Ep 303: Phil McGriskin, Co-Founder & CEO, Vitesse
FNO: InsureTech
In Episode 303 of the FNO: InsureTech Podcast, host Lee Boyd welcomes Phil McGriskin, Co-Founder and CEO of Vitesse, for a deep and timely discussion on one of the most complex, and often invisible, challenges in insurance: financial infrastructure behind claims payments. Phil shares his journey from Australia to the heart of the Lloyd’s insurance market, tracing a career that spans underwriting, brokerage, fintech entrepreneurship, and large scale payments innovation. With multiple successful ventures behind him, Phil brings a rare perspective to insurance, approaching long standing...
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Ep 302: Eran Tirer, Founder & CEO, Ledgertech
FNO: InsureTech
In this episode of the FNO: InsureTech Podcast, Rob Beller sits down with a fascinating guest, Eran Tirer, to explore his entrepreneurial journey and the path that led him to found Ledgertech, a company focused on building technology that helps insurers launch and scale embedded insurance solutions within the global insurance ecosystem. Eran shares lessons from decades of building enterprise software companies, including the story behind EasySource and its eventual acquisition by IBM. The conversation explores the realities of building technology for large enterprises, navigating legacy...
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Ep 301: Bobby Touran, CEO & Co-Founder, Rainbow
FNO: InsureTech
We kickstart our 300+ episodes era with Bobby Touran, Co-Founder and CEO of Rainbow, as Rob Beller and Lee Boyd sit down with him to unpack how he built Rainbow, a technology-enabled MGA laser-focused on modernizing coverage for restaurants and other specialty commercial risks. Bobby walks through Rainbow's "inch-wide, mile-deep" philosophy, explaining why going all-in on a single vertical and owning the underwriting systems, technology, and distribution that support it creates a durable competitive advantage that generalist carriers simply can't replicate. Key Highlights (07:35) How an...
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Ep 300: We did it. Our 300th Episode!
FNO: InsureTech
Episode 300 is a milestone we never imagined when we hit record for the first time in 2018 at 470 Claims, which was acquired by Alacrity Solutions. Seven years later, Rob and Lee sit down to reflect on how FNO: InsureTech began, how it evolved, and what has surprised us most along the way. In this special episode, we talk through the genesis of the podcast and how a simple idea turned into hundreds of conversations across insurance and insuretech. We reflect on the consistency, curiosity, and commitment it took to keep showing up week after week, and how the journey shaped us as hosts. Key...
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Ep 299: Heather Wilson, CEO, CLARA Analytics
FNO: InsureTech
In this episode of FNO: InsureTech, Rob Beller and Lee Boyd welcome Heather Wilson, CEO of CLARA Analytics, for an insightful conversation on how AI is transforming claims intelligence and reshaping the competitive landscape of insurance. Heather shares how CLARA Analytics has been doing 'AI before AI was cool' since 2012, building a platform that now processes millions of claims with 24/7 predictive analytics, and reflects on her own journey as a data science pioneer who has always been years ahead of industry trends. The discussion explores CLARA's hybrid model that blends AI-driven...
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Ep 298: Stacey Brown, Founder & President, InsurTech America
FNO: InsureTech
In this episode of FNO: InsureTech, Rob Beller and Lee Boyd welcome Stacey Brown, Founder and President of , for a thoughtful conversation on how curiosity, timing, and community can quietly reshape an industry. Stacey shares reflections from his career in insurance technology, the early signals that convinced him something new was forming in insuretech, and the personal decision that led him to step beyond a traditional corporate path. The discussion follows the evolution of InsurTech America from small, informal gatherings into a growing network of...
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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...
info_outlineIn episode 288 of FNO: InsureTech, Cameron MacArthur, Founder and CEO of AI Insurance, 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 leadership challenges of adopting automation while retaining vital insurance expertise.
Key Highlights
- AI Insurance recorded 150% growth in the past year, now supporting more than 100 programs for MGAs, MGUs, captives, and risk retention groups.
- Cameron describes AI’s effectiveness in automating loss-run data import, handling invoices, and migrating complex data—with internal tests and client experiences indicating accuracy and time savings compared to manual processes.
- The rise of MGAs and MGUs is reshaping the market, with premium volume in this sector doubling since 2020, while traditional carriers and captives remain static or decline.
- Modern SaaS and AI solutions have reduced the barriers and costs of launching insurance programs, enabling new entities to go live in weeks rather than months.
- Cameron details a significant change in client expectations: prospects increasingly seek direct access to AI, APIs, and custom tooling, reflecting greater technical familiarity within insurance operations.
- Leadership must recognize and address staff concerns as automation alters job scopes, emphasizing the need for communication, retraining, and a continued focus on deep insurance knowledge.
- Cameron shares personal perspectives on the ongoing complexity of insurance, the rewards of continued learning, and the realities of leading sustainable growth.
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