative reinsurance (417)
Introduction Facultative reinsurance can give insurers the additional capacity they need to write risks they might otherwise decline. But for smaller, more transactional placements, its value increasingly depends on how quickly that capacity can be accessed. Joining Matthew Grant on the podcast, Dom Sindall, Head of Digital Broking, Facultative at Marsh Re, and Stephen Sheehan, Head of Analytics, Facultative at Marsh Re, explain how digital trading, automation and better data could reduce facultative placement times from days to hours or even minutes. Dom explains why much of the delay in facultative reinsurance comes not from the work itself, but from the elapsed time between people completing each stage of a placement. Removing some of those dependencies could make facultative reinsurance significantly more accessible for smaller risks, where speed can matter more than price. The discussion explores how advances in AI are helping automate another source of friction: insurance data. Stephen explains how extracting policy information from documents has become increasingly straightforward, while exposure data remains more challenging. Schedules of values (SOVs) can contain dozens of tabs, multiple currencies and inconsistent terminology, making ingestion, standardisation and quality control critical parts of the automation process. They also examine where humans should remain involved. Fully automated workflows offer greater speed, but Dom and Stephen explain why firms need to determine what level of data quality is ‘good enough’, where validation gates are required and which capabilities should be built internally or bought from technology partners. Looking ahead, Dom explains why the growth of digital trading could expand the facultative market itself. Reinsurers that invested early in data standards have been able to move quickly, while the next wave may increasingly look to partnerships to accelerate their own digital capabilities. In this episode you’ll learn: Why speed is becoming increasingly important for smaller facultative placements How automation could reduce placement times from days to hours or minutes Why AI has made extracting policy data significantly easier Why exposure data remains a more difficult automation challenge How to decide where human validation belongs within automated workflows Why ‘good enough’ data can be more commercially valuable than pursuing perfection How insurers and brokers can approach build versus buy technology decisions Why early investment in data standards is creating an advantage in digital trading How reducing friction could help grow the facultative reinsurance market Book recommendations: Stephen Sheehan: Don’t Believe Everything You Think by Joseph Nguyen Dom Sindall: The Innovator’s Dilemma by Clayton Christensen 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 newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning.
#416
September 6 · 21 min
Andy Moss, GM Underwriting: Duck Creek: Why AI in underwriting needs to run ‘on rails’: Send’s next chapter with Duck Creek (416)
Insurers are moving quickly from asking what AI can do to asking how they can actually make it work in underwriting. But experimenting with AI is one thing. Running it reliably across an insurance business is another. In this episode, Matthew Grant speaks with Andy Moss, GM Underwriting at Duck Creek and former Co-founder and CEO of Send, following Duck Creek’s acquisition of the underwriting technology business. Andy explains why successful enterprise AI needs to run “on rails”, supported by the infrastructure, governance and workflows required to move beyond proofs of concept and into production. He explores how underwriting workbenches are evolving into orchestration engines and why that shift could become increasingly important as insurers begin introducing AI agents into their workflows. The conversation also examines a growing challenge for the industry: how to preserve underwriting knowledge as experienced professionals retire. With underwriting becoming more complex, Andy argues that insurers need to codify the processes, referrals and institutional knowledge that often still exist in people’s heads, creating a technology foundation that can support both underwriters and AI. They also discuss how insurers should approach the increasingly important question of whether to build or buy technology. Andy’s advice is simple: “Buy the commodity and build the differentiators.” Rather than recreating established systems, insurers have an opportunity to focus their development efforts on the data, processes and underwriting expertise that genuinely give them an advantage. Finally, Andy shares the story behind Send’s acquisition by Duck Creek, how a search for growth investment became an acquisition in around 120 days and what building and selling Send taught him about the importance of assembling a team that genuinely cares about the problems customers are trying to solve. In this episode you’ll learn: Why enterprise AI needs to run “on rails” to succeed in underwriting How underwriting workbenches are evolving into orchestration engines Why AI proofs of concept can struggle to make the transition into production How agentic AI could change underwriting workflows and automate previously manual tasks Why capturing institutional knowledge is becoming increasingly urgent as experienced underwriters retire How technology can codify the processes and knowledge that currently sit inside underwriting teams Why insurers should “buy the commodity and build the differentiators” Where internal technology teams can create the greatest competitive advantage What bringing underwriting orchestration and core insurance systems together could enable How Send’s search for growth funding developed into its acquisition by Duck Creek Why Andy believes shared values and genuine commitment to customers were critical to building Send Andy’s recommendations: Invest Like the Best with Patrick O’Shaughnessy Desert Island Discs Read InsTech's recent report with Send on 'Underwriting orchestration engines: equipping insurers for the AI age' here. Register for InsTech's upcoming 7 October Evening Event with Send and Duck Creek here: Bridging between the islands of automation. 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 newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning.
