FNO: InsureTech

Alacrity Solutions

A podcast that interviews leaders from insuretech and insurance to get up-to-date ideas and perspectives on how technology is disrupting and transforming the industry. We bring stories, trends, and useful insights to our audience from carriers, insuretechs, service providers, and various industry groups. New episodes feature people who are on the forefront of inventing, using, developing, or transforming the insurance world through applied technology. FNO: InsureTech is created and produced by Alacrity Solutions.

  1. 2D AGO

    Ep 299: Heather Wilson, CEO, CLARA Analytics

    In this episode of FNO: InsureTech, Rob Beller and Lee Boyd welcome Heather Wilson, CEO of CLARA Analytics, for an insightful conversation on how AI is transforming claims intelligence and reshaping the competitive landscape of insurance. Heather shares how CLARA Analytics has been doing 'AI before AI was cool' since 2012, building a platform that now processes millions of claims with 24/7 predictive analytics, and reflects on her own journey as a data science pioneer who has always been years ahead of industry trends. The discussion explores CLARA's hybrid model that blends AI-driven insights with traditional adjuster expertise, the challenges of building trust in automated systems, and why the future competitive advantage in insurance won't be pricing. Heather offers candid perspectives on the "AI psychology" holding the industry back, the generational expectations that will force change, and why empathy and human judgment remain irreplaceable even as agents handle 80% of the work. Key Highlights [01:49] The founding thesis behind CLARA Analytics and what happens when AI models work while adjusters sleep. [05:16] Why CLARA was building AI solutions in 2012 when most people didn't even know what the technology meant. [06:51] A surprising analogy that explains why even the most experienced professionals still need AI in their workflow. [12:43] How CLARA measures and attributes financial impact to every action an adjuster takes based on AI recommendations. [18:25] Why building AI is faster than ever, but there's still one massive obstacle slowing everyone down. [21:44] Why the next competitive advantage in insurance isn't pricing, and what will actually determine who wins. [27:11] Heather's prediction for when agentic AI will fundamentally reshape the competitive landscape in insurance. [38:38] The mental barrier Heather calls "AI psychology" and why it's holding the insurance industry back from transformative change. [39:40] What Gen Alpha and Gen Z will say when they look at insurance, and why the industry is running out of time to respond.

    50 min

  2. JAN 23

    Ep 298: Stacey Brown, Founder & President, InsurTech America

    In this episode of FNO: InsureTech, Rob Beller and Lee Boyd welcome Stacey Brown, Founder and President of InsurTech America, for a thoughtful conversation on how curiosity, timing, and community can quietly reshape an industry. Stacey shares reflections from his career in insurance technology, the early signals that convinced him something new was forming in insuretech, and the personal decision that led him to step beyond a traditional corporate path.  The discussion follows the evolution of InsurTech America from small, informal gatherings into a growing network of regional communities, touching on the challenges of scale, the importance of trust, and the realities of building something without a predefined blueprint. Along the way, Stacey offers perspective on how industry events create unexpected collisions, why adaptability matters more than polish, and what it takes to keep people genuinely engaged as the insuretech landscape continues to mature.  Key Highlights  The seemingly ordinary moment that became the catalyst for Stacey Brown to start building an insuretech community.  How early exposure to new ideas and unfamiliar industry models reshaped Stacey's understanding of insurance as a whole.  The role of small, unstructured meetups in creating momentum before insuretech became a widely used label.  A pivotal shift that expanded the community well beyond its original geographic focus.  The reasoning behind uniting several regional insuretech groups under a single, national identity.  How subtle changes in event design and content are influencing the direction of the InsurTech America Symposium.  Why long-term value in insuretech still depends on relationships, shared learning, and consistent collaboration.

