Episodes
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The Wolfcast spent some high-quality talking with Nikolaus Sühr, the CEO & Co-Founder at KASKO. KASKO offers an API-powered agile insurance product and distribution platform that operates between digital customer touchpoints and legacy IT systems.
Some of the topics Nikolaus discussed:
Remote working and distributed teams Enabling different channels of communication depending on the urgency The focus on providing growth to one's stakeholders The beauty of insurance and how it does not necessarily need to be disrupted The difference between input and output-oriented The three mental notes hidden in the word EnkelfähigSome other titles we considered for this episode:
I’m Trying but I’m Also Preaching Water and Drinking Wine If You Don’t Use It, You Lose It A Gate to Move Things Along Enabling More People to Be More Efficient Value Creation and Long-Term ThinkingThis podcast is supported by Riskwolf.
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The Wolfcast learned a lot from its discussion with Dan Draper, the Founder and CEO of CipherStash. CipherStash uses a searchable encryption scheme that enables data to be searchable even while it remains encrypted. This gives data high-level protection without compromising usability.
Some of the topics that Dan covered:
What he learned while working for the Australian government Learning how to code on a BBC Micro Working for a startup in New York The increased scope of security attacks The necessity to improve cybersecurity awareness IBM’s report on The Cost of a Data Breach An analogy to F1 racing Separating access to the infrastructure from access to the dataOther titles we considered for this episode:
The Good Guys Are Doing That to Simulate What the Bad Guys are Doing Undifferentiated Heavy Lifting If Only It Was That Simple Now Our Interests Are Actually Aligned The Most Vulnerable Part of the System Is the HumanSome other interesting links:
The Effect of Google Search on Software Security The Impact of Information Sources on Code SecurityThis podcast is supported by Riskwolf.
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Missing episodes?
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The Wolfcast was interested to speak with Özgür Arslan-Ayaydin, Clinical Professor of Finance at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Some of the topics that Özgür covered:
Growing up in Turkey and studying Economics and Finance Relating economic theories to real life and looking for non-obvious contradictions Islamic Finance and how Islamic banks make money Risk sharing and trying to eliminate moral hazards The passion for teaching undergraduate students Finance The importance and difficulty of curating the overwhelming amount of information we receive Gold, cryptocurrency, and regulationsOther titles we considered for this episode:
Teaching Finance Is Very Rewarding, It’s So Dynamic and Applicable If I Get a Gain, I Should Provide a Gain as Well This Generation Is So Open to Alternatives Their Lives Are Changing in a Very Fast Pace Two Sides Have to Be Fair -
Another episode, another panda...The Wolfcast was joined by Struan Todd, a co-Founder of Pandamatics. Pandamatics is Asia's first and only pure cyber insurance coverholder.
Some of the topics that Struan discussed:
Getting into the risk insurance market and learning from Lloyds in London Exploring the world and getting a wider world-view because of his career in insurance Becoming an accidental entrepreneur How hybrid working improves the working environment The challenges of building algorithmic risk assessment The extent to which COVID raised the demand and awareness for cybersecurity and its insuranceOther titles we considered for this episode:
Attacking From Completely Covert Situations Driving the Overall Standard The Cyber Risk Is There Why Not Take the Risk? Expecting Someone to Come and Pick Up the BillThis episode was produced by Isabelle Goh.
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The Wolfcast was joined by Frederic Stallaert, a co-Founder of Paperbox.ai. Paperbox employs artificial intelligence to automate the processing of emails and documents from physical and digital mailboxes.
Some of the topics that Frederic covered:
His passion for AI Writing a Master’s thesis on Machine Learning Risk taking in general Building Paperbox.ai The importance of partnerships Making technology accessible and affordable to create more impact Branding and marketing saliency Paperbox’s vision for the futureSome of the other titles we considered for this episode:
The Unicorn Capital of Belgium How Software Does Cognitive Learning If That Is What Working Looks Like, That Is What I Want to Do Values and Passion We Are Technologists by Nature Accessibility Leads to Impact -
The Wolfcast was joined by Chris Kaye, a co-Founder and the CEO of Sherpa Insurance. Sherpa Insurance closes the advice gap in insurance by putting a full coverage, digital adviser, in the palm of your customers’ hands.
