This is an episode recorded at the PIA VADC conference in Virginia Beach with my man Byron Roberts. It is a fast, on-the-ground conversation about how Openly built for independent agents, why speed still matters, and how data is shifting from rearview mirror to windshield.
Quick recap
Openly’s origin story is agent-first. Founders Ty Harris and Matt Duffy asked agents what they actually needed, then shipped a three-question quote experience built to find “diamonds in the rough,” not write everything in sight. The company doubled down on listening loops like ACE, its Agency Council of Excellence, to sanity-check product decisions, fix friction fast, and keep writing business during a stubborn hard market. They are rolling into PL Rating in key states to cut keystrokes, and they see the next frontier as forward-looking data that helps carriers price for tomorrow’s weather, not yesterday’s.
Key takeaways
Notable quotes
“Tell me I can’t, I’ll show you I will.” Byron on persistence.
“Three questions, name, date of birth, and address. We can get it.” On the quoting thesis.
“We’re staying open for these agencies. We don’t tighten everything down or pull out.” On disciplined appetite.
“We used to look at historical data. Now we need crystal balls.” On forward-looking pricing.
Sponsor
Smart Choice- The fastest growing insurance network, with 10,000 agencies, 11 billion in written premium written its incredible
Canopy Connect- your 1 click solution to getting the deck pages you need to quote your prospects.