Registration for the 2026 Global Insurance Symposium is now open. The event will be April 14-15, 2026, at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. The event aims to bring together industry professionals, company executives, entrepreneurs, government representatives and innovators. This year’s theme is “Insurance in an ERA of Possibilities,” which…
Kirstin Slepicka has some advice for her 18-year-old self. The new chief technology officer of Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, who’s been in Des Moines for six months, said she would tell herself to stop and smell the roses more often. “One of the things I would have told…
In a recent survey of Iowa State University students, 70% said they were not confident in their ability to choose a health insurance plan on their own. Iowa State decided it wanted to do something about that. It partnered with When, a Chicago-based startup, which provides an app that personalizes…
Growers Edge, a Johnston-based company providing financial products and data-driven tools for agricultural retailers, manufacturers and lenders, announced this week a first close of a new $25 million financing round. The round was co-led by S2G Investments, Cibus Capital and Lowercarbon Capital, with additional participation by Otter Creek, iSelect and…
BrokerTech Ventures, a broker-led convening platform, recently hosted the nine insurtech startups participating in the organization’s sixth accelerator program for a two-day event in Des Moines. The event, called BTV Mania, brought the startups together to meet BTV’s 25 broker and insurance company partners at Holmes Murphy’s Waukee headquarters. The…
Innovative Captive Strategies, a subsidiary of Holmes Murphy providing insurance consulting and management, has announced a strategic partnership with Innovative Program Solutions, a full-service managing general agent. The partnership includes the launch of CaptiveXS, an umbrella excess insurance product designed for ICS captive clients. According to a news release, CaptiveXS…
Des Moines-based BrokerTech Ventures (BTV), a broker-led convening platform for insurtech innovation, investment and collaboration, has announced its newest partnership with the Hartford, a property and casualty insurance, group benefits and mutual fund company based in Hartford, Conn. The Hartford brings experience in underwriting, claims management and risk mitigation strategies, according…
Johnston-based Growers Edge, which provides financial technologies for the agriculture industry, has acquired software company Aquaoso Technologies. Aquaoso Technologies operates under the Agcor brand, which provides mapping, data and analytics software for agricultural lenders, according to a news release. Agcor aims to improve the agricultural lending process by integrating loan, collateral, appraisal,…
The Global Insurance Accelerator has announced the seven insurtech companies that will participate in the 10th cohort of the accelerator program. The 2025 program begins on Jan. 8. The cohort was selected by the GIA’s investor and sponsor companies. The seven companies are:
BrokerTech Ventures has announced a strategic partnership with Instech.IE, an Ireland-based insurance innovation organization. According to a news release, the collaboration will provide Irish insurtech companies aiming to enter the U.S. market with access to BTV’s network of industry experts in the U.S., and U.S.-based companies seeking European expansion will benefit…