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InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens

Hosted by InsTech

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Episodes

300

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN

About the show

Bringing together the best technology and innovation for insurance and risk management together from around the world. Podcast hosted by Matthew Grant.

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60 recent
June 14, 2026Episode 41018 min

From curiosity to commercial value: what a year of Agentic AI has taught insurance (410)

In just twelve months, the conversation around Agentic AI in insurance has changed dramatically.  What began as curiosity about autonomous AI agents has evolved into a much more practical discussion about implementation, governance, economics and competitive advantage.  In this special solo episode, InsTech's Zoja Wojcik reflects on the developments that have shaped the market since InsTech's first Agentic AI event in November 2025. Drawing on conversations with insurers, brokers, MGAs, technology providers and industry leaders, she explores how the industry has moved beyond experimentation and towards a more challenging question: where does the commercial value actually come from?  Along the way, you'll hear insights from Simon Torrance, Erdal Atakan, Gina Gill, Elena Maran, Max Richter and Ian Thompson, alongside examples of how organisations including CFC, McGill & Partners, AIG, Duck Creek and hyperexponential are bringing Agentic AI into real insurance operations.  Whether you're still trying to understand what Agentic AI means for insurance or already evaluating deployment opportunities, this episode offers a practical snapshot of where the market stands today and the questions leaders should be asking next.  Want to continue the conversation? Join us in London on July 7 for 'The age of Agentic AI: from strategy to commercial value'. In this episode:  00:00 - What is Agentic AI and why has it become one of insurance's most discussed technologies?  03:15 - Looking back at the industry's first major Agentic AI event in November 2025  05:45 - Simon Torrance on why Agentic AI should be viewed as a new workforce, not simply another software tool  06:20 - Early deployment examples from across the insurance market:  CFC's Lane Assist   McGill & Partners and Salesforce Agentforce   AIG's AI-driven underwriting initiatives   Federato's agentic underwriting platform   hyperexponential and Banyan Risk   Duck Creek's insurance-native Agentic AI platform   08:15 - Why moving from pilot projects to production remains difficult  10:00 - The defining question of 2026: proving commercial value and ROI  12:15 - Intelligence Capital, competitive advantage and why buying AI tools may only create parity  13:30 - Orchestration, governance and maintaining trust in agentic systems  15:00 - Workforce transformation and practical lessons for insurance leaders  16:00 - What questions should insurance organisations be asking next?  Key takeaways:  The industry conversation has shifted from experimentation towards implementation and measurable business outcomes.   Many of the biggest barriers to adoption are organisational rather than technical.   Boards increasingly expect clear economic justification for AI investment.   Competitive advantage may come less from AI models themselves and more from institutional knowledge and decision-making expertise.   Governance frameworks must evolve alongside increasingly autonomous systems.   Organisations that focus on specific business problems are more likely to succeed than those pursuing AI for its own sake.   Featured contributors:  Simon Torrance, AI Risk   Erdal Atakan, Inigo   Gina Gill, Apollo   Elena Maran, Alethesis AI   Max Richter, Mea platform   Ian Thompson, IMT Advisory  Further reading:  For listeners looking to explore the themes discussed in this episode:  Agentic AI & insurance  Podcast episode: Where is the industry today? – a view from the C-suite (A rare C-suite perspective on Agentic AI: what it is, how it’s being deployed and why senior leaders are walking a tightrope between bold innovation and operational risk.)  CFC launches Lane Assist, a live agentic underwriting pilot  McGill & Partners becomes first London Market broker to deploy Agentic AI  McGill + AIG collaboration using AI-driven underwriting  Duck Creek launches insurance-native Agentic AI Platform  Federato RiskOps and Agentic underwriting platform  MGA Banyan Risk deploys hx’s full agentic underwriting suite  Strategy & commercial value  Simon Torrance's work on Intelligence Capital   AI Risk research on Agentic AI and enterprise transformation   InsTech & ServiceNow New York event: The future of insurance will be orchestrated, not built  Governance & Responsible AI  Article: The New Frontier: Managing and insuring generative and agentic AI risks with Edinburgh Futures Institute  Podcast episode: Creating a new kind of assurance & insurance framework for AI-related risks (This episode unpacks one of the most ambitious research initiatives currently shaping the future of AI risk in insurance.)

