Catastrophe models have come a long way - but are decision-makers keeping up? In this panel from InsTech’s The future of catastrophe risk: where science meets reality, Alice Kaye (Inigo), Caroline McMullan (Verisk) and host Dickie Whitaker (Oasis LMF) confront the challenges of turning sophisticated risk models into clear, actionable decisions. Together, they explore why uncertainty is often more valuable than the average, how human biases still cloud our understanding of extreme events, and what’s needed to close the communication gap between modellers, underwriters and boards. This conversation gets real about the behavioural, structural and cultural shifts the insurance industry must make to better navigate risk in an increasingly volatile world. What you'll learn in this episode: Why point estimates often mislead decision-makers - and how scenarios can bring data to life The role of behavioural bias in catastrophe risk assessment (think hindsight, anchoring and mean reversion) How leading insurers like Inigo are integrating model outputs into daily underwriting and board-level strategy The importance of early-career training to build confidence in managing uncertainty How the interface between climate science, data science and vulnerability modelling is evolving Why pre-competitive collaboration with academia is critical for the industry's future 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. Continuing Professional Development This InsTech Podcast Episode is accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards your CPD scheme. By the end of this podcast, you should be able to meet the following Learning Objectives: Identify gaps in skills and training that hinder effective risk modelling and decision-making. Produce more informed underwriting decisions by integrating multiple views of risk. Summarise best practices for bridging the gap between research, modelling and commercial application. If your organisation is a member of InsTech and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 379 page of the InsTech website or email cpd@instech.co to let us know you have listened to this podcast. To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.

In this special episode of the podcast, originally hosted by Indico Data’s Unstructured Unlocked, Matthew Grant, CEO of InsTech, joins Tom Wilde and Michelle Govea to discuss how insurers are harnessing third-party data and AI to make more informed, efficient underwriting decisions. With over 25 years in catastrophe modelling and analytics, Matthew shares his view on where the real innovation is happening and where insurers are still facing friction. From the rising value of external data sources to the operational impact of generative AI, the conversation is packed with insights that go beyond the buzzwords. InsTech is sharing this episode to highlight the practical challenges and opportunities facing carriers and reinsurers as they modernise their approach to risk. What you’ll learn Why many insurers still struggle to access the most basic risk data What third-party data needs to prove before it’s trusted in underwriting How AI is changing both the speed and depth of catastrophe modelling When it makes sense for carriers to build proprietary models—and when it doesn’t What reinsurers have taught the market about effective model use The quiet power of improving underwriting efficiency, not just accuracy How better data and analytics can help insurers write more risk with more confidence If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn. Discover more episodes of Tom Wilde's and Michelle Gouveia's podcast at Indico Data's Unstructured Unlocked. Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. Continuing Professional Development This InsTech Podcast Episode is accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards your CPD scheme. By the end of this podcast, you should be able to meet the following Learning Objectives: Measure the practical value of generative AI in improving underwriting efficiency and catastrophe modelling accuracy. Specify the thresholds third-party data must meet—cost and confidence—before it can support underwriting decisions. Explain how insurers are approaching the build vs buy decision when it comes to proprietary AI models. If your organisation is a member of InsTech and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 378 page of the InsTech website or email cpd@instech.co to let us know you have listened to this podcast. To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.

What are we still missing in catastrophe modelling and how can we close the gap? As part of InsTech’s The Future of Catastrophe Risk: Where Science Meets Reality event, this expert panel explored the limitations of current catastrophe models and how the insurance industry can evolve its approach to risk. Hosted by Ludovico Nicotina (Inigo), with insights from Sandra Hansen (Guy Carpenter) and Paul Wilson (Twelve Securis), the discussion focused on where models fall short, how emerging risks are challenging traditional assumptions and what it will take to build more resilient, climate-aware modelling frameworks. In this conversation, the panel explores: What current models overlook — from unmodelled sub-perils to social and infrastructure vulnerabilities How inter-annual clustering and systemic effects drive outsized losses The tension between increasing model flexibility and responsible use of adaptation features Whether vendors are providing enough transparency to support custom views of risk How the industry can better incorporate future climate states into today’s modelling tools The case for cross-sector collaboration and more open sharing of internal risk perspectives 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. Continuing Professional Development This InsTech Podcast Episode is accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards your CPD scheme. By the end of this podcast, you should be able to meet the following Learning Objectives: Identify best practices for using adaptation and resilience features within CAT models responsibly. Produce informed strategies for interpreting and adjusting model outputs to reflect internal views of risk. Summarise the practical steps insurers and risk managers can take to bridge the gap between science and real-world application. If your organisation is a member of InsTech and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 377 page of the InsTech website or email cpd@instech.co to let us know you have listened to this podcast. To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.