#415
August 30 · 18 min
Rebecca Ince & Mark Oldroyd: Carbon: Carbon’s next chapter: Growth equity and the future of delegated underwriting (415)
Introduction: Growth equity can open the door to the next stage of an MGA’s growth. But the bigger question is how that capital can be used to strengthen underwriting, accelerate technology and build a delegated business that can compete at greater scale. Joining Robin Merttens on the podcast, Rebecca Ince, Chief Operating Officer at Carbon Underwriting, and Mark Oldroyd, Chief Technology Officer at Carbon Underwriting, explain what comes next following Carbon’s growth equity investment from FTV Capital. Rebecca explains why finding the right investment partner was about more than funding. With Carbon growing from £150 million of premium in 2023 to £450 million this year, its next phase requires greater investment in technology alongside ambitions to expand further into the US. FTV’s experience across financial technology and US insurance made both areas important factors in the decision. The discussion explores how that investment could accelerate Carbon’s technology strategy, particularly its proprietary Graphene analytics platform. Mark explains why centralised, structured data provides a strong foundation for AI and where the technology is already creating practical value, including claims matching. He also argues that MGAs need to distinguish between technology they should build themselves and capabilities they can buy, while protecting the underwriting expertise, workflows and intellectual property that differentiate them. They also discuss why bordereaux are unlikely to disappear anytime soon, despite widespread appetite for richer and more frequent data exchange. Rather than waiting for the entire ecosystem to change, Mark explains why the opportunity is to remove friction from collecting and standardising data, allowing insurers to focus more attention on the insights and decisions that come from it. Looking ahead, Rebecca explains why Carbon plans to remain focused on delegated underwriting while expanding into new classes and geographies, particularly the US. They also explore how analytics can help identify rate-adequate opportunities as conditions soften and what it takes to protect culture as a business rapidly scales beyond 100 people. In this episode you’ll learn: Why Carbon chose growth equity and what it looked for beyond capital when selecting an investment partner How centralised, structured data creates a stronger foundation for applying AI across underwriting and claims Where AI is already delivering practical value within Carbon’s insurance workflows How MGAs can decide which technology capabilities to build and which to buy Why proprietary underwriting expertise, workflows and data are becoming increasingly important sources of differentiation Why bordereaux are unlikely to disappear from delegated underwriting in the next three to five years What is preventing carriers and MGAs from exchanging richer, more frequent data Why Carbon sees the US as its next major growth opportunity How analytics can help underwriters find rate-adequate business as market conditions soften What rapidly growing MGAs can do to protect their culture as they scale Hear more from Carbon at The Golden Age of MGAs Carbon is sponsoring InsTech’s upcoming The Golden Age of MGAs? Building to win in any market cycle event on 24 September. Rebecca will moderate the Capital diversification and the resilient MGA panel, joined by Carbon Co-Founder and Managing Director Ben Laidlaw, CFC Underwriting’s Philippa Berry and Gallagher Re’s Jane Fenton. They’ll explore practical approaches to multi-carrier strategies, long-term capacity agreements, fronting, reinsurance access and patient capital structures that can withstand a full market cycle. Find out more and register here. Career opportunities at Carbon Carbon is continuing to grow its team and is looking for people interested in helping shape the future of delegated underwriting across underwriting, technology, data and operations. View current opportunities at Carbon. If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Robin Merttens on LinkedIn. Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning.
#414
August 9 · 20 min
Dani Katz, Co-founder & Director: Optalitix: The human side of AI-powered pricing (414)
Introduction AI is reshaping insurance, but successful transformation isn't just about adopting the latest technology. It's about designing tools that people actually want to use. In this episode, Robin Merttens is joined by Dani Katz, Co-founder and Director of Optalitix, to explore why the future of pricing lies in bringing underwriters and actuaries closer together rather than forcing them into the same way of working. Drawing on recent industry research and practical experience supporting insurers and reinsurers, Dani explains why human-centred design is becoming just as important as technical innovation. From the enduring role of Excel to the rise of natural language AI, the conversation explores how technology can remove repetitive work while giving insurance professionals more time to focus on judgement, strategy and commercial decision-making. You'll also hear why Dani believes AI will create new opportunities across the insurance market rather than replace the next generation of talent. In this episode you'll learn: Why successful pricing transformation depends on people as much as technology How AI can simplify underwriting without becoming a 'black box' Why actuaries and underwriters need different tools and different user experiences What insurers can learn from the continued popularity of Excel How modern pricing platforms are helping bridge the gap between actuarial models and underwriting workflows Why removing manual data preparation could unlock more strategic work for actuaries What the future of the London Market could look like as AI and automation become mainstream Why expanding insurance coverage, not reducing headcount, could be AI's biggest impact on the industry If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Robin Merttens on LinkedIn. Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning.
