Episode 10 of *Insurtech Unscripted* is here.

In this episode, COVU CEO Ali Safavi sits down with TX Zhuo, General Partner at Fika Ventures, for a conversation on the future of insurance distribution — and why the next wave of insurtech may be less about replacing brokers and more about empowering them.

They discuss how artificial intelligence can help traditional brokers deliver better service, operate more efficiently, and compete in an increasingly digital market. The conversation also explores the debate between embedded insurance and brokerage models, the opportunity to bundle insurance with other financial products, and how customer demographics should shape distribution strategy from the start.

Ali and TX also dig into the practical side of insurance growth: selling multiple policies, building trust through personal relationships, improving cross-sell, and using better data integration to make policy creation faster and more seamless.

They close with a look at emerging trends, including AI-driven services, net revenue multiples, and what these shifts could mean for the future of insurance and insurtech.

At COVU, we believe insurance began as a noble idea: communities coming together to protect one another. Over time, the industry has become more complex, and sometimes that original purpose gets buried. Our vision is to help bring insurance back to what matters most: people, trust, and better risk management.

The COVU Podcast was created to help agency owners, insurance professionals, and policyholders navigate the changing world of insurance. From agency growth and operations to insurtech, AI, distribution, customer experience, technology, and the future of risk, we’ll cover the conversations that matter — with a little fun along the way.

Subscribe to the COVU Podcast so you never miss an episode, and check out COVU’s YouTube channel for more insights, interviews, and helpful content.

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate and review the podcast. Your feedback helps us improve and bring more valuable conversations to the insurance community.

Have thoughts or questions? Email us at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]).

Interested in seeing what COVU can do for your agency?

Start here: https://go.covu.com/os

COVU helps agency owners get the operational support, technology, and expert guidance they need to grow their agency — without letting the agency run their life.

Follow COVU:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/covu_inc/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/covuinc

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/covu_inc

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVrR7a3ipRCKQF0JThFTVXw

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@covu_inc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/covuinc/

#COVU #Podcast #Insurance #InsuranceAgencies #InsurtechUnscripted #Insurtech #AI #InsuranceDistribution #InsuranceTechnology

Episode 9 of *Insurtech Unscripted* is here.

In this episode, COVU CEO Ali Safavi sits down with Amir Kabir, General Partner at AV8 and a leading investor in the insurtech space, for a deep conversation on the evolution of insurance innovation.

They trace the history of insurance technology from the early days of large insurance companies in the 1900s, through the first major technology wave in the 1980s and 1990s, to the rise of venture-backed insurtech as we know it today.

The conversation also explores the second wave of insurtech, including one of the biggest issues startups are trying to solve: the industry’s long-standing lack of customer-centricity. Ali and Amir discuss niche insurance opportunities, B2B2C distribution, collectibles insurance, underwriting technology, and the challenge of building digital businesses in markets large enough to matter.

They also dig into what real scale could look like in insurtech, including the possibility of major exits, the path for startups to become risk-bearing entities, and how technology can improve profitability in specialized insurance markets.

At COVU, we believe insurance began as a noble idea: communities coming together to protect one another. Over time, the industry has become more complex, and sometimes that original purpose gets buried. Our vision is to help bring insurance back to what matters most: people, trust, and better risk management.

The COVU Podcast was created to help agency owners, insurance professionals, and policyholders navigate the changing world of insurance. From agency growth and operations to insurtech, underwriting, investment, niche markets, customer experience, and the future of risk, we’ll cover the conversations that matter — with a little fun along the way.

Subscribe to the COVU Podcast so you never miss an episode, and check out COVU’s YouTube channel for more insights, interviews, and helpful content.

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate and review the podcast. Your feedback helps us improve and bring more valuable conversations to the insurance community.

Have thoughts or questions? Email us at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]).

Interested in seeing what COVU can do for your agency?

Start here: https://go.covu.com/os

COVU helps agency owners get the operational support, technology, and expert guidance they need to grow their agency — without letting the agency run their life.

