INSURANCE TECHNOLOGY
MULBERRI | July 29, 2022
Mulberri, the business insurance platform for modern PEOs and brokers, announced it has raised a $4 million Series Seed led by a consortium that includes Hanover Technology Management, MS&AD Ventures, and Altamont Capital Partners (via insurance enterprises in its portfolio). A shared platform that makes business insurance easier to access and manage, Mulberri will use the funding to continue to expand its infrastructure and data modeling to help make business insurance more simple, efficient, and transparent.
“For far too long, business insurance has been stuck in the 20th century, and that has had major ramifications for PEOs and brokers who have wanted modern solutions, but lacked access to them,” said Hamesh Chawla, CEO and co-founder of Mulberri.
“For far too long, business insurance has been stuck in the 20th century, and that has had major ramifications for PEOs and brokers who have wanted modern solutions, but lacked access to them,” said Hamesh Chawla, CEO and co-founder of Mulberri. “We’ve been gratified by the enthusiastic response to Mulberri from investors and insurtechs alike. Looking towards the future, we’re excited to continue building out our technology so we can help even more PEOs and brokers reach their highest potential.”
The process of buying, selling, and managing business insurance has always been complex, but increasingly it has become too slow. With manual workflows, archaic processes, and low-tech solutions, business insurance processes have lagged behind other insurance sectors, which have embraced automation and data-first approaches. But that’s where Mulberri comes in.
Launched in 2021, Mulberri is the first business insurance solution purpose-built for PEOs and brokers. Mulberri’s technology enables PEOs, brokers, and carriers to come together to write business and helps them make intelligent data-driven decisions.
“Business insurance processes have been long overdue for an overhaul,” said Jon Soberg, Managing Partner at MS&AD Ventures. “Mulberri recognized this problem and has developed an innovative, streamlined solution.”
Mulberri delivers on the speed, transparency, and efficiency that PEOs and brokers have been asking for. The platform provides smart submission intake, automated quote and bind, data-driven insurance management, and easily accessible protection and monitoring services. It also optimizes PEO business workflows, speeds up client acquisition, and provides risk analytics by integrating with multiple systems like HRIS, Payroll and others.
“Mulberri’s embedded platform empowers each one of the critical parties –– the SMB, the PEO, the broker, and the carrier –– while meaningfully leveling up automation and ease of doing business for the industry as a whole. Mulberri uses the sort of convolutional neural networks that we have successfully deployed in other industries, from energy to defense,” said Joseph Malchow, founding partner of Hanover Technology Investment Management. “Ultimately, that means a faster-growing book of business and happier customers. Hanover is proud to partner with Hamesh and the Mulberri team to transform business insurance.”
ABOUT MULBERRI
Mulberri is a pioneering embedded insurtech that is revamping the way insurance is delivered. Launched in 2021, Mulberri is the first business insurance solution purpose-built for PEOs and brokers. Mulberri’s technology enables PEOs, brokers, and carriers to come together to write business and helps them make intelligent data-driven decisions. To learn more, visit https://www.mulberri.io/.
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CORE INSURANCE,INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Brown & Brown, Inc. | September 14, 2022
J. Scott Penny, chief acquisitions officer of Brown & Brown, Inc., and Scott Smithwick and Chris Smithwick, today announced that Brown & Brown of Massachusetts, Inc., a subsidiary of Brown & Brown, Inc., has acquired substantially all of the assets of Smithwick & Mariners Insurance, MidCoast Insurance and Chapman & Chapman Insurance (collectively, Smithwick & Mariners).
Originally founded in 1987 to service the marine industry (marinas, yacht clubs, boat builders, fishing vessels, tug operations and yachts), Smithwick & Mariners has evolved its capabilities to provide innovative risk solutions to business owners and individuals throughout Maine and greater New England. The Smithwick & Mariners companies are led by Scott Smithwick and Chris Smithwick. Following the acquisition, the Smithwick & Mariners team will continue doing business from their existing offices in Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire and will operate within Brown & Brown’s Retail segment. Scott and Chris will continue to lead the team and will report to Don McGowan, a regional president in Brown & Brown’s Retail segment.
“The Smithwick & Mariners companies are recognized in Maine and throughout New England for their experience and industry knowledge in the commercial fishing, marine and personal yacht space. Scott, Chris and their dedicated team have a long and mutually successful relationship with their carriers, allowing them to deliver best-in-class insurance solutions to their customers. We are confident we share the same culture of customer-first solutions and are excited to welcome them to the Brown & Brown team.”
-Don McGowan
Scott Smithwick stated, The Smithwick & Mariners team is excited to be partnering with a firm like Brown & Brown who shares the same level of commitment to its customers, carriers and employees that we have for the past 35 years. We are very confident that this partnership will help to further strengthen Smithwick & Mariners’ product offering and level of service to both our marine and non-marine related customers.
About Brown & Brown, Inc.
Brown & Brown, Inc. is a leading insurance brokerage firm, delivering risk management solutions to individuals and businesses since 1939. With over 14,500 teammates in 450+ locations worldwide, we are committed to providing innovative strategies to help protect what our customers value most.
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CORE INSURANCE
PCF Insurance Services | August 19, 2022
PCF Insurance Services, a top 20 U.S. insurance brokerage firm, announced today its acquisition of John E. Peakes Insurance Agency, Inc., a family-owned, full-service personal lines agency based in Ventura, California.
The partnership allows PCF Insurance to expand its portfolio into niche markets in the high-growth small business industries, including gym and fitness, restaurants, and apartment buildings.
Marshberry advised John E. Peakes Insurance Agency, Inc. on the transaction.
"We're delighted to welcome the John E. Peakes Insurance Agency, Inc. to PCF, They have a proven track record serving clients for over 50 years in high-growth niche markets and will provide PCF with additional scale in Southern California. President Chad Peakes is an outstanding young leader keenly focused on agency growth."
-Peter C. Foy, Chairman, Founder, and CEO of PCF Insurance
PCF Insurance's agency-centric operating model and entrepreneurial environment support its tremendous growth profile, offering Agency Partners alignment through equity ownership, significant leadership incentives, and resources throughout the U.S.
PCF Insurance has allowed us to focus on our family of customers while looking toward future growth, PCF shares our core values, and the collaboration has been exhilarating,says Chad Peakes, President of John E. Peakes Insurance Agency, Inc.
In 2022, PCF Insurance has completed or has under a letter of intent 104 acquisitions, continuing its industry-leading mergers and acquisitions (M&A) pace.
About John E. Peakes Insurance Agency, Inc.
Headquartered in Ventura, California, John E. Peakes Insurance Agency, Inc. has been family-owned and operated since 1969. Its mission is to "treat everyone like family." They match each client with the best coverage option from over 30 different insurance companies at first interaction and each renewal. They offer personal, business, gym, fitness studios, restaurants, and apartment building insurance options.
About PCF Insurance Services
A top 20 U.S. broker headquartered in Lehi, Utah, PCF Insurance Services is a leading full-service consultant and insurance brokerage firm offering a broad array of commercial, life and health, employee benefits, and workers' compensation solutions. Propelled by its people, PCF Insurance's agency-centric operating model and entrepreneurial environment support its tremendous growth profile, offering partners alignment through equity ownership, significant leadership incentives, and resources to over 3,100 employees throughout the U.S. Recognized as a top acquirer by The Hales Report, ranked #20 on Business Insurance's 2022 Top 100 Brokers and #13 on Insurance Journal's 2022 Top Property/Casualty Agencies, PCF Insurance is a notable leader in the insurance space.
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