In this episode, Robin Merttens is joined by Julian Schoemig, CEO and Co-founder of Diesta, to explore why payments and settlements remain one of the insurance industry’s biggest unsolved problems, and what it will take to fix them. From his early days selling boxing machines to Munich pubs to underwriting aviation at Munich Re, Julian’s career has been shaped by a single truth: business doesn’t count until the cash is in the bank. That mindset now underpins Diesta, a company building the financial plumbing to help insurers, brokers and MGAs move money with greater clarity, speed and control. In this conversation, Julian shares: Why insurance payment flows are so complex — and how that creates systemic risk What makes insurance different from other industries that rely on intermediated transactions The scale of the problem: seven times more money moves than is written in premium How Diesta connects policy systems, banks and documents to create a single source of truth Why traditional reconciliation tools fall short for insurance finance teams The real-world impact of unallocated cash, overpayments and delayed settlements What he's learned from building a product in a “boring but broken” space Why now is the right time for vertical, API-first infrastructure in insurance The case for making payments a first-class metric in performance and incentives Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. Continuing Professional Development This InsTech Podcast Episode is accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards your CPD scheme. By the end of this podcast, you should be able to meet the following Learning Objectives: Specify the technological and structural reasons why insurance payment flows are more complex than in other industries. Explain how Diesta’s payment operations layer integrates with existing systems to streamline cash flow. Define the concept of a financial subledger in the context of intermediated insurance. If your organisation is a member of InsTech and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 376 page of the InsTech website or email cpd@instech.co to let us know you have listened to this podcast. To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.

What would happen if the next hurricane wasn’t just stronger but completely off the scale? Are we prepared for a Category 6 event, and would it even show up in our models? In this panel discussion from InsTech’s July evening event The future of catastrophe risk: where science meets reality, supported by Inigo, Ruth Petrie leads a conversation on how insurers are responding to more extreme, uncertain and fast-changing catastrophe risks. Featuring: Emma Watkins, Catastrophe Risk Leader Chris Weller, Head of Exposure Management, Inigo Tom Philp, CEO, Maximum Information Together, they challenge the assumptions behind traditional catastrophe modelling, explore the limits of the Saffir-Simpson scale and ask whether imagination, not just data, will define the future of risk management. In this conversation, the panel explores: Whether the industry should move beyond Cat 5 and how we define “extreme” risk Why flood, surge and rainfall are often more damaging than wind alone How climate change is altering where and how storms form — and what we can predict What insurers can (and can’t) do in the face of rapid intensification Why demand surge, rebuild costs and politics are now central to loss estimation What kind of event would truly “shake” the insurance market — and why This is essential listening for exposure managers, underwriters, brokers and risk leaders looking to challenge conventional thinking and prepare for what’s next. 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. Continuing Professional Development This InsTech Podcast Episode is accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards your CPD scheme. By the end of this podcast, you should be able to meet the following Learning Objectives: Identify where insurers remain unprepared for rapid intensification and other emerging storm behaviours. Produce a more complete view of catastrophe exposure by integrating hazard, vulnerability and socio-economic factors. Summarise the panel’s recommendations for improving risk communication, preparedness and resilience across the industry. If your organisation is a member of InsTech and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 375 page of the InsTech website or email cpd@instech.co to let us know you have listened to this podcast. To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.

