Home > Companies > C-Suite On Deck > Q&A with Lucile Beaurain, EMEA & APAC Client Executive - Akur8

Q&A with Lucile Beaurain, EMEA & APAC Client Executive - Akur8

Lucile Beaurain, EMEA & APAC Client Executive - Akur8, is an International Client Executive at Akur8. She has built a strong experience in consulting and sales for complex solutions. She ajoined Akur8 to focus on business development with international insurers and manages the relationship with AXA Group.

If something doesn’t feel right, it’s not right; trust your gut. Communicate more and elevate your standards in your personal and professional life.



MEDIA 7: Could you please tell us a little about yourself? What inspired you to pursue a career in insurance?
LUCILE BEAURAIN: Hi, I am Lucile, a French working at Akur8, an Insurtech company in Paris whose vision is to transform insurance pricing with Transparent AI. I have a very cosmopolitan background: I have cousins from the US and Netherlands. I went to Australia for a few weeks in High School, and then I was an au pair in the US. I also spent a year studying in Taiwan, so working in an international environment was very important for me, and my previous experiences led me to Akur8.

When I applied at Akur8, there were only 15 people. We are now almost 50 with offices in Paris, London, and NYC, and we have more than 20 customers in Europe, The Americas, and Asia! I wanted to work in Insurance because of the exciting adventure Akur8 represents and also because I thought that what we do would have a tangible impact on the insurance industry. That is because insurance pricing is a core and critical process for insurers, even more so in the current context of rising competitive pressure, low-interest rates, and the COVID-19 crisis. I like to work in a down-to-earth industry where we know we are adding value.

M7: How does Akur8 leverage AI and ML to automate GLM/GAM modeling while keeping transparency and control on the models?
LB: Akur8’s solution enhances insurers’ pricing processes by automating risk and demand modeling, using transparent Artificial Intelligence proprietary technology. The core benefits for insurers include reducing modeling time which will accelerate time to market, increase predictive power while keeping full transparency and control on the models created. The Pricing experts can edit every step of the pricing process, and all variables selected within the models are known by the Pricing expert. Nothing will be put into production without their knowledge and possibly to correct something.

In this sense, Akur8 is reconciling the best of two worlds: actuarial science, generating models that pricing teams already know and use ensuring control and transparency, and data science, by automating the generation of these models yet without sacrificing interpretability and auditability, which would be the case with generic Machine Learning models that are Blackbox.


Driving a truly customer-centric strategy allowing for simple customization and personalization is instrumental. Such an approach has to be reflected in every process, even the most critical ones, like pricing.



M7: Have you ever bent the rules in assisting a customer? What is your approach to interaction in dealing with a demanding customer?
LB: One important skill for any salesperson is to listen to your intuition and to make sure that the client is treated the best way they can. I sometimes went above my work missions, and I always try to provide the answers needed on time. What is important is to treat your client as you would like to be treated. Even if the client is difficult, try to understand why and also, providing the answers and maintaining reasonable diligence will always help you - in any situation!

M7: How can you get rapid unbiased consumer feedback to know if you are addressing their needs?
LB: We use an NPS survey to get their feedback. They have to score Akur8, and also, they can share comments. This way, we are all hands-on deck whenever they answer, and we know how to adjust if needed. We need to make sure that the satisfaction level from all our customers is the highest possible. We also have a direct channel of contact with our customers and prospects through a reliable tool to raise any questions or issues they have, which we strive to address in the most reactive manner possible.


The first job you are going to be working at doesn’t have to be your dream job. All your experiences will teach you something. That will lead you to your dream job.



M7: What do you believe are the top three marketing challenges the insurance industry faces in the post-COVID-19 era?
LB: I believe the Covid-19 crisis is a massive accelerator to already-existing trends and challenges the insurance industry is faced with.
First, I am convinced that the insurers’ ability to provide the most seamless customer experience and journey possible will be one of the most essential elements in maintaining and strengthening their competitive advantage, especially with the rising competitive pressure from InsurTechs that are changing customer standards.

Second, driving a truly customer-centric strategy allowing for simple customization and personalization will be instrumental. Such an approach has to be reflected in every process, even the most critical ones, like pricing. Last, I think Brand equity should not be underestimated by insurers as a powerful tool to drive customer retention and acquisition.

M7: When you are not working, what are you usually doing? Would you like to share your hobbies with us?
LB: Sure! I love cooking and baking. During the first lockdown in 2020, in France, I had the chance to cook 40/50 meals a week for an association called “Les Ravitailleurs”, collecting meals for people in need.
It was great to be able to contribute to such a project in a time of need!