#413
July 26 · 27 min
Elizabeth Wooliston, Chief of Markets: Artificial: Why the London Market is ready for intelligent automation (413)
Introduction Insurance has never been short of technology promises. From Blueprint 2 to successive waves of digital transformation, the ambition has often outpaced the results. According to Elizabeth Wooliston, that's beginning to change. Joining Robin Merttens on the podcast, Elizabeth draws on more than 30 years in the London Market to explain why the current wave of intelligent automation feels fundamentally different. It's not simply that AI has become more capable. Market conditions have shifted, brokers have embedded digital strategies into their operating models and carriers are under increasing pressure to respond to risks faster without compromising underwriting quality. The discussion explores where automation is delivering value today, from follow markets and facilities to the far more complex challenge of open market placements and policy servicing. Elizabeth also explains why organisations should think beyond AI itself, arguing that success depends on structured data, specialist insurance knowledge and governance rather than simply adopting the latest large language model. They also discuss how attitudes towards technology are changing across the market. Instead of replacing underwriters, intelligent automation is increasingly being viewed as a way of removing repetitive administration, allowing experienced professionals to spend more time applying judgement, developing client relationships and mentoring the next generation of talent. In this episode you'll learn: Why Elizabeth believes the London Market has reached a genuine inflection point for technology adoption How brokers and carriers are creating new momentum for digital risk placement Where intelligent automation is already improving underwriting workflows Why open market placements represent the next major challenge for AI The trade-offs insurers should consider when deciding whether to build or buy AI capabilities What organisations need in place before agentic AI can be deployed successfully Why governance and insurance-specific expertise are becoming competitive advantages How changing expectations across the workforce are influencing technology adoption What Artificial's recent expansion says about the growing demand for intelligent insurance infrastructure If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Robin Merttens on LinkedIn. Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning.
#412
July 12 · 28 min
Rob Newbold, President, Catastrophe and Risk Solutions: Verisk: Beyond a single view of risk: why catastrophe modelling is becoming more collaborative (412)
For decades, catastrophe modelling has largely been about choosing the best view of risk. But what happens when no single model can capture the full picture? In this episode, Matthew Grant speaks with Rob Newbold, President of Catastrophe and Risk Solutions at Verisk, about why the future of catastrophe modelling is becoming more open, collaborative and accessible. Rob explains the thinking behind Verisk's new Model Exchange platform and why enabling insurers to access third-party models alongside Verisk's own is less about changing strategy and more about continuing a long-standing commitment to giving clients greater choice. The conversation explores how broader access to catastrophe and cyber models could help organisations build a more complete understanding of risk while making advanced analytics available to a much wider audience. They also discuss why the global protection gap remains stubbornly difficult to close, why parametric insurance has not yet delivered on many of its early promises and where new modelling capability is still urgently needed, from flood to wildfire. Looking ahead, Rob shares his perspective on how agentic AI could fundamentally change catastrophe modelling workflows, allowing insurers to automate scenario analysis, respond more quickly to emerging events and make sophisticated risk analytics available without requiring specialist modelling expertise. In this episode you'll learn: Why Verisk has opened its platform to third-party catastrophe and cyber models How Model Exchange helps insurers build a more comprehensive view of global risk Why collaboration between model providers could strengthen resilience across the industry Where the biggest gaps remain in catastrophe modelling, including flood and emerging risks Why the protection gap remains a persistent challenge despite better analytics The reality of parametric insurance and why basis risk continues to limit wider adoption How cloud platforms and SaaS delivery are making catastrophe models accessible beyond specialist insurance teams What practical applications of agentic AI could look like for catastrophe modelling over the next 12 months Why openness, transparency and competition may ultimately improve risk understanding across the market Rob's recommendations: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell Smart Brevity by Roy Schwartz, Mike Allen and Jim VandeHei 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 newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning.