Follow COVU:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/covu_inc/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/covuinc

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/covu_inc

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVrR7a3ipRCKQF0JThFTVXw

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@covu_inc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/covuinc/

#COVU #Podcast #Insurance #InsuranceAgencies #InsurtechUnscripted #Insurtech #InsuranceTechnology #Underwriting #Investment

Episode 8 of *Insurtech Unscripted* is here.

In this episode, COVU CEO Ali Safavi sits down with Charles Birnbaum from Bessemer Venture Partners for a sharp conversation on the insurtech market, emerging risks, AI, cyber, and where insurance innovation is actually headed.

They dig into the pressure points challenging traditional insurance models, the opportunities opening up for startups and investors, and the new products gaining attention across the industry. Charles also shares his perspective on cyber risk, the line between insurance and insurtech, and how artificial intelligence may reshape the way risk is understood, priced, and managed.

At COVU, we believe insurance began as a noble idea: communities coming together to protect one another. Over time, the industry has become more complex, and sometimes that original purpose gets buried. Our vision is to help bring insurance back to what matters most: people, trust, and better risk management.

The COVU Podcast was created to help agency owners, insurance professionals, and policyholders navigate the changing world of insurance. From agency growth and operations to insurtech, AI, cyber risk, investment, technology, customer experience, and the future of the industry, we’ll cover the conversations that matter — with a little fun along the way.

Subscribe to the COVU Podcast so you never miss an episode, and check out COVU’s YouTube channel for more insights, interviews, and helpful content.

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate and review the podcast. Your feedback helps us improve and bring more valuable conversations to the insurance community.

Have thoughts or questions? Email us at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]).

Interested in seeing what COVU can do for your agency?

Start here: https://go.covu.com/os

COVU helps agency owners get the operational support, technology, and expert guidance they need to grow their agency — without letting the agency run their life.

Follow COVU:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/covu_inc/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/covuinc

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/covu_inc

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVrR7a3ipRCKQF0JThFTVXw

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@covu_inc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/covuinc/

#COVU #Podcast #Insurance #InsuranceAgencies #InsurtechUnscripted #Insurtech #AI #CyberRisk #InsuranceTechnology #Investment

In this episode of Insurtech Unscripted, I sit down with Marcus Ryu, a pioneer in the insurtech industry and former CEO of Guidewire, now a partner at Battery Ventures. We dive deep into the future of insurtech, exploring the complexities of investing, risk management, and the evolving landscape of insurance. Marcus shares his insights on the challenges faced by both established players and new entrants in the market, emphasizing the importance of data-driven underwriting and the role of technology in enhancing customer experiences. We also discuss the potential of alternative risk categories, such as cyber insurance, and the ongoing necessity for advisory roles in an increasingly automated world. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation that sheds light on the dynamics shaping the future of insurance.

Episode 5 of Insurtech Unscripted is out.

In this episode, COVU CEO Ali Safavi sits down with Alexander Niehenke for a conversation on why insurance remains one of the most compelling sectors for investment and innovation.

They explore the role of risk knowledge, how to identify real market opportunities, the growing importance of cyber insurance, and the industry trends shaping the next phase of insurtech. The conversation also looks at how insurance and technology continue to come together — and what that means for growth, better risk management, and the future of the industry.

At COVU, we believe insurance began as a noble idea: communities coming together to protect one another. Over time, the industry has become more complex, and sometimes that original purpose gets buried. Our vision is to help bring insurance back to what matters most: people, trust, and better risk management.

The COVU Podcast was created to help agency owners, insurance professionals, and policyholders navigate the changing world of insurance. From agency growth and operations to insurtech, investment, cyber insurance, technology, customer experience, and the future of risk, we’ll cover the conversations that matter — with a little fun along the way.

Subscribe to the COVU Podcast so you never miss an episode, and check out COVU’s YouTube channel for more insights, interviews, and helpful content.

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate and review the podcast. Your feedback helps us improve and bring more valuable conversations to the insurance community.