May 31, 2026Episode 40921 min

Harry Vardigans, Head of Insurance: Fathom: Will it make the boat go faster? (409)

What do ocean rowing, flood modelling and insurance innovation have in common? More than you might think.  In this episode, Matthew Grant is joined by Harry Vardigans, Head of Insurance at Fathom, for a conversation that spans Atlantic Ocean rowing, catastrophe modelling and the evolving nature of risk in insurance.  Later this year, Harry will join three teammates in an attempt to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, travelling from the Canary Islands to Antigua in a nine-metre boat. What starts as a discussion about one of the world's toughest endurance challenges quickly becomes a fascinating exploration of how individuals and organisations prepare for uncertainty, manage risk and make decisions in complex environments.  Drawing on both his upcoming expedition and his work helping insurers better understand flood risk, Harry reflects on the parallels between navigating an ocean crossing and navigating today's insurance market. From weather forecasting and route optimisation to insurance availability and regulatory change, the conversation highlights how better data and improved modelling can transform previously uninsurable risks into manageable opportunities.  In this conversation, Harry shares:  What it takes to prepare for a 3,000-mile Atlantic rowing race  The practical realities of managing risk in one of the world's most demanding endurance challenges  How weather forecasting and climate intelligence influence decision-making at sea  Why ocean rowing has become a more insurable risk over time  The role regulation plays in creating new insurance opportunities  How Fathom and Swiss Re are combining expertise to advance flood modelling capabilities  Why flood risk assessment has changed significantly over the last five years  The benefits of maintaining a consistent global approach to catastrophe modelling  Lessons from scaling a specialist insurtech business in a competitive market  How the philosophy of continuous improvement can apply to both sport and business  Why ambitious projects often begin with simply committing to the first step  Follow Harry's Atlantic crossing Harry and his crew, Rogue Wave, will be sharing updates as they prepare for and complete their Atlantic crossing. Instagram: @rogue_wave2026 LinkedIn: Rogue Wave Atlantic Row 2026 YouTube: Rogue Wave Vlog Episode 1 – Introductions The team is also raising money for two charities, The HALO Trust and the Cocktower Foundation, with donation links available through their social channels. Harry's recommendation Harry recommends Will It Make The Boat Go Faster? by Ben Hunt-Davis and Harriet Beveridge. The book explores how a relentless focus on actions that directly contribute to your goal can drive exceptional results, a philosophy that has shaped both his approach to business and his preparation for crossing the Atlantic. 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.

May 24, 2026Episode 40824 min

Mark Twigg & Rob Agnew: Agentiv-x: Why neurosymbolic AI could transform insurance broking (408)

In this episode, Robin Merttens is joined by Mark Twigg, CEO of Agentiv-x, and Rob Agnew, the company’s Chief Strategy Officer, to explore how neurosymbolic AI could reshape commercial insurance broking.  While much of the insurance AI conversation has focused on underwriting automation, Agentiv-x is taking a different approach: helping brokers make faster, more consistent and more explainable placement decisions in increasingly complex commercial markets.  Drawing on backgrounds in financial services regulation, governance and insurance technology, Mark and Rob explain why they believe the next generation of AI tools must go beyond black-box automation. Instead, they argue the future lies in combining the pattern recognition power of large language models with structured reasoning and transparent decision-making.  The discussion centres on the practical application of neurosymbolic AI, an emerging approach designed to deliver the benefits of generative AI while improving explainability, consistency and regulatory accountability. Through their placement copilot platform, Agentiv-x is aiming to help brokers compare policies more effectively, evidence the quality of their recommendations and reduce the risks associated with manual decision-making.  Set against a backdrop of growing regulatory scrutiny, increasing compliance demands and rapid AI adoption across financial services, the conversation explores what responsible AI implementation in insurance could look like over the next decade.  At the heart of the episode is a key question: as brokers become increasingly reliant on AI-assisted decision-making, how can the industry balance automation with transparency, accountability and human judgement?  In this conversation, Mark and Rob share:  What neurosymbolic AI is and why it matters in insurance   How Agentiv-x combines large language models with symbolic reasoning   Why they chose to focus on brokers rather than underwriting workflows   The challenges brokers face when comparing complex commercial policies   How explainable AI can help reduce E&O exposure and improve client outcomes   Why consistency and traceability are becoming central regulatory concerns   How AI-native insurance businesses could disrupt incumbent market models   Why brokers remain essential in AI-assisted decision-making processes   How Agentiv-x is approaching claims advocacy using the same technology foundations   What success looks like as the business moves towards its next funding round  If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Robin Merttens on LinkedIn.  Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning.