#411
June 28 · 24 min
Tom Graham & Iryna Chekanava: Chaucer: How insurers decide which innovations succeed (411)
Innovation in insurance is no longer just about creating entirely new products. Increasingly, the biggest opportunities lie in rethinking how existing products are underwritten, distributed and delivered. In this episode, Robin Merttens is joined by Tom Graham, Head of Partnerships and Innovation at Chaucer, and Iryna Chekanava, Senior Innovation Underwriter, to explore how insurers can innovate without losing sight of the fundamentals. They discuss why technology alone is no longer a competitive advantage, what separates successful innovation partners from the rest and why deep customer understanding still matters more than the latest AI tool. The conversation also looks at the changing role of underwriting, the rise of smarter follow models, why closing the protection gap remains such a difficult challenge and how innovation teams can work alongside traditional underwriting rather than in isolation. Whether you're building an MGA, investing in insurtech or leading innovation inside an insurer, this episode offers practical insight into what insurers are really looking for and where the next wave of opportunity is emerging. What you'll learn: Why the next phase of insurance innovation is focused on improving existing products rather than inventing entirely new ones Why technology and AI are becoming table stakes rather than lasting competitive advantages The qualities insurers value most when assessing new innovation partners How insurers balance experimentation with disciplined underwriting Why customer understanding and distribution remain stronger differentiators than software alone What smarter follow models could mean for the future of the London market Why the insurance industry's biggest protection gaps remain difficult to close despite technological progress How embedding innovation teams within underwriting creates better long-term outcomes than running separate innovation functions Who should listen? This episode is particularly valuable for: Insurance innovation leaders looking to understand where carriers are investing beyond AI hype Chief Underwriting Officers and underwriting managers exploring how innovation can improve underwriting performance without compromising discipline MGA founders and leadership teams seeking insight into what insurers look for in long-term capacity partnerships Insurtech founders and product leaders building solutions for the insurance market and wanting to understand what differentiates successful propositions If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Robin Merttens on LinkedIn. Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning.
#410
June 14 · 18 min
From curiosity to commercial value: what a year of Agentic AI has taught insurance (410)
In just twelve months, the conversation around Agentic AI in insurance has changed dramatically. What began as curiosity about autonomous AI agents has evolved into a much more practical discussion about implementation, governance, economics and competitive advantage. In this special solo episode, InsTech's Zoja Wojcik reflects on the developments that have shaped the market since InsTech's first Agentic AI event in November 2025. Drawing on conversations with insurers, brokers, MGAs, technology providers and industry leaders, she explores how the industry has moved beyond experimentation and towards a more challenging question: where does the commercial value actually come from? Along the way, you'll hear insights from Simon Torrance, Erdal Atakan, Gina Gill, Elena Maran, Max Richter and Ian Thompson, alongside examples of how organisations including CFC, McGill & Partners, AIG, Duck Creek and hyperexponential are bringing Agentic AI into real insurance operations. Whether you're still trying to understand what Agentic AI means for insurance or already evaluating deployment opportunities, this episode offers a practical snapshot of where the market stands today and the questions leaders should be asking next. Want to continue the conversation? Join us in London on July 7 for 'The age of Agentic AI: from strategy to commercial value'. In this episode: 00:00 - What is Agentic AI and why has it become one of insurance's most discussed technologies? 03:15 - Looking back at the industry's first major Agentic AI event in November 2025 05:45 - Simon Torrance on why Agentic AI should be viewed as a new workforce, not simply another software tool 06:20 - Early deployment examples from across the insurance market: CFC's Lane Assist McGill & Partners and Salesforce Agentforce AIG's AI-driven underwriting initiatives Federato's agentic underwriting platform hyperexponential and Banyan Risk Duck Creek's insurance-native Agentic AI platform 08:15 - Why moving from pilot projects to production remains difficult 10:00 - The defining question of 2026: proving commercial value and ROI 12:15 - Intelligence Capital, competitive advantage and why buying AI tools may only create parity 13:30 - Orchestration, governance and maintaining trust in agentic systems 15:00 - Workforce transformation and practical lessons for insurance leaders 16:00 - What questions should insurance organisations be asking next? Key takeaways: The industry conversation has shifted from experimentation towards implementation and measurable business outcomes. Many of the biggest barriers to adoption are organisational rather than technical. Boards increasingly expect clear economic justification for AI investment. Competitive advantage may come less from AI models themselves and more from institutional knowledge and decision-making expertise. Governance frameworks must evolve alongside increasingly autonomous systems. Organisations that focus on specific business problems are more likely to succeed than those pursuing AI for its own sake. Featured contributors: Simon Torrance, AI Risk Erdal Atakan, Inigo Gina Gill, Apollo Elena Maran, Alethesis AI Max Richter, Mea platform Ian Thompson, IMT Advisory Further reading: For listeners looking to explore the themes discussed in this episode: Agentic AI & insurance Podcast episode: Where is the industry today? – a view from the C-suite (A rare C-suite perspective on Agentic AI: what it is, how it’s being deployed and why senior leaders are walking a tightrope between bold innovation and operational risk.) CFC launches Lane Assist, a live agentic underwriting pilot McGill & Partners becomes first London Market broker to deploy Agentic AI McGill + AIG collaboration using AI-driven underwriting Duck Creek launches insurance-native Agentic AI Platform Federato RiskOps and Agentic underwriting platform MGA Banyan Risk deploys hx’s full agentic underwriting suite Strategy & commercial value Simon Torrance's work on Intelligence Capital AI Risk research on Agentic AI and enterprise transformation InsTech & ServiceNow New York event: The future of insurance will be orchestrated, not built Governance & Responsible AI Article: The New Frontier: Managing and insuring generative and agentic AI risks with Edinburgh Futures Institute Podcast episode: Creating a new kind of assurance & insurance framework for AI-related risks (This episode unpacks one of the most ambitious research initiatives currently shaping the future of AI risk in insurance.)
