InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant

Jonathan Gonzalez, Raincoat & Carolyn Kousky, Insurance for Good & EDF: Insurance for Good (329)

Jonathan Gonzalez, CEO & Co-founder of Raincoat, takes the reins as guest host to explore one of the most pressing challenges in insurance: the disaster insurance gap. Jonathan speaks with Carolyn Kousky from the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), about the rising economic losses from climate disasters and the need for more inclusive and innovative insurance solutions.

Carolyn discusses her extensive research on climate risk management and disaster recovery, while also introducing her nonprofit initiative, ‘Insurance for Good’, which aims to bring together policymakers, insurers and community leaders to create practical solutions. 

Jonathan and Carolyn dive deep into how parametric insurance, policy innovation and collaboration can redefine resilience in a world of escalating climate risk.

Key talking points:

• The scale of the disaster insurance gap: two-thirds of global disaster losses remain uninsured
• How parametric insurance tailors solutions to underserved communities and specific disaster needs
• Affordability challenges and public-private partnerships as key levers for change
• Using insurance innovation to cover non-property losses, such as lost income or higher living costs after disasters
• The role of ‘Insurance for Good’ in building a hub for education, innovation, and implementation
• Why regulatory frameworks need to adapt to new insurance models like parametric solutions
• Inspiring collaboration across sectors, from housing to climate adaptation, to enable sustainable resilience
• Carolyn’s optimism about how partnerships and innovation can address systemic climate challenges

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 the role of public-private partnerships in fostering innovative insurance solutions.
• Specify the advantages and limitations of parametric insurance in addressing non-property losses.
• List the key factors contributing to underinsurance in high-risk areas.

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 329 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.

René Mück & Marcel-Steffen Reif: Munich Re: The rise of Parametric - from resilience to revenue smoothing (328)

How can parametric insurance transform risk management in an unpredictable world?

Munich Re, a leader in reinsurance, is paving the way for innovative parametric solutions addressing weather-related and natural catastrophe risks.

Robin Merttens is joined by René Mück, Global Head of Parametric NatCat, and Marcel-Steffen Reif, Global Head of Weather Agricultural Risks, to explore how Munich Re’s data-driven insurance products help corporates, public sector entities and industries navigate complex and evolving risks.

A key focus of the conversation is understanding the growing demand for parametric insurance, its role in bridging protection gaps and how Munich Re is developing solutions for emerging risks like green energy and agriculture.

Key talking points:

• What does the Capital Partners unit at Munich Re do?
• How parametric insurance addresses gaps in traditional coverage.
• Revenue smoothing for industries like renewable energy and agriculture.
• Client use cases – from supply chain disruptions to hurricane protection.
• Addressing basis risk in parametric insurance and how to manage it.
• Expanding applications for parametric solutions, including public sector resilience.
• Sensor technology and its potential to enhance parametric insurance accuracy.
• The importance of client education and engagement in driving adoption.

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 the concept of basis risk in parametric insurance and its implications for claims.
• Summarise the role of client education in fostering adoption of parametric insurance.
• List the key industries benefiting from parametric solutions, including energy, agriculture and construction.

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 328 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.

Kiran Aulakh, VP, Fixed Advisory Asset Services: Kroll: Property rebuild valuation - understanding underinsurance (327)

How can impartial valuations drive transparency and trust in insurance?

Kroll’s platform provides property valuations through data-driven insights that benefit insurers, brokers and property owners alike.

Matthew Grant sits down with Kiran Aulakh, Kroll's VP of Fixed Asset Advisory, to explore how Kroll’s platform combines technology and real-time data to assess underinsurance and overinsurance risks across vast property portfolios. 

Kiran shares her insights on the value of green valuations, and the importance of impartial assessments, which Kroll provides through both an API and a standalone platform for seamless integration into clients' ecosystems.

Key talking points:

• The role of impartial valuations in improving insurer-client trust
• How Kroll’s platform combines technology with in-person expertise
• Reducing claims friction by accurately assessing property insurance needs
• Using valuation data to better negotiate policy terms for clients
• Kroll’s partnership with WTW and global insurers to streamline valuation assessments
• Real-time data updates and third-party integration for accurate market responses
• Green valuations and the impact of ESG on future property valuation trends
• Aulakh’s thoughts on data scalability and how it supports insurer-broker collaboration

If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Kiran Aulakh 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 the role of impartial valuations in managing underinsurance and overinsurance risks.
• Define the impact of valuation accuracy on insurance policy terms and claims outcomes.
• Measure the importance of transparent valuations in fostering stronger insurer-client relationships.