    46 min
  3. Ep 297: Tracie Thompson, Global Head of Strategic Clients, Cytora

    JAN 9

    Ep 297: Tracie Thompson, Global Head of Strategic Clients, Cytora

    In this episode, Tracie Thompson, Global Head of Strategic Clients at Cytora, joins FNO: InsureTech to discuss how technology is transforming underwriting while preserving the essential role of human judgment. Drawing on her experience working with global insurers, Tracie explains how Cytora digitizes submission intake and enables underwriters to move away from fragmented data and manual processes toward faster, more consistent decision-making.  The conversation explores the realities of serving multinational insurance organizations, where technology adoption must balance standardization with local regulatory and operational complexity. Tracy also draws on her experience at AIG to share insights on leadership, resilience, and the importance of trust in complex market environments. Throughout the episode, she emphasizes that the future of underwriting lies in collaboration between advanced analytics and experienced human insight.    Key Highlights  Tracy discusses Cytora's role in digitizing submission intake and underwriting workflows, enabling underwriters to synthesize large volumes of structured and unstructured data while reducing manual triage and administrative burden.  The episode explores how Cytora operates as a platform within the underwriting ecosystem, supporting consistent decision-making across teams, regions, and lines of business.  The conversation examines how global insurers navigate uneven regulatory frameworks and market conditions, requiring technology providers to balance standardization with local adaptability.  Tracy draws on her experience at AIG to share insights on leadership, organizational resilience, and the importance of trust across insurers, clients, and partners in complex operating environments.  The discussion looks at the practical realities of integrating AI into underwriting workflows, including adoption barriers, explainability, and cultural resistance. AI is positioned as a decision-support tool that enhances, rather than replaces, underwriter judgment.  As experienced insurance professionals approach retirement, Tracy highlights the urgency of knowledge transfer and preserving institutional expertise. Technology can help capture and scale this knowledge, but human intuition remains central to complex risk decisions.  The episode also addresses the insurance industry's branding and talent challenges, emphasizing the need to attract diverse, analytically minded professionals and reposition insurance as an innovative, impact-driven career.    Join us at ITC London, Jan 26 & 27 at The Brewery, to continue the conversation on underwriting innovation, AI, and the future of insurance. Secure your spot here

    54 min

  4. 12/22/2025

    Ep 296: Wesley Pergament, Co-Founder & CEO, Sola Insurance

    In this episode, Wesley Pergament, Co-Founder and CEO of Sola Insurance, joins FNO: InsureTech for an in-depth discussion on how Sola uses objective weather data and a hybrid policy model to address major pain points in property insurance. With roots in disaster recovery and technology, Wesley explains Sola's evolution from a tornado-focused product to comprehensive wind and hail coverage, targeting gaps left by high deductibles and widespread fraud. The conversation details Sola's careful expansion into 15 states through partnerships with vetted agency networks and ongoing engagement with organizations such as Lloyd's, both as coverholder and Lloyd's Lab participant. Key Highlights Inspired by first-hand experience with Hurricane Sandy, Wesley describes Sola's foundation to help communities recover from natural disasters using data and engineering expertise. Sola started by offering tornado-specific parametric coverage before expanding to meet the scale of wind and hail losses, which together cause significantly higher annual damage than hurricanes or wildfires. Sola combines elements of parametric and indemnity insurance, optimizing for accurate, correlated loss response and aligning insurer and policyholder interests. The model leverages detailed weather analytics and property data in claim assessment. The company's core proposition is addressing the growing insurance gap as traditional home policies raise wind and hail deductibles—often above the cost of roof replacement. Sola's data-driven validation reduces exposure to opportunistic claims, supporting more efficient operations and sustainable loss ratios. Sola's claims are managed independently from primary carriers, typically settling within a few days after hail or wind events. The process relies on verified weather data, roof and property characteristics, and photographic evidence. Sola's selective agency strategy prioritizes established, reputable agents and sustained territory and account management support. The distribution approach focuses on quality representation and claims service excellence. Sola's participation in the Lloyd's Lab accelerator and current status as a Lloyd's coverholder have supported product development and reinsurance relationships. Product modeling draws from both proprietary analytics and leading catastrophe models (ISO/Verisk, RMS). State insurance departments, including Oklahoma, have highlighted Sola's program as a potential solution for homeowners facing increased premiums and limited wind and hail coverage.

