Lloyd’s invests in artificial intelligence start-up as Lab welcomes second cohort
Lloyd’s has confirmed it will invest in Layr, a cloud-based commercial insurance platform for small businesses, following a successful trial in the Lloyd’s Lab, which last week welcomed a second cohort of 12 InsurTech start-ups.
Layr, which is based in Atlanta, Georgia, participated in the first cohort of the Lloyd’s Lab and used the opportunity to test their cloud-based solution for providing faster access for small businesses looking to purchase liability insurance.
The InsurTech company has secured an investment from Lloyd’s to develop its solution further. Layr is also exploring potential distribution opportunities with several Lloyd’s syndicates.
The platform bypasses carriers’ APIs and instead uses its proprietary price and appetite prediction engine to match business with the right policies from the right carrier at the right price. This allows Layr to provide indications for more lines of coverage across more industries in real-time.
Unlike comparison engines or aggregators, the US start-up uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to compare an applicant against clusters of similar small businesses. Companies will find out not only the coverage they need and the best price to pay for it, but also what coverage similar businesses purchase.
In addition, in December six Lloyd’s syndicates subscribed to use Parsyl’s internet-of-things solution, to offer crafted risk coverage for sensitive shipments, following a successful trial in the Lloyd’s Lab.
The investment announcement comes on the heels of Lloyd’s bold new strategy, which included a commitment to expand the scope of activity in the Lloyd’s Lab.
On April 29th Lloyd’s Lab started working with a second cohort of 12 teams selected from more than 250 applicants. The ten-week programme will run until July 3 when start-ups will have the opportunity to showcase their products to potential investors.
The selected teams were chosen in a two-step competitive application process with the best 22 start-ups presenting their ideas to experts across the market during pitch day.
The full list of start-ups that will be working with Lloyd’s innovation accelerator are available here. They include technological and data driven solutions to help better understand risks; make claim processes faster; and facilitate wider access to insurance.
Lloyd’s Lab provides us with an exceptional environment to test and accelerate the implementation of new technological solutions. I am delighted that syndicates have teamed up with Parsyl and Lloyd’s itself has invested in Layr following the Lab’s first cohort, and I am looking forward to seeing what solutions emerge from the second cohort.Lloyd’s CEO, John Neal
Lloyd’s is in a unique position to drive innovation within the insurance market and the success stories coming from our first cohort confirm that. I am delighted by the breadth of experience and ideas of this new cohort, and by how the start-ups have strived to make their innovative solutions relevant to the Lloyd’s market. Having the engagement and expertise of so many market participants is another unparalleled advantage, and an important part of our success.Lloyd’s Head of Innovation, Trevor Maynard
Modern business owners do everything online, so Layr is the natural evolution for small business insurance. We feel validated that the world's oldest and most respected insurance marketplace agrees and recognises that the technology we're creating is the future of small commercial distribution.Layr CEO, Phillip Naples
- Working in the Lab, start-ups will have the unique opportunity to test their ideas within the Lloyd’s insurance and reinsurance market. During the programme, nearly 50 experts from across the market will be supporting the teams and offering advice and insight.
- They will also have access to a co-working space located in the Lloyd’s building in London; a wide range of bespoken events and networking opportunities; and potential investment and ongoing collaboration with market participants after the cohort comes to an end.
- The programme will finish on 3 July 2019 when the teams will have the opportunity to showcase their products to potential investors during Demo Day.
- Lloyd’s studio is available for TV and radio broadcasts.
- More news and information available from lloyds.com.
Enquiries to:
Blanca Peña-Méndez
Communications, Lloyd's
Telephone +44 (0)20 7327 6964
Email: blanca.pena-mendez@lloyds.com
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