In this episode, Matthew Grant sits down with Matthew Eagle, Head of Global Model Solutions and Advisory at Guy Carpenter, to explore how one of the industry's most respected voices sees the future of modelling, capital management and advisory in reinsurance. With three decades of experience, Matthew reflects on what’s changed — and what hasn’t — in how reinsurers view risk. From the early days of catastrophe models to today’s generative AI agents and open modelling platforms, he shares how his team is helping insurers manage volatility, optimise capital and drive profitable growth. In this episode, Matthew shares: Why flood, wildfire and severe convective storm are the perils to watch — and model — more closely How generative AI is already reshaping pricing, underwriting and actuarial workflows What insurers need to know about build vs buy when it comes to new analytics tools How Guy Carpenter is scaling open-source tech through Oasis and data standardisation What skills are now essential for new analysts entering the industry How AI agents are being used to replicate complex actuarial decisions in seconds Why “good enough” modelling still matters, and where precision can be a false economy The link between terrorism modelling and gaming engines — and what it signals for future innovation If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Richard Hartley or Matthew Grant on LinkedIn. Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. Continuing Professional Development This InsTech Podcast Episode is accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards your CPD scheme. By the end of this podcast, you should be able to meet the following Learning Objectives: Define the evolving skill sets required for analysts working in catastrophe risk and capital modelling. Identify the trade-offs in choosing between ‘build’ and ‘buy’ approaches when adopting new analytical technologies. Produce a framework for helping clients achieve profitable growth, manage volatility and optimise capital. If your organisation is a member of InsTech and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 374 page of the InsTech website or email cpd@instech.co to let us know you have listened to this podcast. To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.

In this episode, Matthew is joined once again by Richard Hartley to reflect on a major milestone in Cytora’s journey: its acquisition by US-based Applied Systems. But as Richard makes clear, this isn’t the end of the road. It’s a platform for scale. Listeners will hear how Cytora evolved from tackling political risk to transforming how risk flows through commercial insurance. Richard shares practical lessons from scaling into the US, explains why they rebuilt their platform around large language models and outlines why being agnostic to input but opinionated on risk output is a game changer. They also explore the cultural and technical alignment with Applied, the value of blending insurance expertise with external product thinking and what it really takes to make hard pivots, including knowing when to throw away what you’ve built. In this episode, Richard shares: Why Cytora rebuilt its platform around large language models — and what they threw away to make it work How “decision-ready risk” became a guiding principle for digitising insurance workflows What it really takes to expand into the US and earn client credibility market by market Why the idea of industry-wide standardisation is flawed — and how to work around it How to lead through uncertainty, scale a team and make tough product decisions Why insurance needs both deep domain knowledge and external perspective to innovate The underrated role of resilience in entrepreneurship — and what ballet and rugby taught him about pushing through If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Richard Hartley or Matthew Grant on LinkedIn. Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. Continuing Professional Development This InsTech Podcast Episode is accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards your CPD scheme. By the end of this podcast, you should be able to meet the following Learning Objectives: Describe how unstructured data enters the insurance value chain and the implications for underwriting workflows. Define the concept of “decision-ready risk” and its role in modernising commercial insurance operations. List the key factors that enabled Cytora’s successful expansion into the US market. If your organisation is a member of InsTech and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 373 page of the InsTech website or email cpd@instech.co to let us know you have listened to this podcast. To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.

Jonathan Spry, CEO and co-founder of Envelop Risk, joins Robin Merttens for a deep dive into how data science, AI and portfolio-level modelling are transforming cyber reinsurance. As one of the earliest voices in the industry championing machine learning and systemic risk analysis, Jonathan shares what he's learned over nine years of building Envelop into a leading hybrid underwriter operating across London and Bermuda. In his own words, this episode is about building smarter ways to understand, underwrite and capitalise on emerging risk — with cyber as just the starting point. What you'll learn: Why Jonathan and his team focused on cyber risk and portfolio-level underwriting from day one The rationale behind favouring systemic insights over individual vulnerabilities How causal inference provides a leap forward in predicting tail events Why AI liability is already creating new market opportunities The need for creative, multi-source data strategies beyond traditional claims Why Envelop steers clear of SaaS and keeps underwriters embedded in the modelling process How algorithmic underwriting fits into the next chapter of insurance innovation Candid thoughts on the AI hype cycle — and what matters more than the buzz Jonathan also talks through Envelop's shift from MGA to reinsurer, how to think long-term in a volatile market and what kind of partnerships are needed to unlock new forms of risk. If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Robin Merttens on LinkedIn. You can also contact Jonathan Spry on LinkedIn to start a conversation! Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. Continuing Professional Development This InsTech Podcast Episode is accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards your CPD scheme. By the end of this podcast, you should be able to meet the following Learning Objectives: Identify the structural and economic drivers pushing insurers toward algorithmic and portfolio underwriting. Produce a strategy for aligning capital, analytics and data science in cyber reinsurance underwriting. Summarise how Envelop Risk evolved from an MGA to a hybrid reinsurer and the rationale behind its capital partnerships. If your organisation is a member of InsTech and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 372 page of the InsTech website or email cpd@instech.co to let us know you have listened to this podcast. To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.

