During the year, eight “unicorn making” rounds of investment took place, creating five new unicorns (privately held start-ups valued at over $1 billion), of only 10 InsurTechs globally that have reached this threshold. 2019 also saw a 90% jump in investment rounds that exceeded $40 million.
In Q4 2019, InsurTechs raised $244 million in early stage funding. P&C start-ups continued to take a greater share of total InsurTech investment than their life and health counterparts, continuing a trend seen since Q3 2016. Early stage funding to P&C companies grew to 69%, up slightly compared with 2019 Q3. Distribution- and MGA-focussed InsurTechs accounted for 57% of all deals by number.
Dr Andrew Johnston, global head of InsurTech at Willis Re, said: “2019 was the year when individual InsurTechs began to come to the fore to lead in specific parts of the market, whether in certain lines of business or in the use of particular technologies. For example, UK-based Concirrus is now clearly the forerunner in behavioural-based analytics for the specialty markets. But while InsurTech news is awash with the huge valuations and postulations of the art of the possible, there is also a very real story that is not so positive – individual InsurTech cessations. The number is very difficult to calculate, but our data indicates that during the past three years, approximately 184 funded InsurTechs might have closed their doors.”
The latest briefing concludes a year-long review of the ‘functional chain,’ with claims and settlement as the topic in focus. It includes detailed discussions of 10 InsurTechs: Metromile, Benekiva, ClaimVantage, Claimspace, Claim Central, DeepFraud, Global Parametrics, Adjoint, Banqu, and Spixii. The briefing also includes a discussion with Larry Calhoun and Roman Buegler of Munich Re about the reinsurer’s remote industries natural catastrophe claims assessment system; an examination of 2019’s seismic fundraising rounds by InsurTechs focussed on global life and health service provision; and thought leadership from Tom Helm, head of Claims Consulting at Willis Towers Watson’s Insurance Consulting and Technology business, on end-to-end claims technologies.
Helm said: “Although the very simplest common claims, such as automobile windscreen, may already be handled entirely by automated systems at some insurers; end-to-end automation can never work in all scenarios, even in consumer lines. Some aspects of the claims process require complex human judgement or investigation, and other cases, such as the need to empathise with a customer who needs support, demand the human touch. This means that claims handlers will remain in the driving seat. It is essential that automated mechanisms are able to identify when a situation needs human intervention, making effective management of the interaction between handler and machine a critical consideration.”
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One of the world's leading reinsurance brokers, Willis Re is known for its world-class analytics capabilities, which it combines with its reinsurance expertise in a seamless, integrated offering that can help clients increase the value of their businesses. Willis Re serves the risk management and risk transfer needs of a diverse, global client base that includes all of the world's top insurance and reinsurance carriers as well as national catastrophe schemes in many countries around the world. The broker's global team of experts offers services and advice that can help clients make better reinsurance decisions and negotiate optimum terms.
About Willis Towers Watson
Willis Towers Watson is a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company that helps clients around the world turn risk into a path for growth. With roots dating to 1828, Willis Towers Watson has 45,000 employees serving more than 140 countries and markets. We design and deliver solutions that manage risk, optimise benefits, cultivate talent, and expand the power of capital to protect and strengthen institutions and individuals. Our unique perspective allows us to see the critical intersections between talent, assets and ideas – the dynamic formula that drives business performance. Together, we unlock potential.