May 17, 2026Episode 40713 min

Lifting the lid on the InsTech Podcast - what’s worked and what hasn’t… (407)

This week, the tables turn as Matthew Grant steps behind the microphone solo to reflect on seven years, 400+ episodes and the lessons learned from building one of insurance innovation’s most recognisable podcast platforms.   From storytelling and interview technique to AI-assisted editing and the evolving role of podcasts in B2B marketing, Matthew shares an honest look at what works, what doesn’t and how InsTech is thinking about the future of content in an increasingly crowded landscape.  Rather than focusing on technology alone, this episode explores something more fundamental: why people listen, what makes conversations memorable and how meaningful stories cut through industry noise.  Listeners will hear Matthew’s practical insights on:  Why storytelling matters more than expertise alone   The power of keeping interviews simple, focused and human   How educational content outperforms the hard sell   What separates memorable podcast guests from forgettable ones   How AI tools like Claude and NotebookLM are changing podcast production and research   Why audio remains such a powerful medium for busy professionals   The importance of preparation without over-scripting conversations   How personal stories unlock better discussions and stronger audience connection   Matthew also reflects candidly on his own interviewing habits, what AI revealed about his style and why continuous improvement matters even after hundreds of episodes.  Along the way, he highlights standout conversations from previous episodes, including discussions with Sasha Haco of Unitary and serial entrepreneur Mark Cunningham of PriceHubble, both examples of how compelling personal stories can bring complex insurance innovation to life.  Whether you host a podcast, appear as a guest or simply want to communicate ideas more effectively, this episode offers a thoughtful masterclass in creating content people actually want to listen to.  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.

May 10, 2026Episode 40629 min

The future and how to get there (406)

In this episode, we revisit a live panel discussion from last year’s Agentic AI event, moderated by Robin Merttens featuring Ian Thompson of IMT Advisory, Sasha Haco, Co-founder and CEO of Unitary, Dr Paul Dongha from NatWest Group, and Nick Williams-Walker, Group COO at McGill and Partners.   Recorded at a moment when Agentic AI was beginning to dominate conversations across insurance, the discussion explores what the industry might look like three to five years into widespread AI adoption — and what it will take to get there.  The panel examines where insurers are already deploying AI agents, from claims investigations and underwriting support to real-time risk analysis and customer servicing. But alongside the optimism sits a more cautious conversation around governance, regulation, data complexity and the growing gap between experimentation and operational reality.  Throughout the discussion, there is a recurring tension between ambition and execution. Some panellists argue the winners will be organisations willing to move quickly with focused, incremental deployments. Others warn that poorly governed AI systems, unrealistic expectations and “fear of missing out” decision-making could create entirely new risks for the sector.  The conversation also raises broader questions about how insurance itself may evolve as AI capabilities mature — from the rise of highly automated brokers and MGAs to changing expectations around service, talent and human expertise.  With InsTech and AI Risk returning on 7 July for this year’s expanded Agentic AI event in London, this episode offers a useful opportunity to look back at the predictions, concerns and opportunities shaping the conversation just one year ago.  In this conversation, the panel discusses:  Where insurers are already deploying AI agents across underwriting, claims and servicing   Why governance and human oversight remain critical in regulated industries   The operational challenges of implementing AI at scale inside large organisations   Whether Agentic AI will augment teams or significantly reduce operational headcount   How leadership, culture and change management will influence adoption   Why incremental deployment may outperform large transformation programmes   The growing importance of AI governance, accountability and security controls   How customer expectations and service models could evolve over the next five years   Why talent shortages may accelerate demand for AI-enabled workflows   Which organisations are most likely to benefit from the next wave of insurance innovation Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning.