M7: Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your younger self?
LB: If something doesn’t feel right, it’s not right; trust your gut. Also, communicate more and elevate your standards in your personal and professional life. The first job you are going to be working at doesn’t have to be your dream job. All your experiences will teach you something. That will lead you to your dream job. I followed this, and I am so happy that it did not feel right every time I listened to myself and left the adventure. I am currently working for a great company with great people!

ABOUT AKUR8

Akur8 is revolutionizing insurance pricing with transparent AI. Akur8 developed a unique AI-based insurance pricing solution that automates modeling for insurance companies while keeping full transparency and control on the models created, as required by regulators worldwide. Akur8 is the only solution on the market reconciling Machine Learning and Actuarial worlds - enabling customer lifetime value-based price optimization.

More C-Suite on deck

Q&A with Ed Breault, Chief Marketing Officer at Aprimo

MEDIA 7 | November 28, 2019

Ed Breault, Chief Marketing Officer at Aprimo is a marketer with over 18 years of industry experience. At Aprimo, Ed is responsible for the global brand and growth which includes all Paid/Owned/Earned media, Brand Experience, Product Marketing, Industry Marketing, Influencer Marketing, Strategic Communications, Content Marketing, Analyst Relations, Alliance Marketing, Public Relations, Events, Demand Generation and Account-Based Marketing. MEDIA 7: What’s your superpower? ED BREAULT: I would say it’s applying the full spectrum of art and science that is required in marketing today. Not just left or right brained, but whole-brained strategy. Being human yet data-driven and really understanding numbers and (the right) metrics to make connections to business drivers. Add storytelling to that, so I can effectively communicate to my team, the CEO and CFO as well as my Board of Directors on those metrics, and connecting all that we are doing in marketing to the mission of the business. Then quickly shifting gears to the art and creative aspects of marketing that are required to engage an audience and tell great commercial stories that take complex concepts and craft them in a way that is interesting for people to pay attention to. I have to be the ultimate point of truth for the brand. M7: At Aprimo, how have marketing leadership roles and responsibilities evolved over the past few years? EB: There are so many dimensions needed by marketing leaders today. There are several elements driving this evolution, it’s the new experience battlefront that is emerging and also marketers themselves driving changes. From a market perspective, there is a clear appetite for disruption and consumers are wanting more experiential elements to their buying experience and interactions with brands. Take a few direct to consumer disruptions like trialing products in-home, purchasing directly from a brand or even wanting to ensure that the producer’s trade practices are in line with the buyer’s or even a regulator’s for that matter. Then we want to try before we buy, and we emotionally care about the supply chain of products. Do we TRUST this brand to do business with them? Behind all of this is a story that needs to be told, and it is those marketers who know their audience well and make connections that will win the commercial game. Back to the marketer, there are so many diverse backgrounds that marketers bring now and I’m really intrigued by those who have unconventional backgrounds because they contribute something uniquely new to the field. I love hearing about the marketer’s journey.

Read More

Q&A with Sangram Vajre, Co-founder & Chief Evangelist at Terminus

MEDIA 7 | January 9, 2020

Sangram Vajre, Co-Founder & Chief Evangelist at Terminus is also an author and host of the podcast FlipmyFunnel. He is one of the leading minds in B2B marketing. MEDIA 7: What are you passionate about? SANGRAM VAJRE: Three things: Lead professionally. Grow personally. Love family. M7: Terminus has been recognized as one of Georgia’s 40 fastest-growing companies by ACG Atlanta. What factors contribute to this pace? SV: One of our core values is #OneTeam – which means we think and act as one team and know that if we treat our team right, they will treat our customers amazing. There are no great companies, only great people that make those companies.