Some of the topics that Chris covered:
The factors that encouraged him to found Sherpa in 2016 How moving around affected him as a person Social importance and responsibility in insurance Creating customer engagement The Sherpa Score Sherpa 1.0 was selling insurance, Sherpa 2.0 selling technology to insurance companiesOther titles we considered for this episode:
It Ended Up Not Being a Choice It’s Almost Like We Designed It to Be Opaque It Doesn’t Feel Like a Human-Centric Transaction Anymore Insurance Is for the Things You Can't Afford Insurance Allows You to Live Life -
The Wolfcast was honored to talk to Marc Hauser, the Head of F10 Europe. F10 is a global innovation ecosystem that believes the fastest route to innovation lies in early collaboration between startups, incumbents and investors. Each stakeholder benefits from shared skills, experience and insight.
Some of the topics that Marc discussed:
The early days of working with startups in Switzerland Starting out in consulting Founding his first startup in 2011 and why he did it Returning to the corporate world How the startup scene has changed and why startups are important How moving between startups and corporates help him understand what makes a startup successful Getting companies to move faster Risk assessment and risk management Helping people understand exponential growth How corporates work with startupsOther titles we considered for this episode:
It Didn't Scare Me Enough at That Point in Time I Just Loved the Energy Surrounding Startups I Will Regret It If I Don't Try It You Know From the Get Go That the Odds Are Against You We Help the Elephants Dance With the MouseThis episode was produced by Isabelle Goh.
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The Wolfcast enjoyed our conversation with Gene Yu, the Founder and CEO of BlackPanda. BlackPanda's origin story alone is inspiring and the rest of our conversation with Gene was amazing as well.
Some of the topics we covered included:
Getting into the United States Military Academy at West Point and studying Computer Science Going to war in the Army Special Forces for almost a decade after graduation His career prior to starting BlackPanda Being Asia's first cybersecurity InsurTech underwriter Cybersecurity risk and disintermediation scale well as there are no proximity limitations Gaming and crypto being one of the highest risk sectors The importance of data and data analysis Pricing cyber risk and calculating payouts Measuring data in real-time Infinite possibilities lead to infinite risks Insurance in the metaverse and the future of cybersecuritySome other titles we considered:
We're Basically Cyber-Firefighting I See Security Differently Cybersecurity is NOT an IT Problem, It Is a Security Problem Security Advice Is Very Subjective It's a Different Terrain, but the Same Bad Guy Everybody Is at RiskThe audio on this episode was expertly produced by Isabelle Goh.
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The Wolfcast had an awesome face-to-face conversation with Rie Aleksandra Walle, Founder at No Ties Consulting, about GDPR, (e)Privacy and Data Protection. Suffice it to say, we were fascinated and learned a lot in the process.
Some of the topics we covered:
Living and working in the Middle East Risk aversion and starting one's own company Truly excited about privacy and data protection Helping business owners with the structure, systems, and automation to run more profitable businesses Being compliant where it really matters Data inventory is key to data security Setting up procedures so that security remains after consultation ends Building a global clientele The importance of involving all stakeholdersSome other titles we considered for this episode:
It Just Got So Exciting Every Risk You Take Makes It Easier Consulting Without a Tie Finding Easter Eggs Through Data Protection Don't Tell People to Chase Their PassionsThe audio on this episode was expertly produced by Isabelle Goh.
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The Wolfcast was joined by Manoj Gopalkrishnan, a self-declared molecule whisperer and the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Algorithmic Biologics. Algorithmic Biologics is increasing efficiencies in reading molecular information using its patented software, Tapestry.
Some of the topics Manoj discussed included:
The difference between living and non-living systems DNA and the instructions it contains for cell behavior Three particularly noteworthy dates in the development of biotechnology The coming together of mechanical engineering and chemistry James Clerk Maxwell's Demon - You won't click the link, but you really should In the long-term, we should be trying to build systems as sophisticated as cells Building a universal molecule assembler Laying his bets on a bottom-up approach Some Algorithmic Biologics products that are already in the marketSome other titles we considered for this episode:
A Cell Is a Bag of Molecules We Draw This Line Between Living and non-Living Systems How Does a Seed Grow Into a Tree? We Are Asking Questions of Soup I Believe It Will Be a Long Journey Whenever Computer Science Gets Involved, You Start to See Exponentials I Take Inspiration from Biology It’s Way Beyond What Birds Can Do -
The Wolfcast quite enjoyed having Emine Gökce Phillips, Ph.D. on the show. Gökce is the CEO and co-Founder of CryptoIndexSeries, which provides data, analytics, and trading tools for the global crypto and digital asset markets.
