Episodios
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Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming central to how businesses operate, but its success depends on one critical foundation—data. In industries like insurance, where legacy systems and scattered data are common, the promise of AI is often held back by outdated infrastructure and poor data quality. Simply migrating data from old systems to new ones is not enough.
In this episode of InsurTech Amplified, Mike Allee, President at Universal Conversion Technologies, explores how the insurance industry must confront its legacy data challenges to truly benefit from AI. While AI offers massive potential, it cannot function effectively without high-quality, well-structured data.
Mike emphasizes that moving data is only part of the solution—insurers must also reshape it for AI use, taking care to comply with local regulations and ethical considerations like data sovereignty and consumer consent.
Mike also highlights a shift in thinking where data governance is no longer just a back-office task—it’s becoming a strategic driver. Some forward-thinking insurers are now using governance teams as gatekeepers for tech investments, ensuring that AI is deployed responsibly and effectively. Importantly, AI itself is being used to assist in data cleansing and validation, helping insurers prepare their systems for transformation. This marks a significant change: data is no longer just a tool for reporting—it is a strategic asset driving business transformation in the age of AI.
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Insurance is meant to serve as a financial safety net, but the increasing frequency and severity of climate-related disasters are exposing deep flaws in how that safety net is delivered. Traditional models, especially for homeowners, renters, and small businesses, are no longer keeping pace with the changing environment.
In this episode of InsurTech Amplified, Nakita Devlin, the Founderand CEO of Ric Insurance explains why she believes the insurance industry must urgently evolve to meet the moment. Traditional models, especially for homeowners, renters, and small businesses, are no longer keeping pace with the changing environment. As property values rise and recovery costs soar, the gap between what insurance promises and what it delivers continues to widen.
To address these issues, new approaches are emerging that prioritize speed, accessibility, and relevance. Parametric insurance—triggered by weather data rather than lengthy claims processes—offers faster financial relief. Technology is playing a crucial role in making these products scalable and responsive, while alternative distribution methods, like employee benefits or community-based programs, are helping reach those most at risk. By focusing on transparency, regulatory reform, and targeted innovation, Nakita believes there’s a path forward to build insurance that truly meets the demands of a climate-challenged world.
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Preventive health is one of the most powerful yet underused tools for improving quality of life as we age. The earlier we build healthy habits—such as regular movement, better nutrition, improved sleep, and stress management—the more likely we are to avoid chronic disease, reduce long-term healthcare costs, and maintain independence into older age.
In this episode of InsurTech Amplified with Alexandra Pitkin-Morin, Director of Service Delivery at Assured Allies, explores the power of preventive wellness as a tool for aging with strength, dignity, and independence. Drawing on her background as a registered dietitian and personal trainer, Alexandra highlights how small, intentional lifestyle changes—such as improving sleep, reducing stress, and eating better—can significantly impact long-term health outcomes.
Behavior change isn’t just about information—it’s about motivation, access, and support. Trusted, personalized coaching can help individuals identify what matters most to them and translate that into meaningful action. Programs that pair gentle guidance with low-lift goals can create momentum without overwhelming people.
As society faces a rapidly aging population designing care that is proactive, human-centered, and accessible is no longer optional—it’s essential.
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Insurance is often seen as a product designed to protect against loss—but it can be much more. At its core, it holds the potential to promote daily well-being and inspire people to live with greater purpose. When combined with simple, consistent habits like walking, mindful breathing, and better sleep practices, insurance can become a platform for physical, mental, social, and financial wellness.
Sammy Rubin, a co-Founder and CEO of YuLife, is reimagining what insurance can be—not just a safety net for life’s worst moments, but a platform to inspire people to live their best lives every day. Drawing from his personal journey through burnout and renewal, Sammy and the team have built YuLife around the belief that well-being should be accessible to everyone.
Rather than promoting extreme fitness or luxury retreats, YuLife encourages simple, daily habits—like walking, breathing exercises, and mindfulness—that are gamified and rewarded, creating a sense of fun, engagement, and community among employees.
Building a company around this vision requires more than innovation; it demands purpose, culture, and empathy. A mission-driven approach that prioritizes values such as kindness, curiosity, and spiritual depth fosters not only strong internal teams, but also deep engagement with users.
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Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the insurance and financial services industries, offering new levels of efficiency, automation, and predictive power. But with these advancements comes a growing concern—bias. When AI systems are trained on historical data that reflects past inequalities or incomplete information, they risk reinforcing those same biases in decisions such as underwriting, claims processing, and fraud detection.