Read More

Q&A with Andrea Lechner-Becker, Chief Marketing Officer at LeadMD

MEDIA 7 | December 5, 2019

Andrea Lechner-Becker, Chief Marketing Officer at LeadMD is an experienced Marketing and Sales Executive with a demonstrated history of working in the marketing and advertising industry. Skilled in Business Process, Marketo, Sales, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), and IT Service Management, Andrea is also a strong business development professional and a storyteller. MEDIA 7: What inspired you to get into marketing? ANDREA LECHNER: Frankly, not having better options. I originally attended the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse thinking I’d major in Archaeology. I wanted to be Indiana Jones! But, after visiting the archaeology building – i.e. the cold, dark basement of the science building – where a girl sat to piece together pieces of an old Native American vase, I knew archaeology was not going to be the right path for me. And so, without being good at science and a major in art or art history was unlikely to pay my bills, I decided to go into “business”. I originally registered as a management major, but took my first marketing class and thought it was more interesting and switched my sophomore year. That was pretty much it. I’d never been involved in business classes or DECA in high school – I didn’t really know what to do or what jobs in marketing were even possible. I dumb lucked myself into it really. M7: As a storyteller, do you relate the brand to a story or story to the brand? AL: Both? Neither? I think there are stories in every brand, because there are people working on the brand and people engaging with the brand and people using what the brand creates. People, most often a single person, are at the heart of great stories. You can start with the “point” of the story you’re trying to tell. Say you have a software that help accountants better create reports for board meetings. It’s likely you’ll want to tell a success story about an accountant getting promoted to CFO in part because your software helped better communicate their work product to the board. You could have the idea for that and go looking for that story in your customers. OR, you could hear that story, and say, “That’s amazing!” and share it with customers, partners and internal people. Stories are all around us – the most important thing is to keep your ears and eyes open for finding them.

Read More

Q&A with Ed Breault, Chief Marketing Officer at Aprimo

MEDIA 7 | November 28, 2019

Ed Breault, Chief Marketing Officer at Aprimo is a marketer with over 18 years of industry experience. At Aprimo, Ed is responsible for the global brand and growth which includes all Paid/Owned/Earned media, Brand Experience, Product Marketing, Industry Marketing, Influencer Marketing, Strategic Communications, Content Marketing, Analyst Relations, Alliance Marketing, Public Relations, Events, Demand Generation and Account-Based Marketing. MEDIA 7: What’s your superpower? ED BREAULT: I would say it’s applying the full spectrum of art and science that is required in marketing today. Not just left or right brained, but whole-brained strategy. Being human yet data-driven and really understanding numbers and (the right) metrics to make connections to business drivers. Add storytelling to that, so I can effectively communicate to my team, the CEO and CFO as well as my Board of Directors on those metrics, and connecting all that we are doing in marketing to the mission of the business. Then quickly shifting gears to the art and creative aspects of marketing that are required to engage an audience and tell great commercial stories that take complex concepts and craft them in a way that is interesting for people to pay attention to. I have to be the ultimate point of truth for the brand. M7: At Aprimo, how have marketing leadership roles and responsibilities evolved over the past few years? EB: There are so many dimensions needed by marketing leaders today. There are several elements driving this evolution, it’s the new experience battlefront that is emerging and also marketers themselves driving changes. From a market perspective, there is a clear appetite for disruption and consumers are wanting more experiential elements to their buying experience and interactions with brands. Take a few direct to consumer disruptions like trialing products in-home, purchasing directly from a brand or even wanting to ensure that the producer’s trade practices are in line with the buyer’s or even a regulator’s for that matter. Then we want to try before we buy, and we emotionally care about the supply chain of products. Do we TRUST this brand to do business with them? Behind all of this is a story that needs to be told, and it is those marketers who know their audience well and make connections that will win the commercial game. Back to the marketer, there are so many diverse backgrounds that marketers bring now and I’m really intrigued by those who have unconventional backgrounds because they contribute something uniquely new to the field. I love hearing about the marketer’s journey.

Read More

Q&A with Sangram Vajre, Co-founder & Chief Evangelist at Terminus

MEDIA 7 | January 9, 2020

Sangram Vajre, Co-Founder & Chief Evangelist at Terminus is also an author and host of the podcast FlipmyFunnel. He is one of the leading minds in B2B marketing. MEDIA 7: What are you passionate about? SANGRAM VAJRE: Three things: Lead professionally. Grow personally. Love family. M7: Terminus has been recognized as one of Georgia’s 40 fastest-growing companies by ACG Atlanta. What factors contribute to this pace? SV: One of our core values is #OneTeam – which means we think and act as one team and know that if we treat our team right, they will treat our customers amazing. There are no great companies, only great people that make those companies.