May 3, 2026Episode 40523 min

Carrie Thomas, Account Director: Datos Insights: Should I stay or should I go now? A personal perspective of flood risk in Florida (405)

In this episode, Matthew Grant is joined by Carrie Thomas, Account Director at Datos Insights, for a deeply personal look at what happens when insurance risk becomes a lived reality.  Having spent years working closely with insurers, Carrie brings a rare dual perspective, both as an industry insider and as a homeowner navigating one of the most challenging insurance markets in the world. After relocating from the Carolinas to Florida, she found herself caught in a system where cover is not only harder to access, but increasingly difficult to justify.  The conversation centres on her experience trying to secure homeowners and flood insurance in a state where carriers are withdrawing, pricing is volatile and eligibility rules create unexpected gaps. Despite not being in a designated flood zone, Carrie faced rising premiums, limited options and ultimately the decision to go without flood cover altogether.  Set against the backdrop of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, she shares what it is like to experience storm risk first-hand, from uncertainty around evacuation to the aftermath of storm surge and its impact on communities.   At the heart of the episode is a difficult but important question: when the cost of protection continues to rise, how do individuals, insurers and governments respond?  In this conversation, Carrie shares:  Why insurers are pulling back from markets like Florida and what that means for customers  How flood risk, eligibility and pricing can create unexpected protection gaps  What it feels like to navigate insurance decisions during active hurricane seasons  The trade-offs between state-backed cover and private market alternatives  Why insurance costs are becoming a key driver in relocation decisions  How catastrophe events are reshaping perceptions of risk at a household level  Why improved data does not automatically lead to more affordable insurance  How initiatives like Elevate Florida are attempting to adapt to increasing flood exposure  What insurers are focusing on as they balance claims pressure with long-term sustainability  Carrie’s recommendations:  Podcast: The Rest is History  Book: Millennium by Tom Holland  If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn.

April 26, 2026Episode 40428 min

Max Richter, EMEA CEO: mea: What's changed? Why AI is moving from experimentation to execution (404)

Introduction  In this episode, Robin Merttens is joined by Max Richter, EMEA CEO and Global Growth Leader at the mea Platform, to explore why AI in insurance is finally moving from theory into real operational impact.  After years advising insurers on transformation at Accenture, Max made the shift to building technology inside the workflows he once analysed. His view is clear: the industry doesn’t need more AI strategy, it needs systems that actually execute work.  The conversation focuses on a fundamental shift, from using AI to generate insights to using it to get work done. From underwriting to claims and servicing, the opportunity is no longer about reading data faster, but about automating the workflows that sit behind it.  Max also shares why previous waves of automation fell short, what’s changed in the technology landscape, and why this moment feels different. With stronger models, better integration and growing cost pressure, AI is becoming an operating model question, not just a technology one.  In this conversation, Max shares:  Why the industry is moving from AI experimentation to execution   The shift from automating tasks to automating entire workflows   Why “ingestion” is only the starting point, not the end goal   Where AI agents are already delivering real impact in underwriting and claims   How incumbents and new entrants are approaching adoption differently   Why starting with a clear pain point is key to scaling AI successfully   The difference between AI theatre and production-grade outcomes   Why collaboration with underwriters and operations teams is becoming essential  If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Robin Merttens on LinkedIn.  Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning.

April 19, 2026Episode 40325 min

Mark Cunningham, Managing Director: PriceHubble: Is your data useful or useless? (403)

Introduction In this episode, Matthew Grant speaks with Mark Cunningham, Managing Director at PriceHubble, about how insurers can move from fragmented data to genuinely informed decision-making.  Despite decades of investment in data and analytics, many insurers still lack a clear understanding of the assets they are covering. Mark offers a candid view of where the real problems lie, and why improving outcomes starts not with more data, but with better data.  He introduces a simple but powerful framework, seeding, signalling and selling, which reframes how insurers should approach risk. From establishing a reliable baseline of what is actually on risk, to identifying meaningful signals and acting on them, the model highlights the gaps that continue to hold the industry back.  The conversation explores the practical challenges of property data, including inconsistent addressing standards and the underuse of unique identifiers such as UPRNs. Mark explains how solving these foundational issues unlocks a far richer understanding of exposure, enabling insurers to assess risk with far greater precision.  Looking ahead, the discussion turns to emerging pressures. Mark shares analysis suggesting that up to 500,000 UK properties could become effectively uninsurable within the next decade due to the combined impact of flood and subsidence. It is a stark example of how climate risk is becoming financially visible and why insurers need to rethink how they model long-term exposure.  The episode also highlights missed opportunities across the wider financial ecosystem. Despite working with similar data, insurers and mortgage lenders remain poorly aligned, creating friction in customer journeys and limiting the potential for more integrated risk assessment.  Mark also reflects on where generative AI is already making a difference, from reactivating historical leads to improving customer interactions and product recommendations. The impact is less about transformation and more about strengthening existing processes in practical, measurable ways.  At the heart of the discussion is a consistent theme: better decisions depend on better foundations, and the industry still has work to do to get the basics right.  In this conversation, Mark shares:  Why data in insurance is either useful or useless, and the risks of relying on anything in between  How the seeding, signalling and selling framework helps structure better risk assessment  Why many insurers still do not fully understand what they have on risk  How UPRNs can act as a common language for property data, and why adoption remains limited  What new data sources are revealing about construction risk and evolving exposures  How combining climate perils and property economics points to a growing insurability challenge  Why insurers and mortgage lenders are still not aligned, and what that means for customers  Where generative AI is delivering practical value today across operations and distribution  Mark’s recommendation:  Book: The Miracle of Castel di Sangro by Joe McGinniss 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.