In this episode of InsurTech Amplified, Ichun Lai, Principal at Propel Global Advisory, and Theresa Blissing, best-selling author and Founder of InsurTech Amplified, explore how artificial intelligence can both solve and amplify long-standing issues in the insurance industry—particularly bias. They explain how AI models, when trained on historical or incomplete data, risk replicating societal inequalities at scale.
Bias isn’t just a technical flaw; it’s a product of decisions around problem framing, feature selection, and human oversight. Whether AI is fully autonomous or human-assisted, every point in the decision-making spectrum carries the potential for bias, making awareness and vigilance essential across the organization.
As AI becomes more embedded in our lives, Theresa and Ichun urge organizations to design with intention—placing human values at the core of every algorithm to build a more inclusive, trustworthy, and responsible insurance industry.
Theresa and Ichun worked with some amazing industry professionals to produce a white paper about bias in AI-driven decision making which you can read here.
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Many industries, including insurance, are drowning in unstructured data—documents like loss run reports that vary wildly in format and are difficult to analyze. The inability to quickly and accurately extract this information limits decision-making, slows down operations, and adds unnecessary costs.
Solving problems like this requires more than just applying artificial intelligence; it demands clean, reliable data as a foundation. By building tools that extract and structure this data with near-perfect accuracy, companies can unlock powerful insights, automate processes, and make smarter decisions at scale.
InsurTech Amplified sat down with with Scott Knowles, co-founder and CEO of Deep Vector, a company that began by tackling a highly specific problem in insurance—extracting accurate, structured data from messy, inconsistent loss run reports. With over 30 years of industry experience, Scott knew firsthand how much valuable decision-making was hampered by hard-to-access data.
What started as a focused solution for brokers and carriers has since evolved into a powerful platform with potential across multiple industries, from finance to government, all struggling with the same fundamental issue: making sense of unstructured documents.
With recent funding in place and massive expansion opportunities on the horizon, Scott’s story is a brilliant example of how deep industry knowledge, entrepreneurial curiosity, and a people-first mindset can unlock innovations with far-reaching impact.
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The insurance industry is undergoing a profound transformation driven by artificial intelligence. Traditionally, underwriting and claims processing have relied heavily on manual efforts, constrained by the complexity and unstructured nature of risk data. AI, particularly generative AI, is now changing this by enabling insurers to process vast amounts of disparate information with unprecedented speed and accuracy.
This shift is not just about automation—it is about fundamentally enhancing decision-making, allowing insurers to assess and mitigate risk more effectively while scaling operations in ways that were previously impossible.
Richard Hartley, CEO of Cytora, joined InsurTech Amplified to explore how AI is revolutionizing risk assessment, underwriting, and claims processing in the insurance industry. He discusses how generative AI eliminates long-standing scale constraints by structuring unstructured data, enabling insurers to evaluate risk more accurately and efficiently.
By automating manual tasks, AI not only enhances underwriting decisions but also empowers insurance professionals to focus on strategic, high-value activities. Richard emphasizes AI’s role in shifting insurance from a reactive to a proactive industry, where new products and risk segments can be identified and developed at scale.
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Healthcare in the United States is facing a crisis of affordability, with costs rising faster than inflation and placing increasing financial strain on individuals and employers. High-deductible health plans, designed to control premiums, often leave employees vulnerable to unmanageable out-of-pocket expenses. This structure has created a significant gap, as many Americans lack the savings needed to cover medical emergencies, leading to debt, early withdrawals from retirement accounts, or delayed care—decisions that carry severe personal and economic consequences.
Veer Gidwaney, Founder and CEO of Ansel Health, is on a mission to fix it. Unlike traditional insurance, Ansel’s innovative supplemental coverage addresses the rising out-of-pocket expenses caused by high-deductible health plans.
Innovative solutions like these are emerging to address these challenges, focusing on bridging the gap between rising healthcare costs and the financial resilience of individuals. Supplemental insurance products, designed to complement traditional health coverage, are redefining what insurance can do. These solutions simplify claims, proactively pay benefits, and cover a broad range of conditions, offering financial relief when it’s needed most.
By leveraging thoughtful product design and streamlining processes, these innovations aim to make healthcare more accessible, reduce financial stress, and deliver real value to both employers and employees in an increasingly strained system.
