LIFE INSURANCE, INSURANCE TECHNOLOGY
PRnewswire | March 24, 2023
Simply Business, LLC., a Boston-based digital insurance company focused on small businesses, today announced it will offer several of its commercial insurance solutions through AmSuisse, an insurance wholesaler with an extensive portfolio of products and speciality programs designed for independent agents.
"As we continue to expand our reach with independent agents, it's important to partner with trusted industry experts who share our vision of simplicity, choice and value," said Simply Business Group CEO David Summers. "This partnership with AmSuisse allows us to further our mission of providing small business owners with insurance solutions that fit their needs and helps us enable independent agents to efficiently serve their clients using our online platform."
Through the AmSuisse online quoting experience, independent agents will have access to a variety of Simply Business' insurance products designed for micro and small businesses.
"In today's tech-enabled environment, retail agents want a wide array of carrier and coverage options at their fingertips," said AmSuisse CEO Josh Hamann. "AmSuisse is extremely excited to partner with Simply Business to provide agents with access to a leading-edge digital small business insurance platform that is easy to navigate and designed to help them retain and grow their business."
About Simply Business
Simply Business is changing the way small business owners find business insurance by offering customers tailored insurance coverage online. The company began in the United Kingdom and expanded to the United States in 2017, naming Boston home. With thousands of customers, Simply Business has become a leader in the space through its commitment to a customer-first model, focusing heavily on simplicity, choice and value.
About AmSuisse
Established in 2013 and based in Katy, Texas, AmSuisse, Inc. has quickly risen to prominence as an insurance wholesaling leader. The company provides a broad range of insurance products, including many specialty programs for hard-to-place risks. Its founding goal is to provide its insurance agents and insurance broker partners with unrivaled service and selection. As a closed insurance wholesaler, it carefully selects the firms it works with, allowing it to deliver comprehensive insurance solutions, responsive service, and industry-leading support. AmSuisse believes in forging long-term business partnerships – a belief that has helped the company and its partners thrive in a competitive marketplace.
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CORE INSURANCE, INSURANCE TECHNOLOGY
Businesswire | April 28, 2023
Zinnia, a life and annuity insurance technology and digital services company, today announced it is acquiring Policygenius, a digital insurance marketplace. The acquisition lays the foundation for the industry’s first front-to-back architecture to power the entire insurance value chain and better serve carriers, advisors, and policyholders.
The transaction expands Zinnia’s reach into digital distribution solutions, creating new opportunities to service carriers and distribution partners. Together, Zinnia and Policygenius will offer products and services spanning life and annuities, disability, and property and casualty insurance. At the heart of Policygenius is a platform that simplifies the process for consumers to buy insurance, and an extensive data analytics capability that, combined with Zinnia’s growing tech capabilities and well-established third-party administrator (TPA) infrastructure, lays the groundwork for exceptional experiences for those who buy, sell, manufacture or administer insurance policies.
Zinnia will continue to offer Policygenius’ full suite of online services under the Policygenius brand. These capabilities will connect with Zinnia’s new system of record to further develop the Open Insurance architecture. The acquisition opens growth opportunities for Zinnia’s and Policygenius’ combined 60+ carrier clients, 350 distributors and partners, and 2M+ policyholders.
“At Zinnia, we want to provide solutions that simplify the process of buying insurance and deliver an exceptional experience for consumers from purchase to claim,” said Michele Trogni, Zinnia Chief Executive Officer. “Policygenius has always put consumer experience at the heart of their business, and their capabilities will accelerate our journey. We look forward to welcoming Policygenius clients, an experienced leadership team, and approximately 450 new team members to Zinnia, and are excited to power growth in our industry.”
“We are thrilled to have a partner in Zinnia, that shares in our vision to transform the industry through technology and a consumer-first approach,” said Jennifer Fitzgerald, Policygenius Co-founder and CEO and newly appointed Zinnia board member. “Their depth of insurance expertise and entrepreneurship has resulted in more than $170B in assets under administration and the launch of 170+ new carrier products. Together, we will expand the reach of our carrier and distribution partners, helping even more consumers achieve financial protection. The promise of Open Insurance is huge, and we are excited to embark on this journey with Zinnia together.”