Some of the topics Gökce covered:
Having many places to call home Moving from a typical corporate job into crypto One of her relatives selling his apartment and investing in crypto The significance of PayPal facilitating payments via crypto in October 2020 Institutional requirements to invest in crypto and building a suite of tools to enable that How decentralization creates accessibility The creation of new economic models like GameFi in the metaverse Institutional asset managers expect to increase crypto allocations Will existing payment gateways be useful or even necessary?Some of the other titles we considered for this episode:
When We Became Parents We Became Entrepreneurs Anyone Can Retrieve Data from a Crypto Exchange What Happened In October 2020? -
The Wolfcast was fascinated talking to Ines Cheaib, the COO at Gaia. Gaia is a new way to pay for IVF..."Monthly if you have a baby. A fraction of the cost if you don't." We initially heard about Gaia from Dr. Hayley Maynard and George Beattie, the co-Chairs of Llyod's Product Launchpad. We only heard a little at first, but we knew we wanted to learn more...
Some of the things Ines covered:
Born and raised in France Studying engineering at school while developing a good idea about tech Delving into e-commerce and venture capital before moving into more operational roles Feeling at home as a business operator, but comfortable switching disciplines The challenges of building a company from scratch The Gaia origin story and Nader AlSalim's personal experience Using data to minimize risk in the fertility space Being a wild-card in the Lloyd's Product Launchpad The complexities around building an insurance product Considering the members' physical, financial, and emotional needs Normalizing the conversation around infertility and conception How most people only look for a way to conceive when they actually decide to have a baby The expected joy of the first few pregnancies of Gaia's membersOther titles we considered for this episode:
Everybody Wants a Family Preventing the Car Crash Before It Happens Bringing Complex Statistics to the Layman Facing the Uncertainty of Conception Solving a Bigger ProblemThe audio on this episode was expertly produced by Isabelle Goh.
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We were very excited to be joined by Adi Kaimowitz, the Group CEO of Virtual Actuary, a firm of highly experienced actuaries ready to work alongside your existing team. Virtual Actuaries combine statistical, mathematical, and financial techniques within a business framework, utilising technology platforms and advanced analytics to deliver the most pre-emptive, precise, and practical solutions.
Some of the topics Adi and I covered:
Being born and raised in South Africa and not seeing much more of the continent How he spent his 20s trying to prove himself Hustling has become part of his DNA How he built a recruiting business for actuaries Starting and building Virtual Actuary Finding out what startup incubators were all about Why 'connected consortiums' are the future of most industries (Are these DAOs?) How the disruption is in the business model itself How Virtual Actuary plugged into the global village The most important thing is to just "Do"Other titles we considered for this episode:
I Wasn't Born With a Trust Fund Now I Own the Building If You Are Going to Give Us Money, What Would You Want Us to Do? Where's Your Exponential Technology? It Was Always Part of the Plan We’re Talking about a More Immersive Experience You Can Be Connected from Anywhere Now Anybody Can Participate Digitally In Any Business The Mega-Gig Economy If You’re Not Doing, You’re Doing Too Much Thinking -
I knew when we were preparing that this episode was going to be great...and the recording did not let us down. When one is lucky enough to have Dr. Hayley Maynard, Strategy at Chaucer Syndicates, and George Beattie, the Head of Incubation Underwriting at Beazley & Co. together on a show, the only result could be magic...even if they are decidedly not wizards.
There was so much ground to cover, that we went as far back as The Code of Hammurabi.
Some of the other topics we covered:
The foundation and the Legend of Lloyd's Insurance subscription The caliber of the underwriters in the Lloyd's Market The rollout of Lloyd's Product Launchpad Conference-level chat that never really changes Risk transfer versus risk management Gaia - a new way to pay for IVF Spending time solving problems that don't really matter Building products with your customers The buyer urgency created by specific problems Innovation and controlled experiments Connecting the Launchpad to the Lab A shout-out to Tom Hoad - OIFSome of the other titles we considered for this episode:
It Started Out as a Coffee Shop Coming Up With Solutions for Complex Risk It’s a Very Positive but Properly Cynical Environment We Triage Quickly George Brings the Brains, I Bring the Jokes This Is a Voluntary Democracy Innovation Isn’t Just About Products -
The Wolfcast had the pleasure of talking to Peter Clarke, the Founder and Managing Director of InsurerCore. InsurerCore helps insurance professionals identify new contacts, find current connections in the market, and stay up-to-date with industry information.
Some of the topics that Peter covered included:
Coming from a traditional insurance family Working at his father's MGA during the summers as the Chief Scanning Officer Early examples of digital implementations in the insurance space How MGAs are different Implementing technology is good, getting people to use it is better The significance of the 'London Market' Noticing inefficiencies and his journey into entrepreneurship Democratizing access to the 'London Market' Dave, Dan and, Don Minecraft and collaborating online Building partnerships and getting the first groups onto InsurerCore The Bible of Insurance Building APIs to connect to pricing platforms The impact of COVID on InsurerCore's growth -
The Wolfcast really enjoyed the company of Dr. Renu Ann Joseph, the Founder, and CEO at Luminant Analytics and the Head of Virtido Center for Data Science & AI. Luminant was founded to challenge the way insurance pricing is done and enable insurers to adopt a new approach to that pricing. Virtido makes Data Science accessible and actionable for industries not traditionally driven by data.
