The insurtech industry—and fintech, more broadly speaking—is going through a time of transition. Venture capital funding has continued to diminish after the 2021 high point. This year, the industry will likely do some soul searching, although new technologies and macroeconomic pressures could make it hard to find the necessary breathing room for reflection and change.
Here are our 3 trends we see driving a year of self-analysis and change in the insurtech sector.
1. Thinning of the startup herd
A lot of Insurtech startups will go bankrupt this year. Less venture capital overall will make investors more skittish when it comes to investing for the first time. Likewise, existing investors will also be more likely to pull the plug on a struggling investment than they were a few years ago.
Several insurtech startups have already folded quietly, but the trend stands to become a lot more noticeable in the months ahead. Quentin Colmant, CEO and co-founder of Qover, believes this will also spur the transition of the industry from being VC funded to supported by more strategic investors. “Insurance is a very slow business and a complex one. Yet it is also robust and resilient,” he writes. “That’s why I predict that in the coming years, strategic investors who are more patient and have a better understanding of the insurtech world will invest more and more.”
2. ESG expectations are rising
The devastating effects of the climate crisis aren’t going anywhere. At the end of one year defined by record temperatures and extreme, damaging meteorological events, we find ourselves at the start of another experiencing the hottest February ever. The crisis urgently requires action to protect global ecosystems and communities.
For insurers worldwide, these developments are driving both ESG policy revisions and investment into technology. Using machine learning and AI, insurtech will likely prioritise improvements in risk modelling to address uncertainties related to climate. Furthermore, insurers must focus on enhancing transparency and building trust in their communication with customers.
3. Times are tough, y’all
The insurance industry, notably in the US non-life market, is facing the least forgiving market conditions in a generation. Insurers are facing the formidable task of swiftly increasing prices to offset the substantial rise in expenses, a challenge that is projected to become even more demanding as the industry adapts to these harsh market realities.
Moreover, reinsurance rates are expected to stay elevated, adding further complexity to the landscape for insurers. In this challenging market environment characterised by rising prices, insurers must carefully navigate between maintaining profitability and ensuring affordability for consumers. The heightened reinsurance rates may prompt carriers to reevaluate their approaches to risk-sharing.
- Fintech & Insurtech