What happens when a major US insurance tech player sets its sights on Europe? This week, Robin Merttens speaks with Chris Quirk, VP and General Manager at Insurity, to unpack the drivers behind the company’s international expansion and what it signals for the wider market. Chris brings a unique cross-market perspective, working with carriers, MGAs and brokers on both sides of the Atlantic. He shares how Insurity is navigating the challenges of scaling legacy systems into modern, cloud-native platforms and why interoperability and open ecosystems are now critical in a post-consolidation world. Key themes include: Why the US market is looking to London and Europe for growth The role of private equity and M&A in shaping cross-border expansion Common pitfalls when exporting US tech to the UK and how to avoid them How Insurity is balancing tried-and-tested functionality with modern scalability The growing importance of structured data in preparing for agentic AI Strategic partnerships with Viper, Coherent and OIP InsurTech What a truly “distributed” insurance ecosystem could look like in the near future Chris also offers insight into where Insurity is investing over the next 12 months and why the industry may be underestimating just how much technology has matured. If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Robin Merttens on LinkedIn. You can also contact Christopher Quirk on LinkedIn to start a conversation! Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. Continuing Professional Development This InsTech Podcast Episode is accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards your CPD scheme. By the end of this podcast, you should be able to meet the following Learning Objectives: Explain the role of structured data and cloud-native systems in enabling AI adoption in insurance workflows. Define the concept of an “open ecosystem” in insurance technology and its advantages over closed platform models. Identify key industry partnerships that support seamless data exchange and workflow integration across markets. If your organisation is a member of InsTech and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 371 page of the InsTech website or email cpd@instech.co to let us know you have listened to this podcast. To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.

In this special edition of the InsTech podcast, Robin introduces listeners to new colleague Chris Eberly, Insurance Practice Lead at Datos Insights, following Datos’ recent acquisition of InsTech. Chris brings more than 30 years of carrier experience and a unique practitioner’s perspective on the forces shaping insurance today. Together they explore what this new chapter means for InsTech members, the wider insurance ecosystem, and why Datos’ blend of advisory, research and community makes a timely fit. Along the way, Chris shares why operational efficiency is top of the agenda, how underinsurance is being tackled, and why AI is no longer just hype but a genuine driver of transformation. This conversation is part industry briefing, part fireside chat. Listeners will come away with a clearer view of the challenges and opportunities ahead — from regulatory pressure to CIO priorities — and hear how InsTech and Datos plan to deliver value together. Robin also uncovers Chris’s surprising background outside insurance, including his lifelong passion for the carillon (a rare bell-tower instrument) and what raising six children and seventeen grandchildren has taught him about navigating complexity. Key themes discussed include: What Datos Insights does and how it complements InsTech’s mission Why carriers are focusing on risk operations and decision speed The scale of underinsurance and how data and property insights can help What’s really happening with AI adoption inside carriers The evolving role and pressure of the CIO Why combining advisory, research and community is so powerful Chris’s personal story: carillons, family and a passion for making insurance better If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Robin Merttens on LinkedIn. You can also contact Chris Eberly on LinkedIn to start a conversation! Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. Continuing Professional Development This InsTech Podcast Episode is accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards your CPD scheme. By the end of this podcast, you should be able to meet the following Learning Objectives: Measure the significance of operational efficiency (“risk ops”) in improving underwriting performance and decision speed. Specify the ways AI is being applied pragmatically in insurance operations, beyond the hype. Explain why CIOs face increasing pressure to balance legacy systems with rapid technology adoption. If your organisation is a member of InsTech and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 370 page of the InsTech website or email cpd@instech.co to let us know you have listened to this podcast. To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.