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 327 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.

George Devereese, Product Management Director: S&P Global Market Intelligence: Shining light on dark shipping activity (326)

How do you shed light on ‘dark shipping activity’?

S&P Global Market Intelligence aims to support insurers throughout the entire insurance value chain by providing critical data and insights.

Matthew Grant is joined by George Devereese, who monitors and tracks shipping around the world to screen them against various forms of liabilities. This data is passed onto markets such as the insurance world, to build a better and fuller picture for the insurance contract. 

A key aspect of this process involves identifying and understanding the risks associated with illicit or ‘dark’ shipping activities.

Key talking points include:

• How are the analytics provided helping insurers?
• Why all navigation is a timestamp.
• What is AIS and how can it help an insurer understand a ship’s history?
• Understanding a ship’s risk - from tracking to insurance contracts
• Driving frigates and hunting pirates - George’s time in the Navy
• On becoming ‘dark’ - are there exemptions to turning off AIS?
• Collaborating with Concirrus 
• Cross pollination of data - understanding a bigger and better picture for underwriting risk
• New launches in S&P Global Market Intelligence’s portal looking ahead to the 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:

• Describe how data on a ship’s movement can better inform an underwriter’s decision
• Explain what an AIS is, why this can be manipulated by some vessels, and how this affects the underwriter
• Define dark shipping activity and why it is important to understand its implications 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 326 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.

Benjamin Turner & Thomas Swire: Salesforce: More than just a CRM (325)

Ben Turner joked that he’d “be a rich man for every pound [he] had somebody asking” what Salesforce has to offer the insurance world. 

Robin Merttens is joined this week by Ben Turner and Tom Swire at Salesforce, who touch on their journey to joining the company, the trouble with legacy systems and the exciting prospects for the future including an agency management system to be launched in 2025.

If you enjoyed this conversation and would like to hear more, our October evening event hosted in collaboration with Salesforce and Azur Technology was recorded. The videos will be available on our website soon.

Key talking points include:

• On working as an underwriter or in insurance market standards to joining Salesforce - the journey
• Salesforce’s place in insurance
• The importance of the workbench
• Case studies from the front line - N2G and Crux Underwriting
• The Salesforce approach to AI - creating your own bot
• Looking ahead to the future - all the exciting launches
• A match made in heaven - working with ecosystems and partners
• Transformation - making the unknown and scary just that tiny bit more familiar

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 how Salesforce operates in the insurance sector and the benefit of pre-built templates 
• Specify how a CRM system can be a strong foundation for building an underwriting workbench
• Explain how ecosystems work and how do you pick a successful partner

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 325 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.

Ben Laidlaw, Managing Director: Carbon Underwriting: The Delegated Underwriting Specialists (324)

Determined to write delegated business better, Ben Laidlaw joined Nick Tye and Jacqui Ferrier to found Carbon Underwriting. 

Carbon Underwriting is a Lloyd’s Syndicate MGU that provides shareable underwriting conclusions on its Graphene administration system.

The company has matured since its conception in 2018, and Ben discusses navigating ‘Decile 10’ to gaining approval for Carbon’s second syndicate earlier this year, which will exclusively underwrite US business. 

Key talking points:

• The story behind the creation of Carbon Underwriting and growth in the Lloyd’s market
• The thinking behind the second syndicate
• US business - why enter a competitive market? 
• Smart syndication 
• Graphene - who built it and what’s so good about it? 
• Plans for the rest of this year and 2025
• On being Private Equity owned and waxing lyrical

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:

• Specify what issues were in the delegated business market and what changes did Carbon Underwriting seek to solve
• Define what ‘Decile 10’ is and how it changed the Lloyd’s Market
• Summarise why smart syndication is and why it is a growing and exciting aspect in the Lloyd’s 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 324 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.

Liselotte Munk, CEO: Fadata: Expanding to new horizons (323)

Fadata’s CEO, Liselotte Munk, returns to the InsTech podcast with Robin Merttens to discuss the company’s recent developments, including its expansion to APAC and South America. 

