Ep 99 – Hosta Labs Co-Founders Henriette Fleischmann & Rachelle Villalon
Release Date: 10/30/2020
Ep 297: Tracie Thompson, Global Head of Strategic Clients, Cytora
FNO: InsureTech
In this episode, , Global Head of Strategic Clients at , joins FNO: InsureTech to discuss how technology is transforming underwriting while preserving the essential role of human judgment. Drawing on her experience working with global insurers, Tracie explains how Cytora digitizes submission intake and enables underwriters to move away from fragmented data and manual processes toward faster, more consistent decision-making. The conversation explores the realities of serving multinational insurance organizations, where technology adoption must balance standardization with...
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Ep 296: Wesley Pergament, Co-Founder & CEO, Sola Insurance
FNO: InsureTech
In this episode, Wesley Pergament, Co-Founder and CEO of Sola Insurance, joins FNO: InsureTech for an in-depth discussion on how Sola uses objective weather data and a hybrid policy model to address major pain points in property insurance. With roots in disaster recovery and technology, Wesley explains Sola’s evolution from a tornado-focused product to comprehensive wind and hail coverage, targeting gaps left by high deductibles and widespread fraud. The conversation details Sola’s careful expansion into 15 states through partnerships with vetted agency networks and ongoing engagement with...
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Ep 295: Terry McLean, CEO, SageSure
FNO: InsureTech
Terry McLean, co-founder and CEO of SageSure, joins FNO: InsureTech for a detailed look at SageSure’s beginnings, the company’s focus on coastal and catastrophe-exposed property, and their disciplined approach to underwriting. McLean outlines SageSure’s path from its first policy in 2009 to a multi-state, multi-billion dollar business, discusses recent acquisitions, and describes the company’s approach to technology and culture based on observable behaviors. The conversation covers the practical factors that have shaped SageSure’s strategy in challenging markets, quoting directly...
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Ep 294: Tim Attia, CEO & Co-Founder, Slice Labs
FNO: InsureTech
In this episode of FNO: InsureTech, host Rob Beller speaks with Tim Attia, CEO and Co-Founder of Slice Labs, for a detailed discussion on the company’s evolution and product strategy. Tim describes how Slice transitioned from on-demand and gig economy insurance to higher-premium E&S and contractor general liability coverage, explaining the impact of automation and AI on their approach. The conversation highlights Slice’s focus on operational efficiency and streamlined agent experience amid changing market and profitability demands. Key Highlights Tim Attia traces Slice Labs’ shift...
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Ep 293: Nic Sproul, Managing Partner, SP Partners
FNO: InsureTech
In this episode, FNO: InsureTech hosts Nic Sproul, managing partner at SP Partners, for a close look at bridging engineering with property claims innovation across the UK and Europe. Nic discusses his transition from a foundation in mechanical engineering and his formative years as an engineer with a leading US silicon chip firm, to building and advising businesses at the intersection of insurance and technology. The conversation explores how a mindset shaped by analytical rigor and operational experience advances property claims management, technology pilots, and collaborative initiatives...
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Ep 292: Michael Balarezo, Founder & CEO, Adjusto
FNO: InsureTech
In this episode, Rob Beller and Lee Boyd are joined by Michael Balarezo, Founder & CEO of Adjusto, for an in-depth discussion about the complexities and opportunities in contents claims. Michael recounts Adjusto’s founding story, rooted in his own experiences both as an adjuster and as a policyholder impacted by catastrophe. The conversation explores how Adjusto’s platform was purpose-built with artificial intelligence at its foundation to address longstanding inefficiencies for both policyholders and adjusters. Key themes include the adaptive use of machine learning and data science...
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Ep 291: Arvind Sontha, CEO & Founder, Kyber
FNO: InsureTech
Join us on this episode of FNO InsureTech as we welcome Arvind Sontha, the visionary founder and CEO of Kyber. Hear about his interesting journey from Google's cutting-edge technology to revolutionizing claims processing through AI-powered document solutions. Arvind shares his insights on tackling the complexities of compliance and personalization in the insurance industry, alongside inspiring and honest stories of building Kyber from the ground up. Whether you're curious about the intersection of AI and insurance or eager to learn from a startup pioneer's experiences, this episode is packed...
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Ep 290: Paige Roepers, CEO & Co-founder, Ocean Ledger
FNO: InsureTech
On this episode of FNO: InsureTech, host Rob Beller interviews Paige Roepers, CEO and co-founder of Ocean Ledger. Roepers discusses how Ocean Ledger leverages satellite imagery, historic shoreline data, and environmental analysis to provide objective, transparent analytics for coastal risk in the insurance sector. She details the company’s approach to supporting underwriting and risk management, shares experiences from the Lloyd’s Lab accelerator, including their May–July program in London, and addresses the challenges and opportunities in modeling evolving coastal exposures. Key...
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Ep 289: Piers Dormeyer, CEO, Eagleview
FNO: InsureTech
In this episode, FNO: InsureTech hosts Rob and Lee sit down with Piers Dormeyer, CEO of , to discuss the company’s journey from its roots in aerial roof measurement to its current role as a leading data company in geospatial intelligence. Dormeyer details how Eagleview’s early focus on insurance claims transformed through investments in proprietary aerial hardware, integration with Pictometry, and continual improvements in imagery resolution. The conversation explores how Eagleview leverages high-quality data and recent advances in artificial intelligence, including large language models,...
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Ep 288: Cameron MacArthur, Founder & CEO, AI Insurance
FNO: InsureTech
In episode 288 of FNO: InsureTech, , Founder and CEO of , returns to share how his company, operating for over seven years, has navigated dramatic changes in insurance through the practical application of artificial intelligence. Drawing on experiences since Y Combinator in 2019, Cameron discusses the platform’s growth to more than 100 specialty and commercial insurance programs, and offers specific examples where AI replaces manual tasks, such as data extraction and invoice processing. The conversation also addresses the shifting insurance landscape, evolving customer expectations, and the...
info_outlineOn this episode of FNO: InsureTech, Rob and Lee talk with Henriette Fleischmann & Rachelle Villalon, Co-Founders of Hosta Labs.
A TechStars and VC-backed company born out of MIT, Hosta Labs saves time and costs to assess interior building spaces all from a simple smartphone picture, no special equipment nor lengthy manual assessments. Hosta's Hopper AI extracts rich information from your images to output a bill of materials, floor plans, 3d models, estimated dimensions, and more.
Rob and Lee had the opportunity to talk with Rachelle and Henriette and learn more about Hosta Labs.
Join Rachelle, Henriette, Rob, and Lee as they discuss: what Hosta Labs is, and what is Hopper AI; a walkthrough of their technology and application of it; Rachelle’s education and experience and how it led to the founding to Hosta Labs; thoughts on the value of graduate education; implementation of innovation and change in a conservative, regulated industry; and much more.