Instech London Podcast

In this episode, Robin Merttens sits down with Frank Perkins, CEO and Co-founder of inari, to explore what it really takes to build and scale a modern MGA in 2026.  From founding an insurance business himself to leading a technology company serving specialist MGAs across Europe, Frank brings a rare dual perspective. He understands both the pressure of getting premium through the door and the responsibility of building systems that underwriters actually want to use.  As private equity capital accelerates into the sector and niche, digital-first MGAs proliferate across continental Europe, the conversation turns to speed, integration and the quiet evolution of the underwriting workbench.  In this conversation, Frank shares:  Why technology literacy is now firmly in the hands of business users, not just IT departments  How the rise of highly specialised MGAs is reshaping what underwriting platforms need to deliver  Why “rip and replace” transformation programmes are giving way to orchestration and coexistence  H

In this episode, we bring you a live panel from InsTech’s May event at CodeNode, exploring how automation is reshaping claims in the Lloyd’s and London market — and why the belief that specialty is too complex to automate no longer stands.  Moderated by Matthew Grant, CEO of InsTech, the panel features Simon White, Chief Claims Officer at Apollo, Aidan O’Neill, Founder and CEO of DOCOsoft, and Zoe Woods, Claims Improvement Manager at Lloyd’s.  Specialty claims have long been viewed as too bespoke, too nuanced and too reliant on human judgement for automation to play a meaningful role. But as underwriting becomes algorithmic and distribution turns digital, claims can no longer lag behind.  This conversation moves beyond theory to evidence. Automation is already embedded in live workflows across the market. The firms adopting early are seeing measurable operational gains.  In this conversation, they share:  Why the myth that specialty claims cannot be automated is finally breaking down  How Apollo processed mo

What actually makes automated and enhanced underwriting work in practice?  In this episode, three early movers in automated underwriting share hard-earned lessons from building digital underwriting propositions that have survived real market cycles. Rather than theory or hype, this conversation digs into where technology genuinely creates advantage, where it does not, and how underwriting judgement remains central even in highly algorithmic models.  Drawing on experience across cyber, US property and digital facilities, the panel explores why complexity, not commoditisation, is often where automation delivers the greatest edge. From AI-driven cyber underwriting to high-cat surplus lines property and digitally distributed specialty products, each speaker explains how they chose their focus and what they learned along the way.  Key themes include the role of data discipline in sustaining AI-led underwriting, why platform design matters more than speed to market, and how underwriters’ roles are shifting from gen

What happens when AI meets the backbone of the insurance industry - policy administration systems? In this episode, Liselotte Munk, CEO of Fadata, joins Robin Merttens to unpack how artificial intelligence is reshaping the software layer of insurance.  With candid insights into Fadata’s AI strategy, Liselotte reveals how the company is using AI to accelerate software development and reduce implementation costs while improving quality. She tackles the big question: will AI make policy admin systems obsolete? Her answer offers a pragmatic view on cost, complexity, compliance and collaboration.  In this conversation, Liselotte shares:  How AI is already streamlining configuration, documentation and testing in core systems Why the true opportunity lies in faster implementations and reduced transformation costs How the role of developers is shifting, and what this means for insurance talent Why insurers should invest in AI to enhance - not replace - their core platforms What the smartest insurers are doing now to

In this episode, Robin Merttens is joined by Tobi Schneider, Sector Engagement Lead for Financial Services & FinTech at the Edinburgh Futures Institute, to unpack one of the most ambitious research initiatives currently shaping the future of AI risk in insurance. Backed by UKRI and developed in collaboration with AXA Group and three leading universities, the project aims to build a foundational blueprint for how insurers can understand, audit and underwrite emerging AI risks.  Tobi shares why the shift from traditional to generative and agentic AI has outpaced current risk frameworks, leaving insurers exposed to risks that are poorly defined, difficult to monitor and impossible to price using historic loss data. He explains how his team is exploring dynamic underwriting models, parametric solutions and novel assurance techniques like LLM-based judges and automated red teaming, all with the goal of enabling safer, more accountable AI adoption.  Ahead of the Agentic AI Half Day event, hosted in collaboratio