What will the specialty insurance market look like a decade from now? Will we still be talking about legacy systems and manual processes, or will the model itself have changed? In this panel discussion from InsTech’s Outpace. Outprice. Outperform event, Robin Merttens leads a conversation with four senior experts on the future of the market and the forces that could reshape it. Featuring: Paul Carroll, Editor-in-Chief, Insurance Thought Leadership Toby Kovacs, Account Director, Google Cloud Andy Yeoman, CEO and Co-founder, Concirrus Tracie Thompson, Global Head of Strategic Clients, Cytora Together, they examine how emerging technologies, shifting client expectations and economic realities are pushing the market to rethink long-held assumptions about distribution, underwriting and talent. In this conversation, the panel explores: Whether brokers, underwriters and annual renewals will still have a role How capital and distribution are bypassing traditional intermediaries Why outsourcing is being redefined in the age of AI The impact of legacy behaviours, not just legacy systems How new models of work and regulation are influencing transformation Whether the protection gap is closing — or widening 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. Continuing Professional Development This InsTech Podcast Episode is accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards your CPD scheme. By the end of this podcast, you should be able to meet the following Learning Objectives: Describe how AI and automation are reshaping the boundaries of outsourcing in specialty insurance. List the key areas of the insurance value chain likely to undergo transformation in the next 10 years. Measure the potential impact of continuous underwriting and data-driven models on policy efficiency and pricing accuracy. If your organisation is a member of InsTech and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 369 page of the InsTech website or email cpd@instech.co to let us know you have listened to this podcast. To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.

In this milestone edition of Partners Chat, Robin and Matthew sit down for their first episode since InsTech's transition to new ownership. With nearly 11 years of leadership behind them, they reflect candidly on founding and growing the business, navigating a sales process and what lies ahead under Datos Insights. Listeners will get rare insights into what it actually takes to sell a company: what they learned, what caught them off guard and how it’s changed their understanding of fundraising and Private Equity partnerships. This episode offers honest takeaways for any founders or leaders thinking ahead to their own exit. Robin and Matthew also tackle one of the most polarising trends in insurance tech today: Agentic AI. Is it a game-changer or just another label? They unpack how it's being adopted (quietly or loudly) across insurers, and why some businesses are embracing it at full throttle while others remain unconvinced. They also share what they’ve seen in the climate and catastrophe modelling space, where collaboration, innovation and data openness continue to drive real value and how this might foreshadow the future of AI in insurance. Key themes discussed include: Life after founding: reflections on stepping back and what comes next Lessons from selling a company and choosing the right buyer Demystifying Private Equity: stereotypes vs reality The bifurcation of AI adoption in insurance The rise of Agentic AI and the risk of “AI washing” How the climate modelling community sets a precedent for AI maturity Why demos are finally worth seeing again and how events are evolving If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Robin Merttens or Matthew Grant on LinkedIn. Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. Continuing Professional Development This InsTech Podcast Episode is accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards your CPD scheme. By the end of this podcast, you should be able to meet the following Learning Objectives: Measure the potential impact of agentic AI adoption on underwriting efficiency and competitive advantage. Explain the strategic benefits of new ownership for expanding into US markets and enhancing research and advisory capabilities. Define “AI washing” and how it parallels other historical tech hype cycles in insurance. If your organisation is a member of InsTech and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 365 page of the InsTech website or email cpd@instech.co to let us know you have listened to this podcast. To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.

If you want a masterclass in how to build a business, sell it well and stay hungry for the next idea, listen to Bob Frady. In this episode, Matthew Grant catches up with Bob, CEO and Co-founder of PropertyLens and former CEO and founder of Hazard Hub, to hear what he’s learned across three startups, why he’s building again post-exit and how he’s turning deep domain expertise into tools that actually help people. From fire hydrants to flood risk, Bob has spent years translating messy, hyperlocal data into decisions insurers and now homebuyers can use. But this conversation goes far beyond data: it's about strategy, equity, product‑market fit and the value of knowing when to walk away from the wrong deal. In this episode Bob shares: Why Hazard Hub’s founding thesis was wrong, and what he got right instead How PropertyLens is helping US homebuyers make more informed decisions before they buy What UK listeners may not realise about US property disclosures, and why risk is so often hidden How Bob and his co-founder rebuilt their data stack from scratch and landed early B2B traction Why he still believes in the London Market and how UK insurers are often faster adopters What it really takes to scale a direct-to-consumer model in property intelligence Why bootstrapping helped him retain value at exit and how other founders can avoid over-dilutionThe four startup lessons he shares with anyone thinking of launching their own venture This one’s for founders, data practitioners and anyone who enjoys a candid, experience-rich look at what it takes to build a business that lasts. If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Bob Frady or Matthew Grant on LinkedIn. Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. Continuing Professional Development This InsTech Podcast Episode is accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards your CPD scheme. By the end of this podcast, you should be able to meet the following Learning Objectives: Define the challenges of scaling a startup with limited capital and how bootstrapping influences long-term outcomes. List the key differences between US and UK property risk disclosure practices. Explain why Hazard Hub’s original thesis did not hold and how that insight shaped the foundation of PropertyLens. If your organisation is a member of InsTech and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 367 page of the InsTech website or email cpd@instech.co to let us know you have listened to this podcast. To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.