Read More

Q&A with Andrea Lechner-Becker, Chief Marketing Officer at LeadMD

MEDIA 7 | December 5, 2019

Andrea Lechner-Becker, Chief Marketing Officer at LeadMD is an experienced Marketing and Sales Executive with a demonstrated history of working in the marketing and advertising industry. Skilled in Business Process, Marketo, Sales, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), and IT Service Management, Andrea is also a strong business development professional and a storyteller. MEDIA 7: What inspired you to get into marketing? ANDREA LECHNER: Frankly, not having better options. I originally attended the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse thinking I’d major in Archaeology. I wanted to be Indiana Jones! But, after visiting the archaeology building – i.e. the cold, dark basement of the science building – where a girl sat to piece together pieces of an old Native American vase, I knew archaeology was not going to be the right path for me. And so, without being good at science and a major in art or art history was unlikely to pay my bills, I decided to go into “business”. I originally registered as a management major, but took my first marketing class and thought it was more interesting and switched my sophomore year. That was pretty much it. I’d never been involved in business classes or DECA in high school – I didn’t really know what to do or what jobs in marketing were even possible. I dumb lucked myself into it really. M7: As a storyteller, do you relate the brand to a story or story to the brand? AL: Both? Neither? I think there are stories in every brand, because there are people working on the brand and people engaging with the brand and people using what the brand creates. People, most often a single person, are at the heart of great stories. You can start with the “point” of the story you’re trying to tell. Say you have a software that help accountants better create reports for board meetings. It’s likely you’ll want to tell a success story about an accountant getting promoted to CFO in part because your software helped better communicate their work product to the board. You could have the idea for that and go looking for that story in your customers. OR, you could hear that story, and say, “That’s amazing!” and share it with customers, partners and internal people. Stories are all around us – the most important thing is to keep your ears and eyes open for finding them.

Read More

Related News

Health Insurance

Caris Life Sciences and Flatiron Health Partner to Create Transformational Real-World Data Offering

PR Newswire | January 09, 2024

Caris Life Sciences(Caris), the leading next-generation AI TechBio company and precision medicine pioneer that is actively developing and delivering innovative solutions to revolutionize healthcare and improve the human condition using molecular science and AI, and Flatiron Health, a leading healthtech company transforming evidence generation through an engaged care network, oncology-specific expertise, and fit-for-purpose scientific methods and tools, today announced a partnership to create a multimodal data offering to support and accelerate biopharmaceutical drug development and patient care. Combining the breadth and depth of Caris' genomic, transcriptomic and imaging database with Flatiron's industry-leading longitudinal patient data and high-quality clinical outcomes, backed by deep scientific expertise, equips cancer researchers with robust comprehensive real-world data (RWD) offering at scale to power the next wave of cancer therapeutics. "We are excited to collaborate with Flatiron Health to create a multimodal data offering in support of biopharma's efforts to bring novel personalized therapeutic interventions to market to ultimately improve the lives of cancer patients," said David Spetzler, MS, PhD, MBA, President of Caris Life Sciences. "In forming this data union, we are able to maximize biological and clinical context to better understand each patient journey." "We are thrilled to announce this groundbreaking partnership that brings together Caris' leading molecular science capabilities with Flatiron's unparalleled gold standard of high-quality oncology real-world data," said Stephanie Reisinger, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Real-World Evidence, Flatiron Health. "This opportunity has the potential to create the largest and best-in-class clinical-omics dataset with Whole Exome and Whole Transcriptome sequencing coverage, expanding our opportunity to support biopharma in the preclinical stages of drug discovery and translation." "Identifying sufficient numbers of records to build cohorts of adequate size that can be used to address the most pressing research questions is a challenge that plagues the oncology community. With Caris and Flatiron's combined strength and broad reach across oncology, we can provide this incredibly powerful data at a scale that will fuel drug discovery and therapeutic innovation," said Brian Lamon, PhD, Chief Business Officer of Caris Life Sciences. As the pioneer in precision medicine and molecular profiling, Caris has created a molecular-rich, real-world database that contains more than 50 petabytes of oncology-specific genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and imaging data. Caris was the first in the molecular diagnostic industry to provide Whole Exome Sequencing DNA coverage and Whole Transcriptome Sequencing RNA coverage (WES / WTS) for every patient tested. About Caris Life Sciences Caris Life Sciences (Caris) is the leading next-generation AI TechBio company and precision medicine pioneer that is actively developing and delivering innovative solutions to revolutionize healthcare and improve the human condition using molecular science and AI. Through comprehensive molecular profiling (Whole Exome and Whole Transcriptome Sequencing) and the application of advanced AI and machine learning algorithms, Caris has created the large-scale, clinico-genomic database and computing capability needed to analyze and unravel the molecular complexity of disease. This convergence of sequencing power, big data and AI technologies provides an unmatched platform to deliver the next-generation of precision medicine tools for early detection, diagnosis, monitoring, therapy selection and drug development. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Caris has offices in Phoenix, New York, Tokyo, Japan and Basel, Switzerland. Caris or its distributor partners provide services in the U.S., Europe, Asia and other international markets. About Flatiron Health Flatiron Health is a healthtech company expanding the possibilities for point of care solutions in oncology and using data for good to power smarter care for every person with cancer. Through machine learning and AI, real-world evidence, and breakthroughs in clinical trials, we continue to transform patients' real-life experiences into knowledge and create a more modern, connected oncology ecosystem. Flatiron Health is an independent affiliate of the Roche Group.