“This strategic combination positions Zinnia and Policygenius to deliver great benefits for carriers and consumers, and we believe there is enormous unmet demand in the market for a seamless digital experience underpinned by a compelling, end-to-end insurance offering,” said Jake Heller, Partner at KKR and newly appointed Zinnia board member. “We look forward to serving as an investor in the combined business alongside Eldridge and supporting Michele, Jennifer, and these talented teams in their next chapter of growth.”
KKR, through its Technology Growth strategy, was a lead investor in Policygenius and will remain an investor in the combined company.
Sidley Austin LLP and WilmerHale served as legal counsel to Zinnia. Latham & Watkins LLP served as legal counsel to Policygenius.
About Zinnia
Zinnia, an Eldridge business, combines a rich history of insurance expertise and product capabilities to create simplified and digitized outcomes that deliver better value and foster more seamless, secure, and efficient experiences for carriers, advisors, consumers, and reinsurers. The Company’s vision for Open Insurance empowers clients through intuitive technology solutions that decrease processing time, drive product innovation, and bring new products to market faster, enabling more people to protect and enrich their financial futures.
About Policygenius
Founded in 2014 by Francois de Lame and Jennifer Fitzgerald, Policygenius transforms the insurance journey for today’s consumer, providing a one-stop platform where customers can compare options from top insurance carriers, get unbiased expert advice, buy policies, and manage their insurance portfolio, in one seamless, integrated experience. Our proprietary technology platform integrates with the leading life, disability, and home and auto insurance carriers and delivers an exceptional digital experience for both consumers and insurance carriers. Since 2014, our content, digital tools, and experts have served as a resource for millions of people on their insurance journey, and we have sold more than $200 billion in coverage.
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CORE INSURANCE, COMPLIANCE
PRnewswire | April 21, 2023
BrokerTech Ventures (BTV), the industry's first broker-led convening platform and accelerator program, today announced the addition of its newest industry-leading insurance wholesaler partner, Jencap Group.
"We could not be more pleased to announce the addition of Jencap to our wholesaler community network. We view our carrier and wholesale partners as integral in terms of our overall strategy in building out BrokerTech Ventures — and specifically, our Innovation Tower," said Dan Keough, Holmes Murphy chairman and CEO and co-CEO of BTV. "Insurance companies are individually spending multi-millions of dollars each year in innovation, and we believe that BTV can be the convening platform to provide access into the unknowns, idea-sharing, investing, and distribution for the benefit of all."
The addition of these renowned insurance brands brings the BTV industry portfolio to 13 of the most sizable and innovative brokerage firms in North America and 16 of the most notable and respected insurance companies and wholesalers with both domestic and international presence.
"Jencap is committed to employing innovative technology solutions that improve our speed to market, operational efficiencies, data analytics, and the overall platform experience of our partners," said John LaCava, Jencap's Chief Operational Officer. "We look forward to collaborating with BTV members and insurtech companies to maintain our position in the marketplace as industry leaders."
In addition to its expansive broker and carrier partner portfolio, BTV now also represents 60 insurtech startups from around the world, inclusive of those in the U.S., Israeli, and Latin American accelerator programs, with investments and commercial engagements with many.
About BrokerTech Ventures
Based in the insurance nucleus of Des Moines, Iowa, BrokerTech Ventures (BTV) is the first broker-led convening platform and accelerator program focused on delivering innovation to the insurance broker industry. Founded in 2019, BTV provides a venue for the best minds in insurance and technology to collaborate and bring to market leading-edge ideas and solutions. BTV invests in the research and testing for each of the chosen startups, provides access to veteran industry mentors, and helps scale the technology to market through broker distribution channels.
About Jencap Group
Jencap is one of the largest wholesalers in the U.S. with notable industry-leading expertise in wholesale brokerage, binding authority, and program management. Its specialized divisions and affiliate organizations provide niche underwriting prowess, broad market access, and nationwide influence. Headquartered in New York, Jencap leverages its collective power to exceed the expectations of more than 20,000 independent agency partners.
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