Insurers have had fair warning: the hard market is softening, and those still relying on legacy tech may soon feel the chill. So what does it take to stay competitive as conditions turn? In this episode, Robin Merttens is joined once again by Dani Katz, Co-founder and Director of Optalitix, for a sharp analysis of what’s changed since their last conversation and why now really is the time to fix the roof. Dani brings a clear message: the winners in this market cycle will be those with disciplined pricing, strong data infrastructure and the ability to move fast. And while AI is starting to play a role, it's the fundamentals (clean data, integrated platforms, empowered underwriters) that remain essential. In this conversation, Dani shares insights on: Why too many firms delayed digital upgrades during the boom The signs of market softening and what that means for pricing teams What “minimum viable tech” looks like in 2025 How underwriters can be brought on the journey, not left behind The difference between automating and augmenting decisions Why data pipelines matter more than AI hype How Optalitix is responding to demand from both UK and global insurers They also touch on industry psychology: the lingering suspicion of new tech, the cultural lag behind modern tooling and why many firms still struggle to turn innovation into impact. If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Robin Merttens on LinkedIn. You can also contact Dani Katz on LinkedIn to start a conversation! Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. Continuing Professional Development This InsTech Podcast Episode is accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards your CPD scheme. By the end of this podcast, you should be able to meet the following Learning Objectives: Define the role of AI in underwriting workflows, distinguishing between automation and augmentation. Identify common cultural and structural barriers to technology adoption across insurance organisations. Summarise how insurers can use data-first strategies to gain a competitive edge during market transitions. If your organisation is a member of InsTech and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 366 page of the InsTech website or email cpd@instech.co to let us know you have listened to this podcast. To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.

At its best, parametric insurance delivers clarity when volatility strikes. But scaling that promise takes more than models: it takes real claims data, market feedback and the ability to solve for both reinsurers’ confidence and cedents’ earnings risk. In this episode, Matthew Grant speaks with Matt Coleman, Chief Risk Officer at The Demex Group, a reinsurance MGA using a new modelled loss index to reshape how the market covers severe convective storms, one of the fastest-growing sources of weather-driven loss. Our conversation picks up where our previous webinar left off, and explores how Demex has grown distribution, secured broker support and validated its approach in a live risk environment. In this conversation Matt touches on: Why 2025 has already seen above-average tornado, wind and hail activity and how recoveries are already flowing How Demex’s RCR Re cover mimics indemnity but pays out on a modelled index Why omitting sensors and relying on robust weather and claims data reduces basis risk The advantages of training models on cedents’ actual ground-up claims, not diluted industry averages What reinsurers want in secondary peril covers and how Demex packages risk to match that appetite Why broker engagement has been critical to growth, and what their clients are asking for What it means to build in response to a genuine market problem not just to push a technology Along the way, Matthew and Matt talk about why carriers are willing to share granular claims data when the product is strong enough and why early validation matters in parametric. If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Matt Coleman or Matthew Grant on LinkedIn. Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. Continuing Professional Development This InsTech Podcast Episode is accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards your CPD scheme. By the end of this podcast, you should be able to meet the following Learning Objectives: Specify the role of brokers in distributing innovative reinsurance solutions and educating cedents Identify the challenges and advantages of building a reinsurance product in direct response to market demand Explain why reinsurers prefer weather-driven indices over indemnity-based uncertainty If your organisation is a member of InsTech and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 365 page of the InsTech website or email cpd@instech.co to let us know you have listened to this podcast. To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.

