Allianz accelerates to new digital investments
Allianz with its in-house incubator, Allianz X, has switched gears and pivoted towards a new range of digital investments.
InsurTech
Jirnexu unleashes insurance marketplace in Malaysia
Southeast Asian fintech start-up Jirnexu has been approved by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), the nation’s central bank, to compare, sell, process payments, and issue e-policies for insurance products. Jirnexu says it is the first company in the country permitted to sell select general and life insurance products from multiple providers, and the first to build […]
Three crucial questions for insurance’s digital future
Insurance is an industry at a turning point. Few could have predicted that “innovation” would become one of its watchwords, but as the digital revolution spurred on by insurtech gathers pace fundamental changes are beginning to take hold.
First blockchain-based bancassurance network launched in Hong Kong
AIA Hong Kong, a subsidiary of pan-Asian life insurance group AIA, has launched a blockchain solution for bancassurance.
Aegon opts for Wolters Kluwer’s OneSumX for operational risk
Pension, insurance and investment management firm Aegon is replacing its local risk systems with Wolters Kluwer’s OneSumX for operational risk management. Charles Garthwaite, global head of operational and conduct risk at Aegon, says his company needed “a global solution” that could “comprehensively manage Aegon’s requirements”. Following local implementations in the UK and within its asset […]
Case study: Towergate Insurance – achieving “good enough” IT in the cloud
If you’ve worked in information technology long enough, you’ve fallen prey to the urge to pursue technology on the cutting edge or even the bleeding edge.
OCBC Bank in good shape with digital health insurance plan
Singapore’s OCBC Bank has unveiled the purchasing of health insurance plans via its mobile and internet banking channels. The bank says: “Typically, health insurance plans like critical illness, disability, hospitalisation and surgical are not sold via online channels as they require a health check-up to evaluate the applicant’s medical condition. However, with ‘Early Cancer Care’, […]
Map: fintech landscape
A very detailed map of the current fintech landscape, produced by VentureBeat, listing hundreds of companies in the banking, payments, investments, financing, insurance, infrastructure and enabling technologies verticals.
Insurtech Haven Life introduces Facebook chatbot
Haven Life, a US life insurance start-up, is now offering an alternative way to buy life insurance online through its Facebook chatbot.
Top fintech stories this week – 13 October 2017
Catch up on Banking Technology’s top five fintech stories of the week – all in one place!
Lemonade platform now “open to the world” with API
“We’re opening up the Lemonade platform to the world!” says Shai Wininger, co-founder of Lemonade, a US-based insurtech firm.
Aviva acquires majority stake in Wealthify
UK based insurer Aviva confirms that it’s acquired a majority stake in robo advisor, Wealthify.
Snapsheet and KeyBank form virtual duet for insurance claims
Snapsheet, a virtual claims insurtech provider, is partnering with KeyBank for the launch of Snapsheet Transactions, a payment solution for insurance claims. Instead of insurance carriers sending claimants a cheque in the mail once a claim is settled, Snapsheet Transactions provides carriers a hub for issuing claims and expense payments. CJ Przybyl, president of Snapsheet, […]
Snapsheet, KeyBank Launch Virtual Insurance Payouts
Snapsheet, a provider of virtual claims technology for the insurance marketplace, is partnering with KeyBank, a top 30 U.S. bank by assets, to launch an electronic payment solution for insurance claims.
UK insurtech start-up Nimbla seeks SME market shake-up
Nimbla, a London-based insurtech start-up, has launched a platform offering UK SMEs credit control and single invoice insurance using cloud accounting, as well as underwriting rules agreed upon by Munich Re’s new business unit Digital Partners. The firm says it is looking to tap into the UK’s SME market that has a reported £5.8 billion […]
Europe’s top venture capital investors by country – CB Insights
CB Insights has mapped the top venture capital (VC) investors in Europe by country, based on number of portfolio companies the investor had backed. The research company analysed the most active investors in the last five years (2012-2017), including VCs, corporate VCs, growth equity firms and super angels.