#409
May 31 · 21 min
Harry Vardigans, Head of Insurance: Fathom: Will it make the boat go faster? (409)
What do ocean rowing, flood modelling and insurance innovation have in common? More than you might think. In this episode, Matthew Grant is joined by Harry Vardigans, Head of Insurance at Fathom, for a conversation that spans Atlantic Ocean rowing, catastrophe modelling and the evolving nature of risk in insurance. Later this year, Harry will join three teammates in an attempt to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, travelling from the Canary Islands to Antigua in a nine-metre boat. What starts as a discussion about one of the world's toughest endurance challenges quickly becomes a fascinating exploration of how individuals and organisations prepare for uncertainty, manage risk and make decisions in complex environments. Drawing on both his upcoming expedition and his work helping insurers better understand flood risk, Harry reflects on the parallels between navigating an ocean crossing and navigating today's insurance market. From weather forecasting and route optimisation to insurance availability and regulatory change, the conversation highlights how better data and improved modelling can transform previously uninsurable risks into manageable opportunities. In this conversation, Harry shares: What it takes to prepare for a 3,000-mile Atlantic rowing race The practical realities of managing risk in one of the world's most demanding endurance challenges How weather forecasting and climate intelligence influence decision-making at sea Why ocean rowing has become a more insurable risk over time The role regulation plays in creating new insurance opportunities How Fathom and Swiss Re are combining expertise to advance flood modelling capabilities Why flood risk assessment has changed significantly over the last five years The benefits of maintaining a consistent global approach to catastrophe modelling Lessons from scaling a specialist insurtech business in a competitive market How the philosophy of continuous improvement can apply to both sport and business Why ambitious projects often begin with simply committing to the first step Follow Harry's Atlantic crossing Harry and his crew, Rogue Wave, will be sharing updates as they prepare for and complete their Atlantic crossing. Instagram: @rogue_wave2026 LinkedIn: Rogue Wave Atlantic Row 2026 YouTube: Rogue Wave Vlog Episode 1 – Introductions The team is also raising money for two charities, The HALO Trust and the Cocktower Foundation, with donation links available through their social channels. Harry's recommendation Harry recommends Will It Make The Boat Go Faster? by Ben Hunt-Davis and Harriet Beveridge. The book explores how a relentless focus on actions that directly contribute to your goal can drive exceptional results, a philosophy that has shaped both his approach to business and his preparation for crossing the Atlantic. 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 newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning.
#408
May 24 · 24 min
Mark Twigg & Rob Agnew: Agentiv-x: Why neurosymbolic AI could transform insurance broking (408)
In this episode, Robin Merttens is joined by Mark Twigg, CEO of Agentiv-x, and Rob Agnew, the company’s Chief Strategy Officer, to explore how neurosymbolic AI could reshape commercial insurance broking. While much of the insurance AI conversation has focused on underwriting automation, Agentiv-x is taking a different approach: helping brokers make faster, more consistent and more explainable placement decisions in increasingly complex commercial markets. Drawing on backgrounds in financial services regulation, governance and insurance technology, Mark and Rob explain why they believe the next generation of AI tools must go beyond black-box automation. Instead, they argue the future lies in combining the pattern recognition power of large language models with structured reasoning and transparent decision-making. The discussion centres on the practical application of neurosymbolic AI, an emerging approach designed to deliver the benefits of generative AI while improving explainability, consistency and regulatory accountability. Through their placement copilot platform, Agentiv-x is aiming to help brokers compare policies more effectively, evidence the quality of their recommendations and reduce the risks associated with manual decision-making. Set against a backdrop of growing regulatory scrutiny, increasing compliance demands and rapid AI adoption across financial services, the conversation explores what responsible AI implementation in insurance could look like over the next decade. At the heart of the episode is a key question: as brokers become increasingly reliant on AI-assisted decision-making, how can the industry balance automation with transparency, accountability and human judgement? In this conversation, Mark and Rob share: What neurosymbolic AI is and why it matters in insurance How Agentiv-x combines large language models with symbolic reasoning Why they chose to focus on brokers rather than underwriting workflows The challenges brokers face when comparing complex commercial policies How explainable AI can help reduce E&O exposure and improve client outcomes Why consistency and traceability are becoming central regulatory concerns How AI-native insurance businesses could disrupt incumbent market models Why brokers remain essential in AI-assisted decision-making processes How Agentiv-x is approaching claims advocacy using the same technology foundations What success looks like as the business moves towards its next funding round If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Robin Merttens on LinkedIn. Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning.