What does it take to rebuild after disaster as a business leader, a homeowner and a policyholder? Garret Gray has spent his career trying to improve how insurers and property owners respond to damage. As President of Insurance Solutions at Cotality (formerly CoreLogic) and founder of Next Gear Solutions, he’s been at the centre of building tools for claims, risk assessment and recovery. But this year, the conversation became personal. A wildfire tore through Garret’s neighbourhood in California, forcing an emergency evacuation and leaving his home heavily damaged. That experience has shaped the way he thinks about risk, resilience and the urgency of modernising the systems we rely on. In this episode, Matthew Grant speaks with Garret about what he’s learning, not just from running a technology platform, but from living through the very risks his business is built to address. Garret reflects on: What the industry often underestimates about “secondary” damage and long-tail claims Why speed not just coverage is critical in claims response How Cotality is using AI to streamline damage assessment, measurement and documentation Where underwriting still falls short on using granular property data effectively The potential for aerial imagery, building code data, and mitigation scoring to improve pricing The evolving role of regulators, particularly in high-risk states like California He also shares what it takes to keep innovation alive inside a larger company and why so many of the original founders of acquired businesses are still working alongside him today. If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Garret Gray or Matthew Grant on LinkedIn. Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. Continuing Professional Development This InsTech Podcast Episode is accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards your CPD scheme. By the end of this podcast, you should be able to meet the following Learning Objectives: List the ways AI and automation are improving claims workflows, from measurement to estimate validation. Measure the impact of faster claims processing on overall loss severity and policyholder experience. Specify the data and tools required to assess property-level risk more accurately, including aerial imagery and local building codes. If your organisation is a member of InsTech and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 364 page of the InsTech website or email cpd@instech.co to let us know you have listened to this podcast. To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.

Why has claims innovation taken off in personal lines, but still lags behind in specialty? It’s a question that many in the market have asked and in this episode, a panel of senior experts set out to answer it. Hosted by Andrew Pedler, Vice President at Reserv, this special discussion brings together three experienced voices from across the claims and consulting landscape: Chris Payne (Partner, EY), Andy Stevenson (Consultant Director, PwC), and Patrick Hayward (Claims Lead, Altus Consulting). Together, they examine why some of the biggest efficiency gains in motor and home claims haven’t yet translated into specialty and what needs to change to unlock that value. In this conversation, the panel explores: Where personal lines have succeeded: distribution, automation,and data enrichment Why claims in specialty remain complex, fragmented and harder to automate The structural and cultural barriers to innovation including litigation risk and lack of direct customer engagement How changing expectations and regulatory pressures are creating momentum for transformation What a “claims workbench” might look like and how it mirrors trends in underwriting The panel’s insight is clear: meaningful claims transformation in specialty is less about chasing point solutions and more about rethinking the role of claims within the wider enterprise from managing portfolios to improving capital efficiency. Whether you're trying to improve claims operations, justify technology investment, or just understand what’s actually happening in the market, this is an honest and thought-provoking discussion with people who know the space inside out. 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. Continuing Professional Development This InsTech Podcast Episode is accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards your CPD scheme. By the end of this podcast, you should be able to meet the following Learning Objectives: Describe the key differences between personal lines and specialty claims processes, including complexity, litigation exposure, and stakeholder roles List the technological advancements successfully implemented in personal lines claims and assess their relevance to specialty markets Measure the impact of improved data ingestion and automation on claims processing efficiency and decision-making If your organisation is a member of InsTech and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 363 page of the InsTech website or email cpd@instech.co to let us know you have listened to this podcast. To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.

What does it take to build an MGA that not only launches but lasts? Tim Quayle has spent the past decade answering that question, not in theory, but in practice. As CEO of OneAdvent, a London-based MGA incubator and service platform, he’s helped launch and scale more than 15 underwriting businesses and seen plenty more that didn’t make it. In this episode, Matthew Grant speaks to Tim about the real ingredients of MGA success. Not the glossy pitch-deck version, but the messy, pragmatic reality: why experience matters, what investors are really looking for, and how the market has matured in the last ten years since the “InsurTech” label first emerged. In this conversation, Tim shares: Why most early-stage MGAs underestimate how long things take and how much they’ll cost What’s changed in capacity and investment appetite, and why “grown-up plans” are now a must The risk of pushing too hard, too fast and how to preserve credibility with stakeholders Why deep insurance experience still outweighs tech fluency in this market The myth of radical disruption and why incremental improvement is the better bet How OneAdvent is investing in AI and data to better support underwriting teams across its platform We also explore broader themes: the shifting dynamics between MGAs and capacity providers, the evolution of embedded insurance, and why many promising innovations still struggle to gain traction in such a regulated, relationship-driven industry. You can join Tim Quayle in person at our upcoming MGA Half Day event on July 15th. Tim will be moderating a panel on the key ingredients for a winning MGA, alongside Adam Kembrooke, Founder and Managing Director, Amiga Specialty, Jacqui Ferrier, CEO, Carbon Underwriting and Tomos Ashfield, Chief Development Officer, The Ardonagh Group.  With only a few tickets left, sign up now to be able to join us for what is shaping up to be the biggest UK gathering focused entirely on the delegated authority market this year. 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. Continuing Professional Development This InsTech Podcast Episode is accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards your CPD scheme. By the end of this podcast, you should be able to meet the following Learning Objectives: Explain why radical disruption often fails in insurance, and how incremental innovation leads to sustainable business growth. List the core capabilities MGAs need to present a “grown-up” proposition to capacity providers and investors. Identify the key components of a data-driven MGA operating model and how platforms like OneAdvent’s OneView can support underwriting performance. If your organisation is a member of InsTech and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 362 page of the InsTech website or email cpd@instech.co to let us know you have listened to this podcast. To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.

