Swiss Insurtech Hub: Ecosystem Meetup on February 5th

The non-profit organization Swiss Insurtech Hub was founded in 2021 with the aim of digitizing and innovating the future of the Swiss insurance industry. On Monday, February 5th, the second Insur-Tech ecosystem meeting will take place at the PwC premises in Zurich-Oerlikon. 13 InsurTechs from the Israel and Swiss ecosystem will present their products and services.

thebroker is the media partner of this event. Binci Heeb, editor-in-chief, talks to Silvia Signoretti, President of Swiss Insutech Hub, about what participants can expect.

Ms. Signoretti: How did the Swiss Insurtech Hub come about?

The Swiss Insurtech Hub (SIH), a non-profit organization, originated from a collective recognition of the transformative potential that technology holds for the insurance industry. Guided by a passionate group of volunteers, comprised of insurance leaders and entrepreneurs, the hub was established to create a dynamic ecosystem that fosters collaboration, innovation, and growth within the Swiss insurtech and Insurance landscape. The goal was to bridge the gap between traditional insurance practices and emerging technologies, positioning Switzerland as a hub for insurtech excellence.

Were you there from the beginning?

Yes, I not only played an integral role in driving the establishment of the Swiss Insurtech Hub from its inception but I also took a leadership role and took the President role in early 2023.

I envisioned the hub as more than just an association—it was an opportunity to create a platform for continuous learning, where industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts could stay abreast of the latest trends, share insights, and collectively contribute to the growth of the insurtech ecosystem. We could say that the SIH is a vibrant arena for ongoing education and knowledge exchange.

You are a transformation leader at Zurich Insurance. How do you combine these two roles?

In my capacity as a transformation leader at Zurich Insurance, my role involves spearheading impactful changes within the Group Functions of the company. Zurich Insurance has been supportive of this engagement, and since last year, Zurich Switzerland has been an official sponsor of the association, constantly co-hosting events, bringing top leaders to our panels, and with that sharing the expertise with the community we have created. This professional volunteering activity has proven to be synergistic, allowing me to leverage insights gained from both arenas.

What does the association offer?

In line with the associations mission of creating a collaborative ecosystem we provide various offerings for our members. The core of all the offerings are access to diverse network of industry leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and InsurTech professions. In addition, the SIH events offer the startups the perfect platform to showcase their products to the wider insurance industry. In doing so we also help startups to refine their product pitches.

The Insurance firms get to know the latest trends and key players within the InsurTech ecosystem. Investors get a peek into the upcoming startups

By the end of 2023 we had delivered nearly 30 events, some informal and some more formal , gathering more than 1000 attendees.

The flagship event of the association, the Swiss InsurTech Summit and Award, annually spotlights the most innovative Insurtech, recognized by a panel of senior industry experts. This celebrated award not only honors outstanding achievements of the participating Insurtechs, but also provides to them valuable exposure.

How many members do you have?

As of now, the Swiss Insurtech Hub is proud to have a robust community of approximately 1000 members. This diverse and dynamic network comprises individuals from our esteemed sponsor companies in insurance and tech, strategic alliances, forward-thinking startups, as well as individual members.

Why should one become a member?

The association acts as a dynamic launchpad for enhanced visibility and exposure, offering diverse avenues to spotlight innovative solutions and garner well-deserved recognition. Whether you’re a company or an individual, the expansive platform ensures your distinct presence is not only noticeable but also impactful.

This is the second Insur-Tech ecosystem meeting. It will take place in less than two weeks, bringing together start-ups from Israel (7) and Switzerland (6). Why do the guests come from Israel?

This is one of our cross-border InsurTech ecosystem meetings.

Israel and Switzerland, despite their differences in size and economic structures, can learn valuable lessons from each other’s insurtech ecosystems.

Israel is known for its robust innovation ecosystem and it has become a fertile ground for insurtech startups. The country’s startup culture, supported by a strong emphasis on technological innovation, has led to the emergence of disruptive solutions within the insurance industry.

Switzerland on the other side, has been recognized for several years in a row, not only as a very innovative country, but also offers a well established financial sector, attracting investment and creating a favorable environment for Insurtechs to expand their reach in the Insurance sector.

What products will the showcased startup introduce?

InsurTech solutions that will be showcased during the roadshow encompass a diverse range of offerings. ESG data management and reporting, AI analytics, powerd solution for accident-prevention and driver scoring. We will meet a firm offering a Low code/No code Insurtech platform for embedded insurance; AI-driven platform facilitating secured data sharing and analysis, or we will learn on how predictive AI can support optimizing customer acquisition and engagement for insurance providers. And much more. We invite the readers to read more about the delegation following this link:  [I will provide the link]

There will also be a panel discussion with industry experts on the topic of “Sustainability and Innovation”. Who are the experts?

The typical formula of our panel discussions is to bring diverse perspectives on stage on a selected topic.

This time we focus on how Sustainability is embedded in the insurance innovation agenda. We will hear take aways from a recent study PWC has conducted around M&A activities, and how can sustainability be effectively integrated into due diligence processes.

It will be interesting to see how the insurance industry is adapting its underwriting strategies to contribute to the sustainability agenda. And we will delve on the role of collaboration among insurers, investors, and other stakeholders is key to drive sustainability initiatives.

We invite thebroker.ch readers to meet our esteemed panel of industry leaders and professionals:

thebroker members and customers can register for the Meetup here and benefit from a 50% discount using this registration link.