Discover in this episode the intricacies of running a policy admin system provider, where Liselotte thinks the market is heading to next and the challenges with entering new regions.

Key talking points include:

• The market’s maturity and the problems this may pose.
• Running a business when policy admin system changes are rare 
• Working around compliance 
• Working with a new generation of tech-savy insurers
• Culture shocks upon entering new markets
• Navigating a highly competitive marketing with key players
• Using AI in Fadata
• Ecosystems versus agnostic systems provider - which is best?

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 why implementing a new policy admin system may pose issues for an insurer.
• Specify what markets across the globe are expanding and are interesting for new entrants in insurtech.
• Explain why you need to change your business model and approach when entering new global 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 323 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.

Mike Hobday, CEO: Insurants: Falling in love with document processing (322)

According to Mike Hobday, CEO of Insurants, the company is “a bit like being the Google Translator of the commercial insurance market”.

Insurants is developed by Antworks in collaboration with Marsh McLennan to help commercial insurance companies manage and process their documents.

This week, Matthew caught up with Mike, who previously having spent 12 years at IBM, witnessed early AI automation with the likes of Watson, through which he fell in love with document processing. At Insurants, Mike is bridging the language barrier (so to speak) between data that flows between brokers and carriers.

Key talking points include: 

• The importance of summarisation - courtesy of the InsTech AI bot intern
• Falling in love with document processing - Mike’s career journey
• What is the current problem with document processing in insurance
• The Periodic Table
• Insurants accuracy - working with Marsh
• Commonality between insurance and the left side of the brain
• Moving business back to the UK
• Vital advice for small carriers and brokers

If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Mike Hodbay 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:

• Explain the issues with document processing in the insurance industry and why automation is the solution.
• Identify different types of documents used in insurance and their purpose.
• Summarise ways in which a carrier can integrate a document processing AI system into their workflow.

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 322 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.

Gilbert Harrap & Michael Watson: InsurX: Smart Syndication and Wise Owls (321)

This week we are combining youthful enthusiasm with sage wisdom on the podcast, as Robin Merttens speaks to InsurX’s CEO, Gilbert Harrap and Chairman, Michael Watson. InsurX is a platform that enables insurers and brokers to undertake portfolio underwriting, automated contract binding, algorithmic underwriting and instant risk matching.

Touching on the importance of driving digitisation in the London Market, Michael also shares highlights from his distinguished career, with a focus on his success at Canopius and his reasons for joining InsurX. 

An important episode for all those interested in digital trading, algorithmic underwriting and the future of the London Market.

Key talking points include:

• The Hot Topic - digital trading solutions and an introduction to 
• Never close to being at the “end” of a career - looking back at career achievements
• Wise owls and youthful enthusiasm - the perfect pairing?
• Plans for fundraising 
• Development in the London Market - where are we at?
• The tension between centralised infrastructure and entrepreneurs
• What is next for InsurX and the potential to bring digital trading beyond portfolio underwriting

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 what is a digital trading platform in insurance and why is it important in the context of the London Market
• Explain why bringing new tools is difficult in a centralised infrastructure like insurance, and how companies can work around this issue
• Identify reasons why it is valuable to mix young entrepreneurs with industry veterans when building out a new tool

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 321 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.

Yann Barbarroux, Co-founder & CEO: Otonomi: Parametric payout for a disrupted world (320)

According to Yann Barbarroux, Co-founder and CEO of Otonomi, “every year is like starting a new company”. It has been a year since we last caught up with Otonomi, and Matthew reconnects with Yann to discuss how parametric insurance helps mitigate supply chain risks, particularly in situations where traditional insurance falls short.

Key topics include:

• Addressing pain points in maritime freight and global trade
• Developing and refining parametric insurance products
• Real-world case studies demonstrating Otonomi’s solutions
• Strategies for managing accumulation risk
• Yann’s expertise in risk management and its influence on Otonomi’s approach
• Expansion of the air cargo market and new maritime product offerings
• Growing awareness and adoption of parametric insurance
• Leveraging AI to scale and enhance business operations
• Otonomi’s global expansion plans and future funding strategies

If you are interested to learn more about parametric insurance and non-damage business interruption, read our report here.

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 how AI and developing new tools can help automate tasks within a business.
• Define parametric insurance and its impact in the perishable goods market.
• Identify the common issues in the cargo insurance space and how parametric insurance can solve them.

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 320 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.