Read More

Annuities

Bow River Advisers Partners with New York Life Investment Management to Expand Private Equity Access Through Evergreen Fund

PR Newswire | January 10, 2024

New York Life Investment Management ("NYLIM") today announced a strategic partnership with Bow River Advisers, a subsidiary of Bow River Capital. The partnership combines NYLIM's distribution and client service strengths, with Bow River Advisers' expertise in private markets investing and portfolio management. With this new agreement, NYLIM will take a minority interest in Bow River Advisers and serve as distribution partner for the Bow River Capital Evergreen Fund ("EVERX" or "the Fund"), a fund that provides access to a diversified portfolio of private equity investments. "New York Life Investment Management has been committed to providing quality alternative investment solutions to our clients for more than two decades," said New York Life Investment Management Chief Operating Officer Kirk Lehneis. "This partnership with Bow River Advisers, an innovator in providing high-quality private equity exposure in an investor-friendly structure, will allow us to provide a more differentiated product offering to our clients, while providing additional support to the Fund's existing client base." The Bow River Capital Evergreen Fund was launched in May 2020, and provides access to a broad range of private equity investments across sector, sponsor, geography and size. The Fund's combination of immediate investment exposure, broad diversification and low investment minimums ($50,000 for accredited investors) has attracted interest from a wide range of investors, particularly those interested in diversifying their traditional stock and bond portfolios. "We built the Bow River Capital Evergreen Fund to provide investors with what we believe is an easily accessible private equity portfolio," said Jeremy Held, Managing Director, Bow River Advisers and President of the Evergreen Fund. "Our partnership with New York Life Investment Management provides significant resources that will allow us to broaden the Fund's investor base while remaining focused on portfolio management and the Fund's day-to-day operations. As one of the largest and most well-respected institutional investors in the world, New York Life Investment Management will bring expertise that can enhance the reach of the Fund going forward." NYLIM will provide distribution and marketing support to the Fund, and Bow River Capital Evergreen's investment strategy, team and day-to-day operations will remain unchanged. About New York Life Investments With over $687 billion in Assets Under Management as of September 30, 2023, New York Life Investments, Pensions and Investments' 25th Largest Money Manager, is comprised of the affiliated global asset management businesses of its parent company, New York Life Insurance Company, and offers clients access to specialized, independent investment teams through its family of affiliated boutiques. New York Life Investments remains committed to clients through a combination of the diverse perspectives of its boutiques and a long-lasting focus on sustainable relationships. "New York Life Investments" is both a service mark, and the common trade name, of certain investment advisors affiliated with New York Life Insurance Company. About Bow River Capital Bow River Capital is a private alternative asset manager based in Denver, Colorado, focused on investing in the lower and middle market in four asset classes: private credit, private equity, real estate, and software growth equity. Through its subsidiary Bow River Advisers, LLC, Bow River Capital also offers a registered interval fund – Bow River Capital Evergreen Fund (EVERX) – designed to provide private market access to a broader set of investors. Collectively, the Bow River Capital team has deployed capital into diverse industries, asset classes and across the capital structure.

Read More

Risk Management

Riskonnect Acquires Ventiv Technology to Accelerate Customer Value and Global Growth