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The insurance industry is going through a transformation. Unlike banking, where money moves instantly between institutions, insurance remains fragmented and difficult to transfer. Consumers who want to switch providers must start from scratch, navigating multiple processes that create unnecessary friction. This lack of interconnectivity makes insurance feel cumbersome compared to other, modern financial services.
To close this gap, insurers are embracing embedded insurance—seamlessly integrating coverage into everyday transactions. With better digital infrastructure, insurance can become as intuitive as purchasing a product or making a payment.
In this episode, we spoke to Wayne Slavin, the CEO of Sure, Inc. who is on a mission to change how consumers and brands experience insurance. For insurers, the challenge is adapting to changing consumer expectations and finding new distribution models. Traditional channels are no longer enough; people want to buy insurance from the brands they already trust and companies like Amazon, Apple, and Toyota are best positioned to deliver it. Just as airlines and retailers have transformed financial services with co-branded credit cards, the next frontier is embedded insurance.
The industry must embrace digital infrastructure that allows real-time data, seamless portability, and improved customer experiences. The future of insurance is not just about policies—it’s about creating an ecosystem where protection is intuitive, efficient, and embedded into everyday life.
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The property and casualty insurance industry is undergoing a critical transformation, driven by emerging technologies and evolving regulatory landscapes. AI and predictive analytics are at the forefront of this change, enabling insurers to refine risk assessments, improve operational efficiency, and deliver better customer experiences. These tools not only make processes like claims handling faster and more accurate but also help tackle systemic challenges like rising premiums and the protection gap, ensuring insurance becomes more accessible and fair for consumers.
Scott Ham, CEO of Pinpoint Predictive, shared how these tools are reshaping everything from profitability to claims handling. Insurers are using AI to refine risk assessments, reduce fraud, and speed up claims processes—improving customer experiences and cutting costs. But with these advancements come challenges, like ensuring fairness and avoiding biases in AI models. The goal? Better data-driven decisions that close the protection gap while keeping insurance accessible.
Scott also spoke about the power of predictive analytics, explaining how Pinpoint Predictive helps insurers make smarter decisions from underwriting to pricing. By delivering deeper insights into risk profiles, insurers can create fairer, more personalized coverage while boosting efficiency. The conversation tackled critical issues, from rising premiums to the evolving role of tech in bridging the protection gap. With the industry embracing AI and analytics at scale, Scott sees a future where technology not only drives profitability but also fosters inclusivity, better customer outcomes, and industry-wide innovation.
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Wildfires are a recurring nightmare in California, but according to David Gritz, co-founder of InsurTech NY, resilience is possible if we rethink how we build, insure, and regulate.
California’s wildfires are a stark reminder of the challenges posed by a climate impact, sprawling urban development, and inadequate infrastructure. With its semi-arid environment, extended droughts, and gusty winds like the Santa Anas, the region is primed for devastating fires.
Yet, much of the damage could be mitigated by better preparation. Building with fire-resistant materials such as cement and steel, adopting wildfire-specific building codes, and maintaining defensible spaces around homes are critical steps in reducing risk. Wildfire preparedness isn’t just about individual choices—it’s about community-wide efforts to create resilient neighborhoods.
The state’s insurance market compounds the challenge. Regulatory hurdles make it difficult for insurers to adjust rates or enter the market, leading many to exit altogether. This leaves homeowners reliant on inadequate last-resort options like the FAIR Plan. To build a sustainable future, a multi-pronged approach is needed: streamlining regulations, increasing construction capacity, and encouraging technological innovation in insurance and risk management. Resilience is no longer optional—it’s a necessity for California’s survival in the face of escalating climate risks.
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Gamification, when designed thoughtfully, has the power to transform mundane activities into engaging and rewarding experiences. At its core, successful gamification taps into fundamental human motivations, such as the desire for achievement, exploration, social connection, and competition.
In this episode of InsurTech Amplified, we dive into the world of gamification with Josh Hart, co-Founder and Chief Product and Technology Officer at YuLife. Josh shares how YuLife is transforming insurance by integrating gaming mechanics with wellness, creating engaging and rewarding experiences. Through simple mechanics like rewards for healthy actions and storytelling that imbues the app with meaning, YuLife turns everyday tasks into meaningful, habit-forming activities.
