BrokerTech Ventures announced Monday that applications are open for its 2022 accelerator program. The Des Moines-based accelerator focuses on startups that serve the insurance industry and specifically brokers. The 2022 program will be BTV’s third accelerator since its founding in 2019. Twenty startups will be selected for the program early next year, with the five-week program starting […]
BrokerTech Ventures took a significant step last week toward its goal of building a connecting bridge between Israeli- and U.S.-based insurtech founders and insurance brokers. The Des Moines-based insurtech accelerator hosted a delegation representing the Israel InsurTech Accelerator, which was launched last year in partnership with BrokerTech Ventures as the first broker-led insurance accelerator in Israel. […]
American Equity Investment Life Holding Co., based in West Des Moines, announced Nov. 4 it has made a $1 billion investment in a dedicated technology lending platform developed by Monroe Capital LLC, a Chicago-based boutique asset management firm specializing in private credit. The new lending platform focuses on middle-market software, technology and recurring revenue (STARR) loans originated […]
Minnesota-based Coupe Health LLC has purchased SPH LLC, formerly known as SimplePay Health, from insurance brokerage Holmes Murphy & Associates, the companies announced. Launched by Holmes Murphy in 2018, SPH is an alternative health care product for self-insured commercial employers. The SPH platform is designed to enable employees to easily search for high-quality medical and pharmacy plans. […]
The cryptocurrency industry achieved a milestone Tuesday when the “BITO” ticker appeared at the New York Stock Exchange for the first time, CNBC reports. The futures exchange-traded fund, launched by ProShares, doesn’t allow direct investments in bitcoin, but is still viewed as a step toward those types of funds. ProShares CEO Michael L. Sapir wrote in […]
BrokerTech Ventures announced on Sept. 30 the addition of its newest broker partner, UNICO Group, based in Lincoln, Neb. The new partner brings BrokerTech’s portfolio up to 15 of the most sizable and innovative brokerage firms in North America, according to a release. UNICO Group’s services include business, personal and telecommunications insurance as well as financial […]
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission sent a legal notice to Coinbase informing the cryptocurrency exchange to expect legal action if Lend, its digital lending product, launches. Lend will allow eligible customers to earn interest by lending select assets on Coinbase, starting with USD Coin. The SEC determined Lend should be subject to regulation under […]
Early stage insurtech startups can apply to Global Insurance Accelerator’s 2022 program until Sept. 12. This will be GIA’s eighth year hosting the accelerator, which supports cohorts by providing seed funding and bringing in more than 75 local mentors to advise companies. The 100-day equity-based program runs from Jan. 12 to April 21, 2022 with […]
The tiny and impoverished Central American nation became the first country in the world to adopt bitcoin as legal tender on Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal reports, allowing Salvadorans to use the cryptocurrency to buy a cup of coffee, get a haircut or even pay taxes and home loans. To get them started, the administration of 40-year-old […]
The Global Insurance Accelerator’s 2021 InsurTech Days event was held at Curate Event Center in downtown Des Moines on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Business Record attended the first day to hear the growth story of Cowbell Cyber, a member of GIA’s 2019 accelerator program, and presentations from the 12 featured insurtechs. Attendees came from across […]