Business Wire | January 12, 2024

Riskonnect, the leader in integrated risk management (IRM) solutions, today announces its acquisition of Ventiv Technology, a market-leading provider of risk, insurance, and underwriting technology solutions. The acquisition fuels growth and innovation for Riskonnect and drives value for customers by enabling the organizations to bring all aspects of risk under one roof. Riskonnect’s acquisition of Ventiv will enhance value for the 2,500+ combined customers globally. Ventiv is known for its innovation in RMIS Analytics (Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, Benchmarks, Geospatial), claims administration, billing, and policy solutions. Customers rely on Riskonnect for the breadth and depth of its integrated risk management platform. The combined offerings will create a comprehensive suite of risk management tools that streamlines data management, provides actionable insights tailored to specific business sectors, and turns risk into a strategic advantage. “We’re thrilled to welcome the entire Ventiv team to Riskonnect. The acquisition adds substantial value for our customers, giving users of both companies access to a broader range of products and services that are intentionally designed to meet the diverse needs of modern risk management,” said Jim Wetekamp, Riskonnect’s CEO. “We’re bringing a value enhancing suite of tools to market that equips organizations to confidently answer the increasingly imperative question – ‘how at risk are we?’. Our complementary technologies and shared commitment to helping customers stay ahead of the rapidly evolving risk landscape positions all our key stakeholders for success.” The companies’ combined expertise and technology across incident tracking, claims administration, claims management, governance, risk, and compliance (GRC), business continuity and resilience, and predictive analytics creates a one-stop-shop for organizations seeking end-to-end risk solutions. “We share Riskonnect’s mission to transform the way companies manage risk,” said Salil Donde, Ventiv’s CEO. “Pooling our resources and expertise enables us to continue to innovate on AI-driven predictive analytics and expand our reach globally to best serve the present and future needs of our customers.” Riskonnect’s current majority investor, TA Associates (TA), a leading global private equity firm, supported the acquisition of Ventiv with additional investment capital. TA will continue as the majority owner. Union Square Advisors LLC served as the exclusive financial advisor to Ventiv and Davis Polk & Wardwell served as legal advisor. Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal advisor to Riskonnect. “By joining forces, Riskonnect and Ventiv Technology, both recognized as industry leaders in the Redhand RMIS Report, are not only consolidating their technological expertise but also strengthening their commitment to providing leading RMIS solutions to customers seeking to optimize their risk management strategies,” said Patrick O’Neill, president and founder of Redhand Advisors. About Riskonnect Riskonnect is the leading integrated risk management software solution provider. Our technology empowers organizations with the ability to anticipate, manage, and respond in real-time to strategic and operational risks across the extended enterprise. More than 2,500 customers across six continents use our unique risk-correlation technology to gain previously unattainable insights that deliver better business outcomes. Riskonnect has more than 1,100 risk management experts in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. About Ventiv Technology Ventiv Technology is a leading global provider of risk management information systems (RMIS), enterprise risk management (ERM), insurance claims, billing, and policy administration technology integrated with its market-leading analytics and predictive models. Ventiv Technology’s SaaS and on-premise solutions are deployed by insurers, brokers, insured corporate entities, federal and regional governments, public entities, third-party claims administrators (TPAs), and risk pools across a variety of industries, including transportation and logistics, retail, financial services, leisure and hospitality, energy, aviation, and manufacturing among several others.

Read More

Health Insurance

Caris Life Sciences and Flatiron Health Partner to Create Transformational Real-World Data Offering

PR Newswire | January 09, 2024

Caris Life Sciences(Caris), the leading next-generation AI TechBio company and precision medicine pioneer that is actively developing and delivering innovative solutions to revolutionize healthcare and improve the human condition using molecular science and AI, and Flatiron Health, a leading healthtech company transforming evidence generation through an engaged care network, oncology-specific expertise, and fit-for-purpose scientific methods and tools, today announced a partnership to create a multimodal data offering to support and accelerate biopharmaceutical drug development and patient care. Combining the breadth and depth of Caris' genomic, transcriptomic and imaging database with Flatiron's industry-leading longitudinal patient data and high-quality clinical outcomes, backed by deep scientific expertise, equips cancer researchers with robust comprehensive real-world data (RWD) offering at scale to power the next wave of cancer therapeutics. "We are excited to collaborate with Flatiron Health to create a multimodal data offering in support of biopharma's efforts to bring novel personalized therapeutic interventions to market to ultimately improve the lives of cancer patients," said David Spetzler, MS, PhD, MBA, President of Caris Life Sciences. "In forming this data union, we are able to maximize biological and clinical context to better understand each patient journey." "We are thrilled to announce this groundbreaking partnership that brings together Caris' leading molecular science capabilities with Flatiron's unparalleled gold standard of high-quality oncology real-world data," said Stephanie Reisinger, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Real-World Evidence, Flatiron Health. "This opportunity has the potential to create the largest and best-in-class clinical-omics dataset with Whole Exome and Whole Transcriptome sequencing coverage, expanding our opportunity to support biopharma in the preclinical stages of drug discovery and translation." "Identifying sufficient numbers of records to build cohorts of adequate size that can be used to address the most pressing research questions is a challenge that plagues the oncology community. With Caris and Flatiron's combined strength and broad reach across oncology, we can provide this incredibly powerful data at a scale that will fuel drug discovery and therapeutic innovation," said Brian Lamon, PhD, Chief Business Officer of Caris Life Sciences. As the pioneer in precision medicine and molecular profiling, Caris has created a molecular-rich, real-world database that contains more than 50 petabytes of oncology-specific genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and imaging data. Caris was the first in the molecular diagnostic industry to provide Whole Exome Sequencing DNA coverage and Whole Transcriptome Sequencing RNA coverage (WES / WTS) for every patient tested. About Caris Life Sciences Caris Life Sciences (Caris) is the leading next-generation AI TechBio company and precision medicine pioneer that is actively developing and delivering innovative solutions to revolutionize healthcare and improve the human condition using molecular science and AI. Through comprehensive molecular profiling (Whole Exome and Whole Transcriptome Sequencing) and the application of advanced AI and machine learning algorithms, Caris has created the large-scale, clinico-genomic database and computing capability needed to analyze and unravel the molecular complexity of disease. This convergence of sequencing power, big data and AI technologies provides an unmatched platform to deliver the next-generation of precision medicine tools for early detection, diagnosis, monitoring, therapy selection and drug development. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Caris has offices in Phoenix, New York, Tokyo, Japan and Basel, Switzerland. Caris or its distributor partners provide services in the U.S., Europe, Asia and other international markets. About Flatiron Health Flatiron Health is a healthtech company expanding the possibilities for point of care solutions in oncology and using data for good to power smarter care for every person with cancer. Through machine learning and AI, real-world evidence, and breakthroughs in clinical trials, we continue to transform patients' real-life experiences into knowledge and create a more modern, connected oncology ecosystem. Flatiron Health is an independent affiliate of the Roche Group.