This week we bring you an episode of Bootstrap Confidential featuring InsTech’s very own CEO, Matthew Grant, who joined Charles Green in the latter half of 2025 to reflect on the eight-year journey of building InsTech from the ground up without outside funding, and with an intentional focus on sustainable growth.  Matthew’s route to growing InsTech wasn’t typical. With a background in risk, analytics and around 400 podcast episodes as a host, he brought a deep understanding of the insurance sector and what it takes to build a commercially viable, insight-led business. The result? A thriving community of over 30,000, a high-margin membership model and a successful exit achieved through discipline, focus and clear-eyed decisions.  In this conversation, Matthew shares:  Why he sees bootstrapping as risk management, not risk taking The importance of paying yourself from day one and how that shaped InsTech’s trajectory Lessons from testing (and killing) products that didn’t deliver Why hiring curious, early-care

In this episode, Robin Merttens is joined by Andy Yeoman, CEO of Concirrus, to unpack how a key player in marine insurance tech has reinvented itself as a core platform provider for the specialty market, and what that transformation says about where the industry is heading.  Andy shares the thinking behind Concirrus’ pivot from ship tracking to full risk lifecycle processing, what it takes to build end-to-end technology in just 18 months, and why underwriters, not just CTOs, are now leading the charge on system change.  In this conversation, Andy shares:  Why marine was just the beginning and why modern platforms must serve multiple lines with depth, not just breadth  What today’s insurers really want from core systems: speed, interoperability and business outcomes  How Concirrus became an AI-first company and what that’s meant for product delivery, talent and culture  The rise of the tech-fuelled MGA and why they’re now the “risk entrepreneurs” to watch  How verticalised platforms are winning over underwrit

How can AI weather models improve the accuracy and scale of catastrophe modelling? Matthew Grant is joined by David Wood, Managing Director at JBA Risk Management, and Jochen Papenbrock, Head of Financial Technology (EMEA) at NVIDIA, to explore how accelerated computing is unlocking new ways to simulate and manage flood risk. JBA has long been a pioneer in flood modelling, while NVIDIA’s GPU technology has helped drive the recent breakthroughs in AI and generative modelling. Together, they discuss how high-resolution simulations, new ensemble methods and open-source tools are pushing the limits of what’s possible in climate and catastrophe analytics. Key Talking Points: The early bet – how JBA’s adoption of GPU computing over a decade ago made national-scale flood mapping possible From gaming to GenAI – how NVIDIA's evolution from graphics to AI led to the development of physics-informed weather models Ensemble power – why running 1,000+ simulations helps capture more extremes than the historic record ever c

In this episode, Robin Merttens is joined by Dr Thomas Kuhnt (HDI Global SE), Ed Ackerman (Qover) and Vincent De Ponthaud (AXA) for 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. Agentic AI promises transformative value, but for decision-makers at the top, it also brings real uncertainty. What do you build vs. buy? How do you prove ROI? And how do you prevent over-trusting agents that are inherently probabilistic? In this conversation, Thomas, Ed and Vincent share: Why Agentic AI is different from past tech trends and why this one feels real The cultural and leadership challenge of balancing excitement with governance How AXA and HDI are enabling safe experimentation at scale across complex organisations How Qover is building 20+ AI agents to automate claims micro-tasks — and when they build vs. buy What customers really think about AI agents  and why nearly none opt out The risks of s

In this episode, Claire Souch is joined by Tom Philp, CEO of Maximum Information; James Lay, AVP of Product Management at Verisk; and Stephen Martin, Head of Catastrophe Modelling at Westfield Specialty, for a timely discussion on the future of catastrophe model evaluation, and why it's no longer enough to simply trust what’s in the black box. As new specialist model vendors emerge and market expectations evolve, the panel unpacks a growing demand for transparency, interoperability and smarter ways to adopt models that fit real-world portfolios. At the heart of the conversation is a shared belief: the industry doesn’t just need more models, it needs better ways to evaluate and use them. In this conversation, they explore: Why traditional model validation no longer meets the needs of modern risk teams The shift from 'black box' outputs to meaningful model evaluation that supports business decisions How tools from Maximum Information and Verisk’s Model Exchange reduce the burden on small or lean teams The role