April 12, 2026Episode 40228 min

Rachel Delhaise, Chief Sustainability Officer: Convex: Insurance’s critical role in global resilience (402)

Introduction  In this episode, Matthew Grant speaks with Rachel Delhaise, Chief Sustainability Officer at Convex, about what climate sustainability really looks like inside a modern insurance business.  While attention may have shifted elsewhere, the underlying challenges have not gone away. Rachel offers a clear view of how insurers are continuing to respond through underwriting decisions, risk modelling and long-term investment thinking.  Rachel joined Convex in the early stages of the business to build its sustainability approach from the ground up. Her role spans three core areas: identifying opportunities in the transition, strengthening how climate risk is understood and managed and supporting cutting-edge carbon science research. Together, these reflect a broader shift in how insurers are positioning themselves as active participants in enabling change.  The conversation explores how insurance is supporting emerging technologies such as carbon capture and storage, where underwriting plays a critical role in making projects viable. Rachel also shares how the industry is approaching increasingly complex risks, from wildfire to flood, in a world where historical data is no longer a reliable guide.  Drawing on her experience across underwriting, investment and industry collaboration, she explains why the fundamentals of risk still matter, even as new tools and models emerge. She also highlights the growing influence of insurance thinking across the wider financial system, as banks and investors begin to grapple with physical climate risk in more sophisticated ways.  At the heart of the discussion is a simple but important idea: insurance has a unique ability to enable progress, but only if it is brought into the conversation early and used intelligently.  In this conversation, Rachel shares:  Why sustainability remains a core strategic priority, even as public attention fluctuates   How insurers are supporting the transition through underwriting and investment, not just policy statements   What it takes to insure emerging areas like carbon capture and storage   Why pricing, rather than capacity, is often the real constraint in renewable energy insurance   How insurers are adapting to climate risk with limited historical data   Why understanding exposure and vulnerability is still fundamental to modelling future risk   What the protection gap reveals about global resilience and economic stability   How insurance expertise is shaping how banks and investors assess climate risk   Why involving insurers earlier can significantly improve the success of large projects   Rachel’s recommendations  Podcast: Fossil vs Future   Book: The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson  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.

April 5, 2026Episode 40117 min

Sasha Haco, CEO & Co-founder: Unitary: From black holes to bordereaux: building AI agents for insurance (401)

In this episode, Robin Merttens speaks with Sasha Haco, CEO and Co-founder of Unitary, about how AI is being applied in practical, high-impact ways across insurance operations.  Sasha’s route into the industry is far from typical. With a background in astrophysics and no prior experience in insurance, she set out to build something tangible using AI, focusing on real-world problems rather than theoretical ones.  What began as a mission to make the internet safer has evolved into a fast-growing platform that automates some of the most manual and time-consuming processes in insurance. From bordereaux handling to claims and policy administration, the focus is on removing repetitive work without requiring insurers to overhaul their existing systems.  Drawing on her experience building Unitary from the ground up, Sasha shares a clear and practical perspective on where AI is delivering value today, how insurers can get started quickly and what it takes to stand out in an increasingly competitive market.  At the heart of the discussion is a simple idea: meaningful progress often starts with tackling the most overlooked and operationally painful tasks.  In this conversation, Sasha shares:  Why coming from outside insurance can unlock new ways of solving entrenched problems   How virtual agents can replicate human workflows across legacy systems without integration   Where insurers are seeing the fastest returns from automation today   Why speed to ROI is becoming a defining factor in AI adoption   How trust and customer outcomes are emerging as key competitive advantages  What it takes to build and scale in a crowded AI landscape   Why the biggest barrier to automation is often mindset, not technology If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Robin Merttens on LinkedIn.  Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning.

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