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Why Early-Stage InsurTech Founders Are Calling the Global InsurTech Startup Competition a Game-Changer
Applications Open

Why Early-Stage InsurTech Founders Are Calling the Global InsurTech Startup Competition a Game-Changer

Deadline: February 3rd, 2026 • Finals: March 31st, 2026 in NYC
“The exposure was amazing. Drove quite a bit of inbound and definitely added a healthy share of clout for us in customer conversations.” — Jerry Chien, Jump Point AI (2025 Carrier/Broker Winner)
$200K In-Kind Prize Value
10+ Investors & Insurance Leaders
1000+ InsurTech Influencers at Finals
Top 10 Finalists Selected

Breaking into the insurance industry as a startup founder isn’t easy. Unlike consumer-facing industries where you can launch fast and iterate quickly, InsurTech startups face unique challenges: complex regulatory requirements, long sales cycles with enterprise buyers, and the need to build trust with an industry known for its careful approach to innovation.

That’s exactly why we created the Global InsurTech Startup Competition—to give talented early-stage founders the visibility, connections, and resources they need to overcome these hurdles and gain real traction.

Real Results from Real Founders

Don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what last year’s winners had to say about their experience:

“The exposure was amazing. Drove quite a bit of inbound and definitely added a healthy share of clout for us in customer conversations.”

— Jerry Chien, Jump Point AI (2025 Carrier/Broker Winner)

“The most valuable part of the competition was the pitch and publicity we received afterwards. We were scouted at the event by several major carriers that led to very fruitful conversations and new relationships. In particular, MunichRe reached out through the InsurTech NY app and it led to building a good relationship with their US MGA team. It’s also always good to compete to see where you’re at when comparing to the rest of the InsurTech market.”

— Noel, Sunereum Labs (2025 Investor Winner)

When asked what advice he’d give to startups considering applying, Noel was emphatic: “I would tell them to absolutely go for it. The event is quite intense and it is a good thing to put yourself out there and pitch in front of such a strong and experienced audience and judges panel. It is the primetime stage to get on at the beginning of the year.”

What You’ll Gain

The competition offers four key benefits that early-stage InsurTech startups rarely get access to all at once:

1. Face Time with Decision-Makers

Showcase your startup in front of 10+ early-stage investors and insurance leaders who are actively looking for InsurTech solutions. These aren’t passive observers—they’re judges evaluating your potential and looking for their next investment or partnership.

2. Accelerated Business Development

Get exposure to carrier and broker buyers who can become your first enterprise customers. As Noel’s experience shows, these connections can lead to relationships with major players like MunichRe that would typically take months or years to establish.

3. Industry Visibility

Present to 1000+ insurance influencers at the InsurTech NY Spring 2026 Conference on March 31st in New York City. This is your chance to establish credibility and “clout” in an industry where reputation matters.

4. $200,000 in In-Kind Prizes

Win from a prize pool worth over $200,000 in products and services that growing InsurTechs actually need, distributed across two winners (Carrier/Broker Prize and Investor Prize of $100,000 each).

Who Should Apply?

We’re looking for InsurTech startups that meet two simple criteria:

  • Revenue Requirement: Less than $250,000 USD in recurring revenue
  • InsurTech Classification: Your company uses technology to either (a) sell insurance policies or (b) serve a (re)insurance carrier, insurance broker, or risk management organization

Meet Your 2026 Judges

This year, we’ve assembled an expert panel of early-stage investors, carrier leaders, and broker executives who understand what it takes to succeed in InsurTech:

Somil Jain
Principal, Lewis & Ellis
Tarun Chopra
Board Member, Tapoly
Laurie Covington
Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer, Homesteaders Life
Sam Hosey
Director of Innovation, AF Group
Marvin Pestcoe
Independent Director, Hamilton
Stacey Brown
President, InsurTech Hartford
Jay Novis
Investor, QBE Ventures
Justin Osking
Senior Manager, Gallagher
Neeren Chauhan
Chief Innovation & AI Officer, Tokio Marine Group
Brian Poppe
SVP, Mutual of Omaha
Tony Mravle
CEO, KSKJ Life
Jeffrey Nolte
Founder & CEO, Nolte Worldwide
Patrick Davis
CEO, InsurePay
Chris Haley
Partner, FINTOP
Ponni Nainar
CFO & Treasurer, ELCO
Jeff Chesky
CEO, Insuritas

How It Works

Competition Timeline

Applications (Now – February 3rd, 2026) Submit your application via F6S
Finalists Announced (February 2026) Judges select the top 10 startups based on submitted applications
Winner Presentations (March 31st, 2026) Top 10 finalists pitch live at the InsurTech NY Spring Conference in New York City

Whether you’re looking to accelerate your fundraising, land your first enterprise customer, or simply gain visibility in the InsurTech ecosystem, this competition offers a unique opportunity to fast-track your startup’s growth.

As one of our past participants noted, this is “the primetime stage to get on at the beginning of the year.”

Applications Close February 3rd, 2026

Don’t miss your chance to join the next generation of InsurTech innovators

Apply Now via F6S
The Global InsurTech Startup Competition is organized by InsurTech NY