    48 min

  5. 12/12/2025

    Ep 295: Terry McLean, CEO, SageSure

    Terry McLean, co-founder and CEO of SageSure, joins FNO: InsureTech for a detailed look at SageSure's beginnings, the company's focus on coastal and catastrophe-exposed property, and their disciplined approach to underwriting. McLean outlines SageSure's path from its first policy in 2009 to a multi-state, multi-billion dollar business, discusses recent acquisitions, and describes the company's approach to technology and culture based on observable behaviors. The conversation covers the practical factors that have shaped SageSure's strategy in challenging markets, quoting directly from McLean's experience and the company's evolution. Key Highlights The inception of SageSure based on the recognition of permanent dislocation in coastal property markets, and the pursuit of serving preferred but underserved customers by underwriting risk with discipline and care. SageSure's focus on gradual, organic growth, prioritizing profitability for carrier partners through comprehensive underwriting, including inspection of every home insured. Insights into the rationale behind entering catastrophe-prone markets that others avoided, and the business model built around pricing accurately for risk. Exploration of SageSure's acquisitions of GeoVera and Olympus, including the specific "carrier bifurcation" strategy used in these deals and the multi-year process of integrating technology and teams. Overview of investments in proprietary technology to deliver what McLean calls a "market leading buying experience" for producers, including API-driven integration and continuous improvement based on producer feedback. Explanation of SageSure's internal culture, highlighting "behaviors we value"—namely, "We Are Fountains," "We Run Down the Hall," and "We Don't Try"—and their origin and impact on daily interactions. The background behind the SageSure name and branding transition from Coastal Risk Underwriters.

    53 min

  6. 11/25/2025

    Ep 294: Tim Attia, CEO & Co-Founder, Slice Labs

    In this episode of FNO: InsureTech, host Rob Beller speaks with Tim Attia, CEO and Co-Founder of Slice Labs, for a detailed discussion on the company's evolution and product strategy. Tim describes how Slice transitioned from on-demand and gig economy insurance to higher-premium E&S and contractor general liability coverage, explaining the impact of automation and AI on their approach. The conversation highlights Slice's focus on operational efficiency and streamlined agent experience amid changing market and profitability demands. Key Highlights Tim Attia traces Slice Labs' shift from small, on-demand gig policies to E&S and contractor-focused products, including annual and project-based general liability, in response to changes brought on by COVID-19 and market realities. The episode examines how Slice employs automation, algorithms, and AI for business classification and underwriting, allowing significant growth without proportional increases in staffing. Slice's digital platform enabled rapid, low-friction underwriting for agents in E&S, removing many of the traditional obstacles agents faced in placing contractor risks. Tim introduces the concept of "risk DNA"—using neural networks, historic data, and both machine and underwriter insights to guide risk assessment and underwriting as policies grow in size and complexity. There is a focus on the adoption of tools such as generative AI and document extraction to streamline workflows for underwriters and developers alike. Tim emphasizes that insurance is inherently more complex than technology alone, requiring both advanced data modeling and nuanced human judgment. The discussion also covers experiences at conferences such as WSIA and Target Markets, the enduring role of agents and wholesalers, and the importance of staying close to carrier partnerships as methods and partnerships in distribution and underwriting change.