European Commission plans reform to get fintech to perform
The European Commission (EC) is proposing reforms to pave the way for further financial integration and a full capital markets union – with a handy boost to fintech included. President Jean-Claude Juncker, in his State of the Union Address, underlined the importance of the capital markets union and the EC’s plan to “promote jobs, growth […]
Ex-Barclays CEO’s start-up gets backing from China’s Ping An
10X Future Technologies, the start-up founded by ex-Barclays CEO Antony Jenkins last year, will announce this week that it has raised more than £30 million in funding from Ping An Insurance and management consulting firm Oliver Wyman, according to Sky News. The deal will speed up 10X’s expansion, and is good news for Jenkins’ ambitions. […]
Banking tech vendor Ohpen acquires FYNN Advice for implementation capabilities boost
Core banking tech vendor Ohpen has acquired a fellow Dutch fintech firm, FYNN Advice, which specialises in core banking software implementations.
Startupbootcamp InsurTech seeks storming start-ups
London-based accelerator Startupbootcamp InsurTech is on the search for the next wave of insurance-inspired start-ups to “take the industry by storm”. Startupbootcamp InsurTech says the process of searching for and purchasing something on Amazon or booking peer-reviewed accommodations in a different country at the touch of a finger, condition people to “expect this fluidity and […]
Fintech accelerator round-up: 13 September 2017
Around the world, the calls for start-ups ring loud and clear. Our fintech accelerator round-up features F10, Commerce.Innovated and Huge Thing. F10, a Swiss incubator and accelerator, is calling for applications from start-ups in fintech, regtech, and insurtech for its P2 programme. Applications close on 15 December. The P2 programme will start on 5 March […]
Fintech funding round-up: 6 September 2017
Wake me up when September sends a fintech funding round-up. Features Deutsche Börse, RegTek.Solutions, Finaeo and Now Money. Deutsche Börse and Illuminate Financial Management have co-led in a $5 million Series A funding round in RegTek.Solutions, a regulatory reporting solutions provider. As reported last month, the Regulatory Reporting Hub of Deutsche Börse launched a partnership […]
Google chases down Apple with ARCore launch
Google has responded strongly to Apple’s front-running approach to augmented reality (AR) with the launch of a new AR platform, reports Telecoms.com (Banking Technology‘s sister publication). ARCore is the Android equivalent to the Apple ARKit; in short, an AR reality platform for developers. It’s not the first time Google has had a crack at the […]
Five solutions for the challenges women face in tech today
In the most recent InsurTech Bytes podcast, Sarah Greasley, CTO, Direct Line Group, opened up about her experience as a woman in fintech, the challenges and the solutions. FinTech Futures (Banking Technology’s sister company) uncovered the solutions for five of the key hurdles in her career. 1: Entrepreneurship and empowering risk taking Challenge: From a […]
The Monday mindset: 21 August 2017
Fintech zeitgeist! This week, Oisin Merrins, editor at InsurTech Rising, ponders whether insurtech is losing its lustre.
Fintech funding round-up: 18 August 2017
We’ve got your back if you want to keep track of financial backing. Our latest fintech funding round-up features Options, Instamojo, AnyPay, Aegon and Funding Circle. Options, a provider of cloud-enabled managed services to capital markets, has received nearly $100 million in investment from New York-based private equity firm Bregal Sagemount. The money will be […]
Abu Dhabi Launches its First Fintech Innovation Challenge for Startups
Abu Dhabi Global Market and KPMG are launching the first Fintech Abu Dhabi Innovation Challenge—a five-week program for “innovative and mature startups across the globe,” with a chance to win $15,000 in prize money.
Abu Dhabi’s first fintech innovation challenge for start-ups launched
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and KPMG are launching the first Fintech Abu Dhabi Innovation Challenge – a five-week programme for “innovative and mature start-ups across the globe”.