Have thoughts or questions? Email us at [email protected].

Interested in seeing what COVU can do for your agency?

Start here: https://go.covu.com/os

COVU helps agency owners get the operational support, technology, and expert guidance they need to grow their agency — without letting the agency run their life.

Follow COVU:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/covu_inc/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/covuinc

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/covu_inc

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVrR7a3ipRCKQF0JThFTVXw

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@covu_inc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/covuinc/

#COVU #Podcast #Insurance #InsuranceAgencies #InsurtechUnscripted #Insurtech #CyberInsurance #InsuranceTechnology #Investment

In episode 5 of Insurtech Unscripted, “Is Purely Digital Overrated Compared to Digital-Enabled in Creating Generational Companies?”, COVU CEO Ali Safavi sits down with Rick Zullo for a conversation on insurance innovation, investing, startups, and the future of agency digitalization.

They discuss why being “digital-only” may not be enough in insurance, and why the stronger model may be digital-enabled: using technology to improve the human relationship, not remove it. Rick also shares perspective from his work with startups, investing in insurance innovation, and the opportunities created by building for long-term industry change.

At COVU, we believe insurance began as a noble idea: communities coming together to protect one another. Over time, the industry has become more complex, and sometimes that original purpose gets buried. Our vision is to help bring insurance back to what matters most: people, trust, and better risk management.

The COVU Podcast was created to help agency owners, insurance professionals, and policyholders navigate the changing world of insurance. From agency growth and operations to insurtech, investment, technology, customer experience, and the future of risk, we’ll cover the conversations that matter — with a little fun along the way.

Subscribe to the COVU Podcast so you never miss an episode, and check out COVU’s YouTube channel for more insights, interviews, and helpful content.

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate and review the podcast. Your feedback helps us improve and bring more valuable conversations to the insurance community.

Have thoughts or questions? Email us at [email protected].

Interested in seeing what COVU can do for your agency?

Start here: https://go.covu.com/os

COVU helps agency owners get the operational support, technology, and expert guidance they need to grow their agency — without letting the agency run their life.

Follow COVU:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/covu_inc/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/covuinc

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/covu_inc

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVrR7a3ipRCKQF0JThFTVXw

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@covu_inc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/covuinc/

#COVU #Podcast #Insurance #InsuranceAgencies #InsurtechUnscripted #Insurtech #InsuranceTechnology #InsuranceInnovation #Investment

In this episode of the COVU Podcast, COVU CEO Ali Safavi sits down with Dave for a conversation on underwriting, technology, data, and the changing insurance landscape.

They discuss how underwriting has traditionally been a manual process, and how new technologies are making it possible to underwrite faster, more accurately, and in more embedded ways. The conversation also covers how better data can help manage risk, what the rise and fall of certain insurtech startups can teach the industry, and where insurance innovation may be headed next.

At COVU, we believe insurance began as a noble idea: communities coming together to protect one another. Over time, the industry has become more complex, and sometimes that original purpose gets buried. Our vision is to help bring insurance back to what matters most: people, trust, and better risk management.

The COVU Podcast was created to help agency owners, insurance professionals, and policyholders navigate the changing world of insurance. From underwriting and risk to insurtech, data, customer experience, and agency growth, we’ll cover the conversations that matter — with a little fun along the way.

Subscribe to the COVU Podcast so you never miss an episode, and check out COVU’s YouTube channel for more insights, interviews, and helpful content.

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate and review the podcast. Your feedback helps us improve and bring more valuable conversations to the insurance community.

Have thoughts or questions? Email us at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]).

Interested in seeing what COVU can do for your agency?

Start here: https://go.covu.com/os

COVU helps agency owners get the operational support, technology, and expert guidance they need to grow their agency — without letting the agency run their life.