Read More

Annuities

Bow River Advisers Partners with New York Life Investment Management to Expand Private Equity Access Through Evergreen Fund

PR Newswire | January 10, 2024

New York Life Investment Management ("NYLIM") today announced a strategic partnership with Bow River Advisers, a subsidiary of Bow River Capital. The partnership combines NYLIM's distribution and client service strengths, with Bow River Advisers' expertise in private markets investing and portfolio management. With this new agreement, NYLIM will take a minority interest in Bow River Advisers and serve as distribution partner for the Bow River Capital Evergreen Fund ("EVERX" or "the Fund"), a fund that provides access to a diversified portfolio of private equity investments. "New York Life Investment Management has been committed to providing quality alternative investment solutions to our clients for more than two decades," said New York Life Investment Management Chief Operating Officer Kirk Lehneis. "This partnership with Bow River Advisers, an innovator in providing high-quality private equity exposure in an investor-friendly structure, will allow us to provide a more differentiated product offering to our clients, while providing additional support to the Fund's existing client base." The Bow River Capital Evergreen Fund was launched in May 2020, and provides access to a broad range of private equity investments across sector, sponsor, geography and size. The Fund's combination of immediate investment exposure, broad diversification and low investment minimums ($50,000 for accredited investors) has attracted interest from a wide range of investors, particularly those interested in diversifying their traditional stock and bond portfolios. "We built the Bow River Capital Evergreen Fund to provide investors with what we believe is an easily accessible private equity portfolio," said Jeremy Held, Managing Director, Bow River Advisers and President of the Evergreen Fund. "Our partnership with New York Life Investment Management provides significant resources that will allow us to broaden the Fund's investor base while remaining focused on portfolio management and the Fund's day-to-day operations. As one of the largest and most well-respected institutional investors in the world, New York Life Investment Management will bring expertise that can enhance the reach of the Fund going forward." NYLIM will provide distribution and marketing support to the Fund, and Bow River Capital Evergreen's investment strategy, team and day-to-day operations will remain unchanged. About New York Life Investments With over $687 billion in Assets Under Management as of September 30, 2023, New York Life Investments, Pensions and Investments' 25th Largest Money Manager, is comprised of the affiliated global asset management businesses of its parent company, New York Life Insurance Company, and offers clients access to specialized, independent investment teams through its family of affiliated boutiques. New York Life Investments remains committed to clients through a combination of the diverse perspectives of its boutiques and a long-lasting focus on sustainable relationships. "New York Life Investments" is both a service mark, and the common trade name, of certain investment advisors affiliated with New York Life Insurance Company. About Bow River Capital Bow River Capital is a private alternative asset manager based in Denver, Colorado, focused on investing in the lower and middle market in four asset classes: private credit, private equity, real estate, and software growth equity. Through its subsidiary Bow River Advisers, LLC, Bow River Capital also offers a registered interval fund – Bow River Capital Evergreen Fund (EVERX) – designed to provide private market access to a broader set of investors. Collectively, the Bow River Capital team has deployed capital into diverse industries, asset classes and across the capital structure.