#407
May 17 · 13 min
Lifting the lid on the InsTech Podcast - what’s worked and what hasn’t… (407)
This week, the tables turn as Matthew Grant steps behind the microphone solo to reflect on seven years, 400+ episodes and the lessons learned from building one of insurance innovation’s most recognisable podcast platforms. From storytelling and interview technique to AI-assisted editing and the evolving role of podcasts in B2B marketing, Matthew shares an honest look at what works, what doesn’t and how InsTech is thinking about the future of content in an increasingly crowded landscape. Rather than focusing on technology alone, this episode explores something more fundamental: why people listen, what makes conversations memorable and how meaningful stories cut through industry noise. Listeners will hear Matthew’s practical insights on: Why storytelling matters more than expertise alone The power of keeping interviews simple, focused and human How educational content outperforms the hard sell What separates memorable podcast guests from forgettable ones How AI tools like Claude and NotebookLM are changing podcast production and research Why audio remains such a powerful medium for busy professionals The importance of preparation without over-scripting conversations How personal stories unlock better discussions and stronger audience connection Matthew also reflects candidly on his own interviewing habits, what AI revealed about his style and why continuous improvement matters even after hundreds of episodes. Along the way, he highlights standout conversations from previous episodes, including discussions with Sasha Haco of Unitary and serial entrepreneur Mark Cunningham of PriceHubble, both examples of how compelling personal stories can bring complex insurance innovation to life. Whether you host a podcast, appear as a guest or simply want to communicate ideas more effectively, this episode offers a thoughtful masterclass in creating content people actually want to listen to. 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 newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning.
#406
May 10 · 29 min
The future and how to get there (406)
In this episode, we revisit a live panel discussion from last year’s Agentic AI event, moderated by Robin Merttens featuring Ian Thompson of IMT Advisory, Sasha Haco, Co-founder and CEO of Unitary, Dr Paul Dongha from NatWest Group, and Nick Williams-Walker, Group COO at McGill and Partners. Recorded at a moment when Agentic AI was beginning to dominate conversations across insurance, the discussion explores what the industry might look like three to five years into widespread AI adoption — and what it will take to get there. The panel examines where insurers are already deploying AI agents, from claims investigations and underwriting support to real-time risk analysis and customer servicing. But alongside the optimism sits a more cautious conversation around governance, regulation, data complexity and the growing gap between experimentation and operational reality. Throughout the discussion, there is a recurring tension between ambition and execution. Some panellists argue the winners will be organisations willing to move quickly with focused, incremental deployments. Others warn that poorly governed AI systems, unrealistic expectations and “fear of missing out” decision-making could create entirely new risks for the sector. The conversation also raises broader questions about how insurance itself may evolve as AI capabilities mature — from the rise of highly automated brokers and MGAs to changing expectations around service, talent and human expertise. With InsTech and AI Risk returning on 7 July for this year’s expanded Agentic AI event in London, this episode offers a useful opportunity to look back at the predictions, concerns and opportunities shaping the conversation just one year ago. In this conversation, the panel discusses: Where insurers are already deploying AI agents across underwriting, claims and servicing Why governance and human oversight remain critical in regulated industries The operational challenges of implementing AI at scale inside large organisations Whether Agentic AI will augment teams or significantly reduce operational headcount How leadership, culture and change management will influence adoption Why incremental deployment may outperform large transformation programmes The growing importance of AI governance, accountability and security controls How customer expectations and service models could evolve over the next five years Why talent shortages may accelerate demand for AI-enabled workflows Which organisations are most likely to benefit from the next wave of insurance innovation Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning.
#405
May 3 · 23 min
Carrie Thomas, Account Director: Datos Insights: Should I stay or should I go now? A personal perspective of flood risk in Florida (405)
In this episode, Matthew Grant is joined by Carrie Thomas, Account Director at Datos Insights, for a deeply personal look at what happens when insurance risk becomes a lived reality. Having spent years working closely with insurers, Carrie brings a rare dual perspective, both as an industry insider and as a homeowner navigating one of the most challenging insurance markets in the world. After relocating from the Carolinas to Florida, she found herself caught in a system where cover is not only harder to access, but increasingly difficult to justify. The conversation centres on her experience trying to secure homeowners and flood insurance in a state where carriers are withdrawing, pricing is volatile and eligibility rules create unexpected gaps. Despite not being in a designated flood zone, Carrie faced rising premiums, limited options and ultimately the decision to go without flood cover altogether. Set against the backdrop of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, she shares what it is like to experience storm risk first-hand, from uncertainty around evacuation to the aftermath of storm surge and its impact on communities. At the heart of the episode is a difficult but important question: when the cost of protection continues to rise, how do individuals, insurers and governments respond? In this conversation, Carrie shares: Why insurers are pulling back from markets like Florida and what that means for customers How flood risk, eligibility and pricing can create unexpected protection gaps What it feels like to navigate insurance decisions during active hurricane seasons The trade-offs between state-backed cover and private market alternatives Why insurance costs are becoming a key driver in relocation decisions How catastrophe events are reshaping perceptions of risk at a household level Why improved data does not automatically lead to more affordable insurance How initiatives like Elevate Florida are attempting to adapt to increasing flood exposure What insurers are focusing on as they balance claims pressure with long-term sustainability Carrie’s recommendations: Podcast: The Rest is History Book: Millennium by Tom Holland If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn.
