From Experimentation to Execution Discipline
How Leading Insurers Are Converting Insurtech Partnerships into Measurable Returns
$10.5B
Estimated IT modernization spend by North American insurers (2024-2026)
70%
Transformation projects that fail to meet their goals
$15M+
Unrealized value from just 3 delayed initiatives at a typical carrier
The Core Challenge
Technology is no longer the primary constraint for insurance transformation. Execution is. Around 4,000 insurtechs operate globally, backed by more than $60 billion in cumulative funding. The challenge isn’t finding the right technology partner—it’s building the internal execution capability to make that partnership work.
Through 20 in-depth interviews with senior insurance transformation leaders and a survey of 120+ insurtech founders, this research identified a definitive six-stage framework that distinguishes high-performing insurtech partnerships from the rest, along with five execution barriers that consistently prevent carriers from scaling.
The Five Execution Barriers
Our research identified five structural barriers that consistently slow insurtech partnerships, even at well-resourced carriers:
The Six-Stage Lifecycle for Transformative Insurtech Partnerships
To consistently unlock value from insurtech partnerships, carriers need a repeatable framework—a Disciplined Transformation Accelerator built for regulated environments.
01
Problem Validation
02
Problem-Led Selection
03
Operator Empowerment
04
Decision Engine
05
Pre-Scale Commitment
06
Post-Launch Accountability
The 100-Day Readiness Plan
The six-stage lifecycle requires organizational readiness. Most carriers cannot start at Stage 1 and expect it to work—execution barriers quietly undermine even well-designed partnerships. The report includes a comprehensive 100-day readiness plan that prepares organizations to operate the lifecycle with discipline.
The plan addresses each execution barrier with named accountability, specific deliverables, and success metrics across six sequential phases:
Weeks 1–3: Portfolio Hard Reality Check
Weeks 3–5: IT Capacity & Pipeline Transparency
Weeks 5–8: Decision Rights & Ownership Reset
Weeks 8–10: Budgeting, Performance & CFO Visibility
Weeks 8–12: Support Functions Stress-Test
Weeks 12–15: Talent Repositioning & Momentum Signal
What Insurtech Leaders Can Do
Execution is a two-sided equation. Insurtech CEOs and founders who understand the carrier’s internal execution constraints—and proactively address them in their engagement approach—dramatically increase their probability of scaling beyond the pilot stage.
The report provides concrete guidance for insurtech leaders on demonstrating execution readiness, structuring proposals around carrier decision architecture, designing contract and KPI structures that accelerate trust, and investing in cross-functional engagement capability.
Download the Full Report
Get the complete framework, detailed stage breakdowns, execution maturity self-assessment, and actionable guidance for both insurers and insurtechs.
Download PDF ReportAbout the Research
Methodology: The Insurance Collaboration Index (ICI) Committee, under the leadership of InsurTech NY, surveyed 120+ insurtech founders—80% of whom have more than five years of founder-level insurance experience. Alvarez & Marsal analyzed the survey results and paired them with 20 in-depth interviews with senior insurance leaders who have successfully driven transformation initiatives and insurtech partnerships.
About Alvarez & Marsal: Founded in 1983, Alvarez & Marsal is a leading global professional services firm renowned for its leadership, action and results. A&M provides advisory, business performance improvement and turnaround management services, delivering practical solutions to address clients’ unique challenges.
About InsurTech NY: Founded in 2019, InsurTech NY brings together carriers, brokers, investors, and InsurTech startups to help support the insurance industry take advantage of latest digital technology to improve efficiencies and increase revenue. We do this through our public events, corporate innovation program, competition, accelerator, MGA lab and the venture fund.
