April 07, 2025

Data as Currency: Redefining Insurance with First-Party Intelligence with Elan Nyer

34 minutes

What if insurance data weren’t just extracted—but earned? In this episode of the Insurtech Leadership Podcast, host Josh Hollander sits down with Elan Nyer, CEO and Co-Founder of Ownli, to explore how policyholders can take control of their data and become active participants in the insurance value chain.

Elan shares how Ownli enables consumers to share verified, first-party data—such as mileage, location, and vehicle condition—directly with insurers, creating a permissioned, transparent data marketplace. This shift not only improves underwriting and claims accuracy but also strengthens engagement between insurers and policyholders.

The conversation also dives into AI-driven verification, flexible integration models, and the larger opportunity to serve untapped, non-telematics users. Elan’s vision turns traditional data collection on its head—empowering individuals to own, protect, and profit from their digital footprint.

In This Episode:

[00:59] Elan’s background in automotive data and connected mobility

[03:01] The founding insight behind Ownli: data control and transparency

[05:00] Verified use cases: mileage, parking location, and condition check-ins

[09:35] Serving non-telematics users with valuable, self-reported insights

[12:06] Verifying user-submitted data with AI and 11-layer model architecture

[14:00] Ownli’s revenue-sharing model where users benefit from their data

[16:30] Three integration paths: SDK, web portal, and standalone app

[22:16] Building a verified “insurance profile” to streamline quoting and renewal

[30:12] Regulatory challenges and advocating for individual data ownership

Notable Quotes:

“If I had verified mileage and condition on my policy, my claim would have been resolved in 24 hours. Instead, it took months.” – Elan Nyer

“Your data is an asset—just like money in a bank. We’re building the platform to help you own it, protect it, and earn from it.” – Elan Nyer

Our Guest:

Elan Nyer is the CEO and Co-Founder of Ownli, a platform that empowers consumers to share verified, first-party insurance data through a consent-first marketplace. Previously, he led teams at Mobileye and Nexar, focusing on automotive safety and connected vehicle intelligence.

Resources:

Elan Nyer – LinkedIn | Ownli

Josh Hollander – LinkedIn | Horton International | Insurtech Leadership Show

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