#404
April 26 · 28 min
Max Richter, EMEA CEO: mea: What's changed? Why AI is moving from experimentation to execution (404)
Introduction In this episode, Robin Merttens is joined by Max Richter, EMEA CEO and Global Growth Leader at the mea Platform, to explore why AI in insurance is finally moving from theory into real operational impact. After years advising insurers on transformation at Accenture, Max made the shift to building technology inside the workflows he once analysed. His view is clear: the industry doesn’t need more AI strategy, it needs systems that actually execute work. The conversation focuses on a fundamental shift, from using AI to generate insights to using it to get work done. From underwriting to claims and servicing, the opportunity is no longer about reading data faster, but about automating the workflows that sit behind it. Max also shares why previous waves of automation fell short, what’s changed in the technology landscape, and why this moment feels different. With stronger models, better integration and growing cost pressure, AI is becoming an operating model question, not just a technology one. In this conversation, Max shares: Why the industry is moving from AI experimentation to execution The shift from automating tasks to automating entire workflows Why “ingestion” is only the starting point, not the end goal Where AI agents are already delivering real impact in underwriting and claims How incumbents and new entrants are approaching adoption differently Why starting with a clear pain point is key to scaling AI successfully The difference between AI theatre and production-grade outcomes Why collaboration with underwriters and operations teams is becoming essential If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Robin Merttens on LinkedIn. Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning.
#403
April 19 · 25 min
Mark Cunningham, Managing Director: PriceHubble: Is your data useful or useless? (403)
Introduction In this episode, Matthew Grant speaks with Mark Cunningham, Managing Director at PriceHubble, about how insurers can move from fragmented data to genuinely informed decision-making. Despite decades of investment in data and analytics, many insurers still lack a clear understanding of the assets they are covering. Mark offers a candid view of where the real problems lie, and why improving outcomes starts not with more data, but with better data. He introduces a simple but powerful framework, seeding, signalling and selling, which reframes how insurers should approach risk. From establishing a reliable baseline of what is actually on risk, to identifying meaningful signals and acting on them, the model highlights the gaps that continue to hold the industry back. The conversation explores the practical challenges of property data, including inconsistent addressing standards and the underuse of unique identifiers such as UPRNs. Mark explains how solving these foundational issues unlocks a far richer understanding of exposure, enabling insurers to assess risk with far greater precision. Looking ahead, the discussion turns to emerging pressures. Mark shares analysis suggesting that up to 500,000 UK properties could become effectively uninsurable within the next decade due to the combined impact of flood and subsidence. It is a stark example of how climate risk is becoming financially visible and why insurers need to rethink how they model long-term exposure. The episode also highlights missed opportunities across the wider financial ecosystem. Despite working with similar data, insurers and mortgage lenders remain poorly aligned, creating friction in customer journeys and limiting the potential for more integrated risk assessment. Mark also reflects on where generative AI is already making a difference, from reactivating historical leads to improving customer interactions and product recommendations. The impact is less about transformation and more about strengthening existing processes in practical, measurable ways. At the heart of the discussion is a consistent theme: better decisions depend on better foundations, and the industry still has work to do to get the basics right. In this conversation, Mark shares: Why data in insurance is either useful or useless, and the risks of relying on anything in between How the seeding, signalling and selling framework helps structure better risk assessment Why many insurers still do not fully understand what they have on risk How UPRNs can act as a common language for property data, and why adoption remains limited What new data sources are revealing about construction risk and evolving exposures How combining climate perils and property economics points to a growing insurability challenge Why insurers and mortgage lenders are still not aligned, and what that means for customers Where generative AI is delivering practical value today across operations and distribution Mark’s recommendation: Book: The Miracle of Castel di Sangro by Joe McGinniss 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 newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning.