Enhanced underwriting has become one of the most talked-about shifts in the London Market, but it’s also one of the least clearly defined. In this episode, we share a live panel discussion from our Enhanced Underwriting event, featuring: Colum D’Auria, Canopius Rob Jarvis, Tokio Marine Kiln Tessa Wardle, QBE The conversation begins with a basic question what exactly are “portfolio solutions”? and opens up into a broader exploration of how insurers are adapting to new forms of delegated authority, rising data expectations and the growing influence of broker-led facilities. Our speakers touched on: How different firms define and implement portfolio underwriting The emergence of tracker facilities and their potential to reshape market dynamics Why algorithmic platforms are gaining traction, and where they still fall short The role of live exposure data and the practical barriers to using it well How underwriters can maintain control and accountability in increasingly automated environments What comes through clearly is that many of the most innovative teams are thinking beyond product and pricing and focusing instead on how underwriting structures, controls and data flows can support long-term performance. If you want a clearer view of how underwriting is evolving beneath the surface and how leaders across the market are responding this episode offers a window into the practical realities behind the strategy. You can also read our event write-up: “Enhanced Underwriting: How the London Market is Turning Theory into Practice”. 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. Continuing Professional Development This InsTech Podcast Episode is accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards your CPD scheme. By the end of this podcast, you should be able to meet the following Learning Objectives: Define what “portfolio solutions” means across different insurers in the London Market context. Describe how broker facilities and tracker portfolios are influencing underwriting practices and market concentration. List the key components that distinguish smart platforms and algorithmic underwriting from traditional models. If your organisation is a member of InsTech and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 361 page of the InsTech website or email cpd@instech.co to let us know you have listened to this podcast. To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.

At its core, insurance underwriting is about judgment: making sense of messy information, pricing for uncertainty and doing it at speed. Technology and AI should make that easier, but is it really the answer to underwriting’s most persistent challenges? In this episode, Robin Merttens speaks to Guillaume Bonnissent, CEO and founder of Quotech, a platform built specifically for underwriting teams. Guillaume brings a rare combination of perspectives: he’s a former underwriter who became a technologist and his company reflects that crossover. We begin by reflecting on the past 12 months: what’s changed since Guillaume was last on the podcast, and why Quotech’s strategy of building for niche underwriting teams has started to gain serious traction. In this conversation, Guillaume talks about: Why underwriters still spend far too much time retyping data The real promise of AI in ingestion and why it’s finally deliverable The structural shift from generic platforms to class-specific solutions Why "build vs. buy" debates rarely make sense for MGAs How to build systems that record data usefully, not just store it Why AI can’t fix bad inputs, and what that means for underwriting teams We also dig into broader trends: how emerging tech is shifting the role of underwriters, whether AI really is a disruptor or just another tool and why so many companies are still struggling to make basic data available for decision-making. What emerges is a sharp portrait of a market in transition, one that’s slowly waking up to the need for class-specific tools, data-first workflows and AI that’s genuinely useful. If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Robin Merttens on LinkedIn. You can also contact Guillaume Bonnissent on LinkedIn to start a conversation! Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. Continuing Professional Development This InsTech Podcast Episode is accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards your CPD scheme. By the end of this podcast, you should be able to meet the following Learning Objectives: Explain the limitations of building in-house technology solutions within MGA and insurer environments. Define the role of recorded underwriting data in enhancing future pricing and risk selection. Identify the ways AI is being realistically — and usefully — applied to solve practical problems in underwriting today. If your organisation is a member of InsTech and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 360 page of the InsTech website or email cpd@instech.co to let us know you have listened to this podcast. To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.