Read More

Risk Management

Riskonnect Acquires Ventiv Technology to Accelerate Customer Value and Global Growth

Business Wire | January 12, 2024

Riskonnect, the leader in integrated risk management (IRM) solutions, today announces its acquisition of Ventiv Technology, a market-leading provider of risk, insurance, and underwriting technology solutions. The acquisition fuels growth and innovation for Riskonnect and drives value for customers by enabling the organizations to bring all aspects of risk under one roof. Riskonnect’s acquisition of Ventiv will enhance value for the 2,500+ combined customers globally. Ventiv is known for its innovation in RMIS Analytics (Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, Benchmarks, Geospatial), claims administration, billing, and policy solutions. Customers rely on Riskonnect for the breadth and depth of its integrated risk management platform. The combined offerings will create a comprehensive suite of risk management tools that streamlines data management, provides actionable insights tailored to specific business sectors, and turns risk into a strategic advantage. “We’re thrilled to welcome the entire Ventiv team to Riskonnect. The acquisition adds substantial value for our customers, giving users of both companies access to a broader range of products and services that are intentionally designed to meet the diverse needs of modern risk management,” said Jim Wetekamp, Riskonnect’s CEO. “We’re bringing a value enhancing suite of tools to market that equips organizations to confidently answer the increasingly imperative question – ‘how at risk are we?’. Our complementary technologies and shared commitment to helping customers stay ahead of the rapidly evolving risk landscape positions all our key stakeholders for success.” The companies’ combined expertise and technology across incident tracking, claims administration, claims management, governance, risk, and compliance (GRC), business continuity and resilience, and predictive analytics creates a one-stop-shop for organizations seeking end-to-end risk solutions. “We share Riskonnect’s mission to transform the way companies manage risk,” said Salil Donde, Ventiv’s CEO. “Pooling our resources and expertise enables us to continue to innovate on AI-driven predictive analytics and expand our reach globally to best serve the present and future needs of our customers.” Riskonnect’s current majority investor, TA Associates (TA), a leading global private equity firm, supported the acquisition of Ventiv with additional investment capital. TA will continue as the majority owner. Union Square Advisors LLC served as the exclusive financial advisor to Ventiv and Davis Polk & Wardwell served as legal advisor. Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal advisor to Riskonnect. “By joining forces, Riskonnect and Ventiv Technology, both recognized as industry leaders in the Redhand RMIS Report, are not only consolidating their technological expertise but also strengthening their commitment to providing leading RMIS solutions to customers seeking to optimize their risk management strategies,” said Patrick O’Neill, president and founder of Redhand Advisors. About Riskonnect Riskonnect is the leading integrated risk management software solution provider. Our technology empowers organizations with the ability to anticipate, manage, and respond in real-time to strategic and operational risks across the extended enterprise. More than 2,500 customers across six continents use our unique risk-correlation technology to gain previously unattainable insights that deliver better business outcomes. Riskonnect has more than 1,100 risk management experts in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. About Ventiv Technology Ventiv Technology is a leading global provider of risk management information systems (RMIS), enterprise risk management (ERM), insurance claims, billing, and policy administration technology integrated with its market-leading analytics and predictive models. Ventiv Technology’s SaaS and on-premise solutions are deployed by insurers, brokers, insured corporate entities, federal and regional governments, public entities, third-party claims administrators (TPAs), and risk pools across a variety of industries, including transportation and logistics, retail, financial services, leisure and hospitality, energy, aviation, and manufacturing among several others.

Read More

Spotlight

Akur8

Akur8

Akur8 is revolutionizing insurance pricing with transparent AI. Akur8 developed a unique AI-based insurance pricing solution that automates modeling for insurance companies while keeping full transparency and control on the models created, as required by regulators worldwide. Akur8 is the only solut...

Events

Resources

resource image

Core Insurance, Intellectual Property

Insurance Document Management – A Good Investment?

Whitepaper

resource image

Core Insurance, Intellectual Property

Multi-occupancy buildings insurance - broker remuneration

Whitepaper

resource image

Core Insurance, Intellectual Property

Insurance Document Management – A Good Investment?

Whitepaper

resource image

Core Insurance, Intellectual Property

Multi-occupancy buildings insurance - broker remuneration

Whitepaper

resource image

Core Insurance, Insurance Technology

Why evolving consumer behaviors require changes from insurance providers

Whitepaper

Events