Insurtech Insights USA 2025: 6 Key Takeaways

NEW YORK – More than 6,000 insurance, techology, and insurtech industry wonks filled the Javits Center in New York to share insights, promote products, and talk shop at the Insurtech Insights USA conference June 4 and 5, 2025. With this crowd, innovation and risk go hand-in-hand, so it was no surprise that even major challenges were met with an upbeat tone and optimistic curiosity.

Perhaps no topic got more play than that of artificial intelligence (AI) and how to use emerging tech for strategic work. Following are six other key takeaways from the insurtech events, pitches, and thought leadership at Insurtech Insights USA 2025 in New York.

No. 1: Partnerships are getting smarter

The old “build, buy, or partner” classic dilemma for insurance carriers and agencies is evolving as homegrown core infrastructure systems have aged and retired. Many insurance leaders have leaned into partnerships—especially those that offer modular solutions—as a way to move faster without having to endure the gear-grinding time and pain of overhauling core systems.

Insurtech companies have responded by working to transform into the kind of digital-first, low-code or no-code platforms that allow for modular solutions.

Session sample:

• “Fostering Innovation: Accelerating Growth through Build, Buy, or Partner” with panelists Michelle Benz of RGA, Garrett Koehn of CRC Insurance Services, and Niranjan ‘Niji’ Sabharwal of AgentSync, moderated by Calvin Yeung of Swiss Re.
• “From Fragmented to Connected: Unlocking the Insurance Ecosystem Network Effect” with panelists Mark Rogers of VP Business Development, Dawn Puro of Accredited Specialty Insurance, Chris Boedeker of Reserv, moderated by Bryan Falchuk of Insurance Evolution Partners.
• “A New Era of Insurance Demands Innovation: A New Business Model and Technology Foundation for Adaptability and Growth” with panelists Jennifer King of Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company, Raymond Perez Brayfield of Antilles Insurance, and moderated by Denise Garth of Majesco.

No. 2: Insurers have fatigued on shiny tech

One recurring phrase was “innovation window dressing,” which was a phrase that has come to mean surface-level fixes or flashy features as opposed to the tools and solutions that drive real business outcomes. The popularization of the phrase was an indicator that a few too many years of overpromising and underdelivering have driven some wedges in insurtech-carrier relationships. 

Several sessions drove the idea that insurance carriers are still looking to insurtechs to deliver tomorrow’s innovations, but you can bet there will be a focus on accountability, shared goals, and more devotion to the hard, boring, mission-critical work of building core infrastructure.

Session sample:

• “Friend or Foe: Is Insurtech an Enabler or Disruptor within the Insurance Industry?” with panelists William Thorne of OnLevel Ventures, Dan Watt of Fineos, Charlie Fellerman of Ki Insurance, Lena Chukhno of Bestow, and moderator Nico Stainfeld of Foundation Capital.
• “What Does it Take to Be a High Impact Insurtech,” with panelists Ralph Betesh of Coverdash, Matthew Jones of Transverse Ventures, Nga Phan of bolt, Mike Acquaviva of Openly, and moderated by Andrew Daniels of InsurTech Ohio.
• “Unicorn Building: The Insurtech Funding Landscape in 2025 & Beyond,” with panelists Ian Sanders of Munich Re Ventures, Tim Del Bello of New York Life Ventures, and moderator Ali Geramian of Anthemis.

No. 3: Data drives distribution

Distribution—moving insurance products to insurance consumers through the pipeline of brokers, agencies, marketing organizations, general agencies, and agents—isn’t a spray-and-pray operation. Not if you want to make a profit. Particularly when you add in complex, fragmented, or hard markets, you can’t have distribution that relies on strategies from bygone days. Instead, businesses are gaining a competitive edge in reaching producers and scaling faster by relying more heavily on distribution data.

Session sample:

• “Maximize Sales Success: The Power of Gamification & Smarter Lead Management,” with speakers Lewis Worlidge of SalesScreen and Zach Miller of VanillaSoft.
• “Data-Driven Decisions: Revolutionizing Claims with Analytics and Insights,” with panelists Mindy Chen of Mutual of Omaha, Jeff Stagg of NFP, Heather Wilson of CLARA Analytics, and moderator Dawn Goldbacher of Franklin Madison.
• “Agents of Change: The Future of Insurance Distribution,” with panelists Craig Schedler of Northwestern Mutual, Aviad Pinkovezky of First Connect, Philip Charles-Pierre of SEMSEE, Marcelo Fonseca of Fully Ecosystem (Prudential Int’l), and moderator Tony Lew of InsurTech NY.

