Breaking Down Barriers for Insurtechs: Why We Launched a Non-Profit Industry Association (w/Bob Sargent & Doug Ver Mulm, InsurTech Association)

Bob Sargent is President and Co-Founder with me of the Insurtech Association (ITA), a membership-based non-profit organization designed to support and represent all facets of the Insurtech ecosystem. Doug Ver Mulm is Volunteer Executive Director of the ITA.

In addition to his work with the ITA, Bob is also the CEO and Co-Founder of eSpecialty Insurance, a digital retail broker specializing in specialty lines insurance, and Doug is Co-Founder of a stealth startup serving the financial operations needs of the insurance industry - his second in Insurtech.

The InsurTech Association, launched in March 2023, carries the primary mission of supporting creators of technology. Open to any individual or organization with an interest in Insurtech, the founding board features a diverse group of founders who have successfully navigated the challenges of launching an Insurtech company. Four board members have experienced successful exits and continue to concentrate their efforts in the Insurtech space.

The ITA assists early-stage Insurtechs in navigating the inner workings of the insurance industry through various measures such as:

• Networking support
• Peer-to-peer dialogue
• Mentorship
• In-person and virtual educational events
• Community building
• General business acceleration

We encourage all followers of the Insurtech Leadership Podcast to join the ITA as members and to participate in upcoming events. For more information, please visit insurtechassociation.org/events. There are also sponsorship opportunities available for companies wishing to showcase their involvement in the industry to a startup audience, network with potential customers and partners, and expand their reach.

In addition to his roles at eSpecialty Insurance and the ITA, Bob is a strategic advisor to and an active investor in early-stage Insurtech companies.  Previously he founded, built, and sold a wholesale insurance broker and underwriting manager specializing in Professional Liability Insurance (E&O, D&O, EPL & Cyber Risk), and was a Board member and President of NAPSLO (predecessor to WSIA), the specialty insurance trade association.

Doug co-founded Stable Insurance, a commercial auto MGA focused on the rideshare and carshare space. He also spent over five years as a corporate counsel at Mercer, focusing on data security initiatives and IP issues. Before law school, Doug was a financial analyst at several investment firms in Chicago.

Follow the Insurtech Leadership Podcast airing weekly hosted by Joshua R. Hollander. We give you up-close access and personal insights from the leaders of the fastest-growing #insurtechs and most innovative #insurance carriers and brokers.