Follow COVU:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/covu_inc/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/covuinc

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/covu_inc

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVrR7a3ipRCKQF0JThFTVXw

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@covu_inc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/covuinc/

#COVU #Podcast #Insurance #InsuranceAgencies #InsurtechUnscripted #Insurtech #Underwriting #InsuranceTechnology #RiskManagement

In the third episode of the COVU Podcast, COVU CEO Ali Safavi sits down with Parker Beauchamp for a thoughtful conversation on the concerns facing the insurance industry, how agencies are adopting technology, and why a hybrid insurance model may be the path forward.

They explore what this model could mean for consumers, independent agencies, and the future of partnerships in insurance — where technology supports the relationship, not replaces it.

At COVU, we believe insurance began as a noble idea: communities coming together to protect one another. Over time, the industry has become more complex, and sometimes that original purpose gets buried. Our vision is to help bring insurance back to what matters most: people, trust, and better risk management.

The COVU Podcast was created to help agency owners, insurance professionals, and policyholders navigate the changing world of insurance. From agency growth and operations to insurtech, customer experience, partnerships, and the future of risk, we’ll cover the conversations that matter — with a little fun along the way.

Subscribe to the COVU Podcast so you never miss an episode, and check out COVU’s YouTube channel for more insights, interviews, and helpful content.

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate and review the podcast. Your feedback helps us improve and bring more valuable conversations to the insurance community.

Have thoughts or questions? Email us at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]).

Interested in seeing what COVU can do for your agency?

Start here: https://go.covu.com/os

COVU helps agency owners get the operational support, technology, and expert guidance they need to grow their agency — without letting the agency run their life.

Follow COVU:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/covu_inc/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/covuinc

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/covu_inc

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVrR7a3ipRCKQF0JThFTVXw

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@covu_inc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/covuinc/

#COVU #Podcast #Insurance #InsuranceAgencies #InsurtechUnscripted #Insurtech #HybridInsurance

In this engaging episode of Insurtech Unscripted, I sit down with Eugenio Gonzalez, the Insurtech Partner at Plug and Play, to explore the dynamic evolution of the insurtech landscape. We discuss how the industry has transformed over the years, from the early days of insurtech startups to the current focus on specialization and innovative distribution channels. Eugenio shares insights on the increasing importance of technology in insurance, the rise of niche MGAs, and the shifting priorities of traditional carriers in response to market pressures. We also touch on the pressing need for innovation, how Gen Z is reshaping consumer behavior, and the growing significance of cyber insurance. Join us for a deep dive into the trends and challenges shaping the future of insurtech.

In this intro episode of the COVU Podcast, COVU CEO Ali Safavi sits down with Tasos Chatzimichailidis, COVU’s Chief Insurance Executive, for a thoughtful conversation on risk solutions, trust, the future of insurance, and what it will take to bring better insurance experiences to the broader market.

It’s a strong kickoff to the series, with honest perspective from two leaders thinking deeply about where the industry is headed.

At COVU, we believe insurance began as a noble idea: communities coming together to protect one another. Over time, the industry has become more complex, and sometimes that original purpose gets buried. Our vision is to help bring insurance back to what matters most: people, trust, and better risk management.

The COVU Podcast was created to help agency owners, insurance professionals, and policyholders navigate the changing world of insurance. From agency growth and operations to risk, technology, customer experience, and the future of the industry, we’ll cover the conversations that matter — with a little fun along the way.

Subscribe to the COVU Podcast so you never miss an episode, and check out COVU’s YouTube channel for more insights, interviews, and helpful content.

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate and review the podcast. Your feedback helps us improve and bring more valuable conversations to the insurance community.

Have thoughts or questions? Email us at [email protected].

Interested in seeing what COVU can do for your agency?

Start here: https://go.covu.com/os

COVU helps agency owners get the operational support, technology, and expert guidance they need to grow their agency — without letting the agency run their life.

Follow COVU:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/covu_inc/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/covuinc

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/covu_inc

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVrR7a3ipRCKQF0JThFTVXw

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@covu_inc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/covuinc/

#COVU #Podcast #Insurance #InsuranceAgencies #InsuranceIndustry #RiskManagement