    54 min

  7. 11/14/2025

    Ep 293: Nic Sproul, Managing Partner, SP Partners

    In this episode, FNO: InsureTech hosts Nic Sproul, managing partner at SP Partners, for a close look at bridging engineering with property claims innovation across the UK and Europe. Nic discusses his transition from a foundation in mechanical engineering and his formative years as an engineer with a leading US silicon chip firm, to building and advising businesses at the intersection of insurance and technology. The conversation explores how a mindset shaped by analytical rigor and operational experience advances property claims management, technology pilots, and collaborative initiatives within the sector. Key Highlights Nic details his professional journey, reflecting on how an engineering apprenticeship and experience with a Fremont-based US silicon chip company created a foundation for bringing a technical perspective to the property claims arena. Emphasis on a practical, analytical mindset as the throughline connecting Nic's work in technology and insurance. He highlights that identifying the right problems to address is key to adding value. Nic participates as an active collaborator with I Love Claims, the UK's largest claims-focused open forum, supporting peer engagement, industry exchange, and charitable initiatives. Insight into innovation projects, including Nic's advisory role with a team pitching what they believe to be Europe's first AI model for PFAS ("forever chemicals") risk at Lloyd's Lab, aimed at understanding emerging environmental liabilities. Discussion of how Optira's satellite data solutions are helping accelerate detection of property subsidence, reducing assessment periods from many months to a matter of weeks, and commentary on cost and adoption considerations. Reference to AI-powered risk modeling for perils such as subsidence and flood, citing experience with WeatherMind and the importance of working alongside scientists and data specialists. Nic's guidance for InsurTech founders: define your core problem with precision, ensure solutions demonstrate tangible ROI for insurers, and focus especially on efficient management of high-frequency, low-value claims.

    40 min

  8. 10/31/2025

    Ep 292: Michael Balarezo, Founder & CEO, Adjusto

    In this episode, Rob Beller and Lee Boyd are joined by Michael Balarezo, Founder & CEO of Adjusto, for an in-depth discussion about the complexities and opportunities in contents claims. Michael recounts Adjusto's founding story, rooted in his own experiences both as an adjuster and as a policyholder impacted by catastrophe. The conversation explores how Adjusto's platform was purpose-built with artificial intelligence at its foundation to address longstanding inefficiencies for both policyholders and adjusters. Key themes include the adaptive use of machine learning and data science for multi-format input (written, CSV, and photo data), transparent and fair valuation practices, and integrations that streamline industry workflows. Michael details the patent-pending "FairMatch" system, the importance of personalized service in contents claims, and the role of technology partnerships across the insurance ecosystem. Key Highlights Adjusto was founded to address persistent pain points in contents claims, informed by Michael's background as both an adjuster and a policyholder affected by large-scale property loss. The platform is built from the ground up with AI and machine learning, enabling sophisticated handling of written lists, CSV uploads, and photographs for contents documentation. Adjusto's architecture enables real-time data processing and transparent interactions for both adjusters and policyholders, simplifying the experience and supporting trust in claim outcomes. The FairMatch algorithm—patent-pending—combines expert adjuster logic with data from consumer sources to generate accurate, fair valuations recognized by both insurers and policyholders. The solution serves carriers, TPAs, independent adjusting firms, and content specialists, and can be deployed as a standalone tool or integrated into existing claims environments. Adjusto integrates with platforms such as Snapsheet, participates in the Guidewire Vanguard Program, and is actively pursuing integration with Verisk marketplace. Michael discusses how dissatisfaction with contents claims can lead to policyholder churn, underscoring the need for tailored, data-driven processes in personal property claims.

    43 min
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About

A podcast that interviews leaders from insuretech and insurance to get up-to-date ideas and perspectives on how technology is disrupting and transforming the industry. We bring stories, trends, and useful insights to our audience from carriers, insuretechs, service providers, and various industry groups. New episodes feature people who are on the forefront of inventing, using, developing, or transforming the insurance world through applied technology. FNO: InsureTech is created and produced by Alacrity Solutions.

Information

  • Creator
    Alacrity Solutions
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    312
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © FNO: InsureTech Podcast by Alacrity Solutions. 2024
  • Show Website
    FNO: InsureTech