#402
April 12 · 28 min
Rachel Delhaise, Chief Sustainability Officer: Convex: Insurance’s critical role in global resilience (402)
Introduction In this episode, Matthew Grant speaks with Rachel Delhaise, Chief Sustainability Officer at Convex, about what climate sustainability really looks like inside a modern insurance business. While attention may have shifted elsewhere, the underlying challenges have not gone away. Rachel offers a clear view of how insurers are continuing to respond through underwriting decisions, risk modelling and long-term investment thinking. Rachel joined Convex in the early stages of the business to build its sustainability approach from the ground up. Her role spans three core areas: identifying opportunities in the transition, strengthening how climate risk is understood and managed and supporting cutting-edge carbon science research. Together, these reflect a broader shift in how insurers are positioning themselves as active participants in enabling change. The conversation explores how insurance is supporting emerging technologies such as carbon capture and storage, where underwriting plays a critical role in making projects viable. Rachel also shares how the industry is approaching increasingly complex risks, from wildfire to flood, in a world where historical data is no longer a reliable guide. Drawing on her experience across underwriting, investment and industry collaboration, she explains why the fundamentals of risk still matter, even as new tools and models emerge. She also highlights the growing influence of insurance thinking across the wider financial system, as banks and investors begin to grapple with physical climate risk in more sophisticated ways. At the heart of the discussion is a simple but important idea: insurance has a unique ability to enable progress, but only if it is brought into the conversation early and used intelligently. In this conversation, Rachel shares: Why sustainability remains a core strategic priority, even as public attention fluctuates How insurers are supporting the transition through underwriting and investment, not just policy statements What it takes to insure emerging areas like carbon capture and storage Why pricing, rather than capacity, is often the real constraint in renewable energy insurance How insurers are adapting to climate risk with limited historical data Why understanding exposure and vulnerability is still fundamental to modelling future risk What the protection gap reveals about global resilience and economic stability How insurance expertise is shaping how banks and investors assess climate risk Why involving insurers earlier can significantly improve the success of large projects Rachel’s recommendations Podcast: Fossil vs Future Book: The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson 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 newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning.
#401
April 5 · 17 min
Sasha Haco, CEO & Co-founder: Unitary: From black holes to bordereaux: building AI agents for insurance (401)
In this episode, Robin Merttens speaks with Sasha Haco, CEO and Co-founder of Unitary, about how AI is being applied in practical, high-impact ways across insurance operations. Sasha’s route into the industry is far from typical. With a background in astrophysics and no prior experience in insurance, she set out to build something tangible using AI, focusing on real-world problems rather than theoretical ones. What began as a mission to make the internet safer has evolved into a fast-growing platform that automates some of the most manual and time-consuming processes in insurance. From bordereaux handling to claims and policy administration, the focus is on removing repetitive work without requiring insurers to overhaul their existing systems. Drawing on her experience building Unitary from the ground up, Sasha shares a clear and practical perspective on where AI is delivering value today, how insurers can get started quickly and what it takes to stand out in an increasingly competitive market. At the heart of the discussion is a simple idea: meaningful progress often starts with tackling the most overlooked and operationally painful tasks. In this conversation, Sasha shares: Why coming from outside insurance can unlock new ways of solving entrenched problems How virtual agents can replicate human workflows across legacy systems without integration Where insurers are seeing the fastest returns from automation today Why speed to ROI is becoming a defining factor in AI adoption How trust and customer outcomes are emerging as key competitive advantages What it takes to build and scale in a crowded AI landscape Why the biggest barrier to automation is often mindset, not technology If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Robin Merttens on LinkedIn. Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning.
#400
March 29 · 22 min
Partners’ Chat uncut – straight from the horse’s mouth (400)
In this episode, Matthew Grant and Robin Merttens hit the 400-episode mark and ask a slightly uncomfortable question: after all these conversations, are we still human or just very convincing AI? What follows is a sharp, unscripted reflection on how the industry has evolved from early insurtech scepticism to today’s surge of enthusiasm around generative AI. But beneath the milestone moment is a more interesting story, how insurance has shifted from resisting technology to almost over-embracing it, and what happens next when the tools are no longer the problem. Drawing on years at the centre of the market’s innovation community, Matthew and Robin explore the move from experimentation to execution, why “grown-up AI” is now the real challenge and where genuine commercial value is starting to emerge. In this conversation, Matthew and Robin share: Why the industry has gone from fighting technology to actively chasing it What “grown-up AI” really means and why governance and orchestration now matter more than new tools How underwriters and brokers are finally seeing immediate value from AI in their day-to-day work The risk of being overwhelmed by point solutions and what happens without a coherent strategy The two very different playbooks for building AI businesses and which one is gaining traction Why revenue is arriving faster for startups and how that is reshaping investment dynamics What is fuelling the current boom in MGAs and why now feels like a defining moment The contrasting rise of younger founders and experienced operators launching their own ventures Why much of the market is still writing familiar risks and what that says about true innovation Whether insurers are losing their appetite for harder, more unusual risks How community, curiosity and shared learning continue to underpin real progress in insurance And why, despite everything, face-to-face conversations still matter more than ever If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Matthew Grant or Robin Merttens on LinkedIn.

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