But short-term engagement has very little meaning. Josh discusses the secret to sustaining long-term engagement, drawing inspiration from games like World of Warcraft, which have captivated users for decades.
YuLife’s approach combines dynamic quests, social interaction, and evolving mechanics to keep users motivated and engaged over the long-term. With gamification at its core, YuLife redefines how people perceive insurance, shifting it from a necessary expense to a tool for personal growth and daily joy.
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As renewable energy becomes a cornerstone of the global transition to cleaner sources, the industry faces a critical challenge: resilience in the face of increasingly severe weather events.
In this rapidly changing environment, renewable energy projects like solar and wind farms are facing unexpected risks, and insurance is stepping up as a vital player in securing their future. Jason Kaminsky, CEO of kWh Analytics, details how the renewable energy is moving toward building for resilience. With property damage from severe weather on the rise, renewable developers are being forced to rethink their strategies. The “lowest cost provider” approach is giving way to a new era of resilience-focused design. Insurance has become a central factor in ensuring these projects’ financial viability.
The team at kWh Analytics combines powerful data models, advanced technology, and a fresh perspective on insurance. They use data-driven insights to help developers build assets that withstand natural catastrophes, collaborating with banks, the Department of Energy, and even leveraging parametric insurance to cover production risks.
As Jason explains, insurance is a tool for long-term sustainability in the renewable energy boom. In this episode, we dig into why insurance matters more than ever in clean energy and how companies like kWh are leading the charge in rethinking what it takes to secure a resilient, renewable future.
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The U.S. healthcare system is a paradox: a global leader in medical innovation, yet plagued by inefficiencies that leave patients frustrated . In this episode of “This Month, Amplified” with David Gritz, Co-Founder and Managing Director of InsurTech NY, we explored the system’s three main pillars—providers, hospitals, and insurers.
The shortage of doctors, impacted by high education costs, leaves many without adequate care. Hospitals, driven by profit motives, operate with opaque pricing systems that confuse patients, while health insurers operate on a cost-plus model. The result? A system that sometimes feels stacked against the very people it’s meant to serve.
David also unpacked the growing public anger, illustrated tragically by the recent shooting of United Healthcare’s CEO. While violence is never the answer, it underscores the desperation many feel navigating a system that can feel unfair.
Change won’t come easily, but the solution lies in education, advocacy, and systemic reform. By increasing the supply of doctors, breaking up oligopolistic structures, and empowering patients with tools and knowledge, we can begin to shift incentives toward better care and outcomes. In David’s words, "The solution isn’t violence; it’s economics."
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The insurance industry stands at a crossroads as climate risks surge and traditional methods of underwriting, risk assessment, and investment face unprecedented challenges. Traditionally focused on pricing and distributing risk, the industry now has an opportunity to actively shape resilience by investing in climate-adaptive infrastructure, clean energy, and innovative technologies.
In this episode of InsurTech Amplified with Charlie Sidoti, Executive Director at InnSure, we discussed the evolving role of insurance in a world facing accelerating climate risks. Charlie highlighted the insurance industry’s untapped potential as both a financial safety net and a force for resilience. Instead of merely reacting to disasters, insurers could be investing strategically in climate-resilient projects, supporting renewable energy, and even collaborating with tech innovators to drive resilience at the community level. The insurance sector can do far more than cover losses—it can actively shape a safer, more sustainable future.
Charlie’s vision goes beyond tweaking traditional insurance models; he’s pushing for real innovation. Imagine a world where communities own their risk and manage resilience investments through mutual insurance models, where insurers directly collaborate with city planners and environmental startups to drive down future risks. This isn’t just about adjusting premiums; it’s a call for all of the stakeholders to recognize the profound role they play in our climate future, moving from mere risk assessment to becoming champions of climate adaptation and resilience.
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In this episode of InsurTech Amplified, we discuss the unique entrepreneurial journey of Brian MacKenzie, Founder and CEO of INFORCE, who grew his company from a small two-person team to nearly 200 employees. Brian shares how the traditional hiring approach in IT is broken, with companies focusing too much on flashy resumes and not enough on finding the right cultural fit.
At INFORCE, they prioritize hiring driven, long-term employees over experience alone, and this approach has led to remarkably low turnover. Brian also sheds light on how the company expanded globally by tapping into Serbia’s overlooked pool of tech talent, building a loyal and dedicated team in smaller cities away from the competitive job-hopping scene.