In this episode, Brian Owens is joined by Dana Foley (Head of Catastrophe Research at Chaucer), Joss Matthewman (Chief Revenue Officer at Reask) and Olivia Sloan (Head of Catastrophe Products at Fathom) to explore the growing influence of specialist model vendors in catastrophe risk modelling and why they’re anything but “niche”. With decades of combined experience across underwriting, model development and scientific research, the panel discusses how climate change, regulatory pressure and the need for portfolio-specific insight are pushing insurers to reconsider single-platform dependency. They explore how new vendors are filling gaps left by traditional models offering science-led, transparent and highly customisable solutions tailored to specific business needs. Drawing on their respective roles across the risk ecosystem, the panellists explain why the return to multi-modelling is gaining momentum and how platforms like Oasis are helping democratise access to emerging tools. In this conversation, the pane

Introduction In this episode, Robin Merttens is joined by Jack Miller, CEO and Co-founder of nettle, to explore how generative AI is being applied to one of insurance’s most complex and resource-constrained challenges: risk engineering. Jack shares how his work at McKinsey, leading AI transformations for insurers, exposed him to the inefficiencies in assessing commercial property risks and how that inspired Nettle’s founding. From mass retirements of risk engineers to the reality that most properties are never physically assessed, Jack outlines why the status quo is unsustainable and how AI can help underwriters make faster, more informed decisions without sacrificing depth or judgement. He explains how nettle is already working with insurers like Allianz to roll out configurable, production-ready tools that reduce manual burden, unlock previously inaccessible insights and integrate directly into existing underwriting platforms. In this conversation, Jack shares: Why risk engineering is facing a capacity cru

In this episode, Richard Gunn, President & CRO at hyperexponential, joins host Matthew Grant to share the inside story of hyperexponential's expansion journey from the UK to the US, and how the company is reshaping pricing and underwriting in the insurance sector. Richard reflects on seven years at hyperexponential, starting as the first non-engineering hire to now leading a fast-growing US team in New York. He explains how hyperexponential has evolved from a pricing platform into a broader decision infrastructure provider, with tools spanning triage, portfolio intelligence and AI-powered underwriting support. In this conversation, Richard shares: Why hx's "pro-code" platform sits between build vs buy, offering flexibility without compromising enterprise-grade credibility How the team landed major US clients before even setting up a US office The strategic lessons behind building trust with US insurers, from culture to communication The practical impact of generative AI and "vibe coding" in hx's product

In this episode, Robin Merttens is joined by Tim Hardcastle, CEO and Co-founder of INSTANDA, to reflect on what it takes to turn a contrarian vision into a global insurtech platform and what the next decade of innovation might look like. Tim left a senior role at Hiscox to build a no-code platform for insurers at a time when most said it couldn’t be done. Ten years on, INSTANDA powers operations around the world and is gearing up for its next big leap. This conversation revisits the early sparks of that journey, including a memorable chat at the Royal Exchange, and dives into the personal and professional lessons Tim has gathered along the way. In this conversation, Tim shares: Why the earliest versions of INSTANDA were built despite zero market demand How a falling out with a boss became the unexpected catalyst for entrepreneurship The reality of scaling a tech company in insurance including a motorbike sale to make payroll Why belief, timing and architecture were crucial to gaining traction How humility sh

In this episode, Robin Merttens sits down with Haris Khan and Arved Pohlabeln, co-founders of Novee, to unpack what’s broken in specialty underwriting — and how AI is finally in a position to fix it. Having met as consultants at Deloitte, Haris and Arved kept encountering the same themes: overworked underwriters, inconsistent submissions, and transformation efforts that rarely made a real difference. That frustration turned into action. Today, they’re building Novee — an AI assistant designed specifically for underwriters, combining insight generation with targeted automation. In this conversation, Haris and Arved share: Why underwriting processes remain complex, fragmented and hard to standardise What makes specialty submissions so variable — and why every case feels like an edge case How Novee delivers value in two ways: by surfacing better risk insights and automating manual tasks Why underwriters are embracing AI tools now — not resisting them What it takes to get live in weeks, not months, with meaningf