USAA links with Clinc for conversational AI banking
Banking and insurance provider USAA has opted for Clinc’s artificial intelligence (AI) platform to provide human-like conversations for its customers’ bank accounts. Available as a pilot programme at USAA Labs, its members, who consist of 12 million current and former members of the US military and their families, can use the “non-chatbot AI” to talk […]
Fintech funding round-up: 28 July 2017
The riches rounded up. Following on from the brief report on 26 July, here’s our latest fintech funding round-up. Features Brolly, Callsign and Aquiline Capital Partners. Insurtech start-up Brolly has got itself some lolly – with the closing of a £1 million seed round. The round, led by Valar Ventures, Pi Labs and Entrepreneur First, […]
Legal & General Insurance unveils fintech business
Legal & General Insurance (LGI) has created a new business to build and buy into a range of fintech companies. LGI says its fintech subsidiary Investments Discounts Online (IDOL), which was established in 1999, will form a key part of the new fintech business area. Nick Frankland, who’s been with LGI since 2010, will take […]
R3 brings the Intel to Corda DLT platform
Enterprise software firm R3 is working with Intel to beef up its data privacy and security for Corda, its distributed ledger technology (DLT) platform. R3, which used to call itself a blockchain consortium, says Corda only sends data to those who have a “need to know”. According to the company, this feature emerged from the […]
Thailand ties the fintech knot with Singapore
The Bank of Thailand (BOT) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) have signed a fintech co-operation agreement and updated an existing memorandum of understanding (MoU) on banking supervision. The agreement aims to help develop a “richer financial ecosystem” in Thailand and Singapore as well as in ASEAN. The pair will share information on emerging […]
Simcorp acquires investment and portfolio management tech vendor APL Italiana for €35m
SimCorp has acquired a fellow wealthtech vendor, APL Italiana, for €35 million. APL Italiana specialises investment and portfolio management software for the Italian insurance market.
Insurtech firm Clark and N26 launch digital insurance service
Clark, a German insurance robo-advisor, has inked a deal with mobile bank N26. Clark says its Bancassurance-API will help customers of N26 “to better understand their current tariffs and improve their insurance situation”.
UK regulator calls for feedback on consumer access to insurance
Like a bird of paradise, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is calling again – and this time for views and evidence concerning consumers’ access to insurance. This FCA’s paper looks more broadly at access issues related to insurance but specifically (and a non-fintech point) seeks views on “how consumers with cancer or those in […]
Blockchain fuels IBM and Standard Chartered insurance policy pilot
American International Group (AIG), IBM and Standard Chartered have piloted the “first” multinational, smart contract based insurance policy using blockchain. The trio converted a controlled master policy written in the UK, and three local policies in the US, Singapore and Kenya, into a smart contract that provides a shared view of policy data and documentation […]
FinLeap in its Element with digital insurance partnership
German fintech incubator FinLeap’s digital insurance platform Element is partnering with financial services group Signal Iduna for new products and services. Element is currently in the process of applying for a life insurance licence under Germany’s Insurance Supervision Act, and plans to offer services in property, accident and liability, and cybersecurity. It will provide “Insurance-as-a-Platform” […]
Interview: Daniel Schreiber, co-founder and CEO of Lemonade
Ask most people about their experience with insurance, grudge purchase par excellence, and they’ll say it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. Enter Lemonade, the New York-based insurtech combining the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and an approach founded on behavioural economics and customer centricity to offer homeowners and renters protection with a difference.
Podcast: the holy grail of insurance? Making a success of social media
The fintech industry is flying through the social media stratospheres at astonishing rates – we know. But how are particular sectors within it keeping up? Insurance – and its insurtech counterpart – is certainly moving ahead in leaps and bounds in some areas, but when it comes to social media, it looks like it is only just embarking on its journey now, a good five years behind banking.