Some of the topics that Renu and I discussed:
At 12 years old thought she wanted to be an archaeologist but figured there was not much money in it Determined at 14 years old that she wanted to be an economist followed the dream to become an economist and focused her Master's Degree studies on Developmental Economics Studied for her Ph.D. under Dr. Frank J. Chaloupka Did her post-doctoral studies with The Gates Foundation in Toronto Switching gears and working for Moody's in West Chester, PA Moving to Zurich, Switzerland, and taking a cool job at a re-insurer The launching of Luminant Analytics The siloing of data in insurance companies The significance of step changes for startups Starting her second venture - Virtido Center for Data Science & AIOther titles we considered for this episode:
The Use of Tobacco In Poorer Countries Is Nuanced The Academics Are Very Grumpy :-) I Always Need To Know a Little Bit More Data In Insurers are Siloed to Heaven and Back That Process Is Very Painful Making Someone Pay for What You Produce Is Hard Analytics Is Real Behavioral Change Within an Organization -
The Wolfcast had the pleasure of speaking with Rahul Makhija, a co-Founder (with his brother!) and the CTO of Esto Internet, one of the premier ISPs in India.
Some of the topics Rahul and I discussed:
Did 2020 really happen? His family was from Panipat The challenges of operating and growing an ISP during COVID The increase in internet usage due to the pandemic Got his first job because he wanted a smartphone How he was one of those kids that took apart all of the electronics in his house Self-taught web application and network engineer The non-triviality of networking computers Learning and implementing that learning Starting Esto with fixed wireless internet and the progression of machinery Licensing and regulations surrounding ISPs in India Service outages and how they get handled BBNL and wiring the villagesSome of the other titles we considered for this episode:
You Can Buy It When You Start Earning for Yourself I Am Going to Work Today If You Are Not Doing, You Are Dying -
Esben Nielsen, a co-Founder, and the CPO, and Simon Bentholm, A Digital Strategy Executive at Penni.io were pretty awesome guests of The Wolfcast. Penni.io's vision is to fundamentally change the way people engage with insurance.
Some of the topics that we covered included:
Employing technology to solve business problems in complex environments Applying behavioral science to the insurance industry The brain has the tendency to translate an easy decision as a good decision Gift cards as decision tools The importance of 'relevance' Understanding risk perception is important for contextualization Three ways of doing embedded insurance Embedded insurance is the hottest topic ever Quoting questions and binding questionsOther titles we considered for this episode:
I Had Loads of Hypotheses Going In The Red Cross in the Corner of the Browser Was the Biggest Competitor Nobody Wakes up in the Morning Thinking About Insurance The Numbers Don't Lie I Am Going to Do the Other Thing The Best Decision Is the Easiest Decision -
Rene Papesch and I got back together to discuss some recent news in the connectivity and technology resilience space.
We discussed:
Google's Cloud Outage (https://bit.ly/3xhw1ZJ) Tesla's Owners Can Not Open Their Car Doors (https://bit.ly/3DNduH0) A Mouse Crated an Internet Outage (https://bit.ly/3nHrahh) Sharks (https://bit.ly/3p0dxt8) -
It is not often one gets to record with the Head of Lloyd's Lab and a premier blockchain startup that is going through the Lab's program, but that is exactly what we did on this episode of The Wolfcast. We were graced with the presence of Natalie Hall, the Director of Marketing, EMEA, and APAC at Merkle Science and Ed Gaze, the Head of Lloyd's Lab. Suffice it to say that the discussion was active and fascinating.
Some of the topics we covered included:
Ed's original visit to the Lloyd's Building What Lloyd's Lab is and what it strives to accomplish L Marks' collaboration with Lloyd's Lab The impetus for introducing blockchain companies into Lloyd's Lab now The use of smart contracts to facilitate syndication How productive it has been for Merkle Science to be in the program The anatomy of crypto risk KYBB - Know Your Blockchain Business Some innovative ways to incorporate Merkle's blockchain expertise into the insurance value chainOther titles we considered for this episode:
Ultimately, This Comes Down to Building Relationships Insurance Just Covers So Many Things Driven By What the Market Wants More Accessible, More Transparent and Fair Financial System Getting that Supercharged Insight Has Been So Helpful It Should Come With a Cape What Does 'Good' look Like? - Show more