In this episode, Matthew Grant sits down with Jonathan Rake, CEO of Risk Data Solutions at Swiss Re, to explore how a major reinsurer is building data and analytics as core capabilities beyond traditional risk‑transfer. Jonathan explains why the shift matters, how analytics are being embedded in real‑time workflows, and what insurers and corporates should focus on as risk becomes more interconnected and dynamic. In this conversation, Jonathan shares: Why Swiss Re launched Risk Data Solutions and how it leverages internal analytics for client value How “certainty of insight” and real‑time decision‑making are redefining insurance workflows The differing risk‑analysis needs of large corporates versus insurers, and what each must prioritise How Swiss Re approaches partnerships: enabling versus enriching, and why you cannot go it alone The acquisition of Fathom (UK) and how model‑blending is raising the accuracy bar in catastrophe modelling His approach to leadership, maintaining balance outside work and keeping

Catastrophe models have come a long way - but are decision-makers keeping up? In this panel from InsTech’s The future of catastrophe risk: where science meets reality, Alice Kaye (Inigo), Caroline McMullan (Verisk) and host Dickie Whitaker (Oasis LMF) confront the challenges of turning sophisticated risk models into clear, actionable decisions. Together, they explore why uncertainty is often more valuable than the average, how human biases still cloud our understanding of extreme events, and what’s needed to close the communication gap between modellers, underwriters and boards. This conversation gets real about the behavioural, structural and cultural shifts the insurance industry must make to better navigate risk in an increasingly volatile world. What you'll learn in this episode: Why point estimates often mislead decision-makers - and how scenarios can bring data to life The role of behavioural bias in catastrophe risk assessment (think hindsight, anchoring and mean reversion) How leading insurers like

In this special episode of the podcast, originally hosted by Indico Data’s Unstructured Unlocked, Matthew Grant, CEO of InsTech, joins Tom Wilde and Michelle Gouveia to discuss how insurers are harnessing third-party data and AI to make more informed, efficient underwriting decisions. With over 25 years in catastrophe modelling and analytics, Matthew shares his view on where the real innovation is happening and where insurers are still facing friction. From the rising value of external data sources to the operational impact of generative AI, the conversation is packed with insights that go beyond the buzzwords. InsTech is sharing this episode to highlight the practical challenges and opportunities facing carriers and reinsurers as they modernise their approach to risk. What you’ll learn Why many insurers still struggle to access the most basic risk data What third-party data needs to prove before it’s trusted in underwriting How AI is changing both the speed and depth of catastrophe modelling When it makes s

What are we still missing in catastrophe modelling and how can we close the gap? As part of InsTech’s The Future of Catastrophe Risk: Where Science Meets Reality event, this expert panel explored the limitations of current catastrophe models and how the insurance industry can evolve its approach to risk. Hosted by Ludovico Nicotina (Inigo), with insights from Sandra Hansen (Guy Carpenter) and Paul Wilson (Twelve Securis), the discussion focused on where models fall short, how emerging risks are challenging traditional assumptions and what it will take to build more resilient, climate-aware modelling frameworks. In this conversation, the panel explores: What current models overlook — from unmodelled sub-perils to social and infrastructure vulnerabilities How inter-annual clustering and systemic effects drive outsized losses The tension between increasing model flexibility and responsible use of adaptation features Whether vendors are providing enough transparency to support custom views of risk How the indust

In this episode, Robin Merttens is joined by Julian Schoemig, CEO and Co-founder of Diesta, to explore why payments and settlements remain one of the insurance industry’s biggest unsolved problems, and what it will take to fix them. From his early days selling boxing machines to Munich pubs to underwriting aviation at Munich Re, Julian’s career has been shaped by a single truth: business doesn’t count until the cash is in the bank. That mindset now underpins Diesta, a company building the financial plumbing to help insurers, brokers and MGAs move money with greater clarity, speed and control. In this conversation, Julian shares: Why insurance payment flows are so complex — and how that creates systemic risk What makes insurance different from other industries that rely on intermediated transactions The scale of the problem: seven times more money moves than is written in premium How Diesta connects policy systems, banks and documents to create a single source of truth Why traditional reconciliation tools fal