No. 4: Investors are shrinking their risk appetite

Worldwide economic changes mean tighter flow of capital. Naturally there was going to be a bit of belt-tightening following the venture-backed insurtech funding craze of the pandemic era. But VC-funded insurtech is far from over. Instead, investors are shifting focus. The funding conversation has matured. ROI, scalability, and actual operational integration are taking precedence over growth-at-any-cost narratives.

Session sample:

• “ESG in Insurance: Balancing Profit and Purpose for a Sustainable Future,” with panelists Ron Hamilton of BMS Group, Funké Adeosun of Allianz Commercial, Steven M. Rothstein of Ceres, and moderator Clay Lowery of the Institute of International Finance.
• “Fueling Growth: Strategies for Raising Capital in InsurTech Beyond 2025,” with panelists Chris Murumets, RGA America; John Chu, Bamboo Insurance; Veronica Gabriele, Munich Re Ventures; JoAnne Artesani, Sproutr; and moderator Nick Bendell, MTech Capital.
• “Partnering or Capital Investment: What works best for Insurance CVC?,” with speaker Jess Liu, Nationwide Ventures; panelists Josh Cohen, Liberty Mutual Ventures; Ricky Lai, Portage Ventures; Romaney O’Malley, bolttech; and moderator Richard Chattock, Insurtech Gateway.

No. 5: The role of AI

People still matter. A lot. In the excitement of new technology, the narrative of “human vs. AI has gotten in the way of artificial intelligence’s true promise, according to most keynotes. According to these visionaries, collaboration—not replacement—is the real promise of AI in insurance. 

Session sample:

• “White-glove Service Powered by Platformless AI” demonstration by Sivan Iram of Flow.
• “Omni-Channel Excellence: Creating a Holistic & Customer-Centric Claims Journey” with panelists Andrew Leeds, Plymouth Rock Assurance; Kristina Tomasetti, SageSure; Julia Sosa, Pumpkin; Andy Cohen, Snapsheet; and moderator Dan White, Ninety & ARK Venture Studio.
• “Empowering Compliance: Human Expertise Meets AI-Powered Innovation,” with speaker Sandi Tillotson of New York Life, and moderator John Nay, Norm Ai.
• “Customer First: Revolutionizing Insurance Distribution with Customer-Centric Strategies,” with panelists Matthew Crummack, Domestic & General; Kelly Hernandez, Nationwide; Stephen Hubel, Physicians Mutual; Ryan Frere, Flywire; and moderator Cam Torstenson, Highbury Insights.

No. 6: Markets are getting niche-y-er

Cyber and specialty lines are rising. There was a lot of buzz at ITI around niche markets, with cyber, embedded insurance, and underserved verticals getting major attention from both startups and incumbents. As inflation drives risks and their associated price tags higher, many insurance innovations are happening outside of traditional markets.

Session sample:

• “Moving from Repair and Replace to Protect and Prevent in Personal Lines,” with speaker Sarah Jacobs, Nationwide, and moderator Lisa Wardlaw, 360 Digital Immersion.
• “Commercial Property Insurance Evolution: Navigating New Trends and Market Dynamics,” with panelists David BurtonPerry, Vantage Risk; Raj Subbian, Golden Bear Insurance Company; Aman Gour, FurtherAI; Manmeet Singh Bawa, Deloitte; and moderator Kerry Macca, KM Consulting.
• “Insuring the Gig Economy: Innovative Solutions for a Dynamic Workforce,” with panelists Kate Kennedy, Mobilitas Commercial Insurance; Dan Bratshpis, INSHUR; Tomer Kashi, Voom Insurance; and moderator Karrie Sullivan, Culminate Strategy Group.

If you stopped by the booth or you’re just looking to find out how AgentSync can help you meet the more data-driven distribution model of the future, don’t hesitate to reach out. Otherwise, we’ll see you next year!