One of the most striking insights from Brian is his shift from focusing solely on profits to making a meaningful impact on people’s lives. For INFORCE, success isn’t just about business growth—it's about providing stability for employees, creating opportunities, and fostering a culture that prioritizes trust and development.
From their rigorous hiring process to their commitment to personal growth, INFORCE's story offers a powerful blueprint for building a company that thrives on loyalty, adaptability, and purpose. Tune in to hear Brian’s inspiring take on what it truly means to lead with impact in today’s fast-paced tech world.
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In this episode of InsurTech Amplified, we have a candid conversation with Michael Silverman, President and CEO of Silver Lining Insurance, who brings nearly a century of family legacy in the insurance industry. Michael emphasizes that while technology is reshaping how insurance is sold and serviced, the core value of the business remains deeply personal.
Insurance isn’t just about selling policies; it's about being there when clients need protection the most. With a growing reliance on tech, like custom apps and CRM systems, Silver Lining ensures clients are covered with ease, but the human connection is still the key differentiator.
As lifestyles evolve, particularly with younger generations opting for more flexible living arrangements like renting and remote work, insurance companies are being pushed to adapt. The traditional focus on home and car ownership is giving way to new demands for mobility and simplicity. Michael believes that flexibility, simplicity, and evolving communication methods will define the future of insurance.
However, amidst all this change, one thing remains constant—building relationships and understanding clients' needs will always come first, regardless of technological advancements. Silver Lining’s success is proof that blending innovation with tradition is the way forward for the industry.
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The insurance industry is undergoing a radical transformation, driven by the growing impact of natural disasters and the rise of advanced technologies like AI. Traditional insurance models are proving inadequate as back-to-back hurricanes hit areas once considered safe, leaving homeowners in financial peril without proper insurance. What’s worse, most people don’t even know what their policies truly cover until it's too late. Meanwhile, the claims process is notoriously complicated, often hijacked by costly intermediaries like public adjusters and attorneys, leaving homeowners with less than they deserve.But a new wave of InsurTech startups is stepping in to challenge this broken system. By leveraging AI and data, these companies are empowering policyholders to take control of their claims, making it easier to understand policy language and communicate effectively with insurers. Beyond simplifying claims, startups are also shaking up niche markets with innovative insurance products, from covering solar panels to offering flexible policies for freelancers. The future of insurance is heading towards a more transparent, customer-centric model, where unnecessary costs are eliminated, and policyholders finally have the tools to protect themselves.
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In this episode of InsurTech Amplified, we spoke with Paul Aemisegeo, Founder and CEO of PayrollMart, to explore the power of payroll data in the insurance and benefits space. Paul highlights how payroll data serves as the "key to the castle" for B2B insurance brokers and 401(k) advisors, providing critical information for eligibility, benefits, and regulatory compliance.
By controlling payroll data, companies like ADP have a major competitive advantage, not just in payroll, but as one of the largest insurance brokers in the U.S. Paul also shares how his entrepreneurial journey, shaped by early experiences in his family’s trucking business, led him to recognize the untapped potential of payroll systems and the competitive edge they can offer to independent brokers.
We also dive into the growing importance of data redundancy and security in today’s business world. Paul discusses his company, Shuttle HR, which creates backups of payroll data, ensuring compliance and operational continuity. Paul believes there’s massive untapped opportunity in managing regulatory compliance across state lines, potentially with a platform that consolidates updates for employers and brokers.
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In this episode of InsurTech Amplified, Helen Burke, Founder and CEO of Teambase, discussed the evolving landscape of employee benefits in today's flexible and remote work environment. Helen introduced the concept of the “liquid life,” where workers, particularly millennials and Gen Z, prioritize flexibility and mobility over traditional stability. This new way of working demands a fresh approach to employee benefits, with a focus on tailored, digital-first offerings that cater to the diverse needs of a modern workforce. Benefits like travel insurance and flexible life insurance plans are becoming essential as employees embrace this liquid lifestyle.
Helen also highlighted the importance of digital distribution and the role technology plays in streamlining the insurance process. Teambase connects insurers, brokers, and employers through a digital platform that simplifies benefits management for HR departments and employees alike. She stressed the need for companies to offer easy-to-use, customizable solutions that comply with local regulations and fit the specific needs of each market. By doing so, businesses can attract top talent and provide benefits that align with the expectations of a tech-savvy, mobile workforce.
This episode was sponsored by Pinpoint.AI.
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