Insurtechs.io

In this episode of Founders Journey, Jeff sits down with Moe Latif, co-founder of AgencyZoom, to talk about how a side project turned into one of the most beloved CRM platforms in the insurance industry and ultimately led to a successful acquisition by Vertafore. Moe shares how he and his co-founders identified a simple but critical problem in the insurance onboarding process and built a solution that quickly spread by word-of-mouth.

This episode explores the scrappy early days—lugging duct-taped booths to conferences, sharing hotel rooms, and reinvesting every dollar back into the business. Moe also reflects on their product philosophy of providing "insanely easy" tools for agents, the cultural shift in insurtech adoption, and how integration and AI are shaping the future of insurance sales technology.

Whether you’re an independent agent, startup founder, or someone fascinated by bootstrapped SaaS growth stories, this episode delivers valuable insight into building and scaling a tech solution inside a traditionally change-resistant industry.

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Thank you to our sponsors:

Traq AI!

To schedule a demo with Traq AI today -- https://calendly.com/traq/traq-ai-introduction-for-insuretechs-io

Mav

Sign up today to claim your exclusive offer: https://hiremav.com/insurtechs

Who said insurance isn’t sexy? Prove ‘em wrong – grab your merch today!

https://insurtechs-2.creator-spring.com

Follow Insurtechs.io :

https://www.linkedin.com/company/insurtechs/

https://www.youtube.com/@insurtechs

https://x.com/Insurtechs_io

https://www.instagram.com/insurtechs/

https://www.facebook.com/Insurtechs/

https://www.tiktok.com/@insurtechs

Listen to the Pod :

Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/insurtechs-io/id1775588982

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2jAGcKCT2v6rdWea3nvrYh

Pandora - https://www.pandora.com/podcast/insurtechsio/PC:1001094614

Jeff Shi :

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffshiva/

Moe Latif :

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlatif/

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Disclaimer: Some of the links in this video description are affiliate links. This means that if you click on one of the links and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Your support helps us create more content, and we truly appreciate it! Thank you for watching!

In this episode of Industry Voice, Jeff sits down with Greg Mallin, a seasoned payments executive and Co-Founder of Agave Pay, to explore how payments are being reimagined in the insurance space. Greg shares his 25+ year journey through fintech, credit, and consumer finance before entering the world of insurance and transforming a legacy system plagued by inefficiencies. Learn how Agave Pay is streamlining workflows, enabling digital payments for carriers, MGAs, and agencies, and solving real pain points in a trillion-dollar industry.

The conversation also dives into AI’s role in automating renewals and cancellations, the future of embedded payments, and the potential for deeper integration between CRMs and back-end accounting systems. If you're looking to understand how digital payments are reshaping the insurance value chain, this is the episode for you.

-----------------------------

Thank you to our sponsors:

Traq AI!

To schedule a demo with Traq AI today -- https://calendly.com/traq/traq-ai-introduction-for-insuretechs-io

Mav

Sign up today to claim your exclusive offer: https://hiremav.com/insurtechs

Who said insurance isn’t sexy? Prove ‘em wrong – grab your merch today!

https://insurtechs-2.creator-spring.com

Follow Insurtechs.io :

https://www.linkedin.com/company/insurtechs/

https://www.youtube.com/@insurtechs

https://x.com/Insurtechs_io

https://www.instagram.com/insurtechs/

https://www.facebook.com/Insurtechs/

https://www.tiktok.com/@insurtechs

Listen to the Pod :

Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/insurtechs-io/id1775588982

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2jAGcKCT2v6rdWea3nvrYh

Pandora - https://www.pandora.com/podcast/insurtechsio/PC:1001094614

Jeff Shi :

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffshiva/

Greg Mallin :

https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-mallin-4a95134/

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Disclaimer: Some of the links in this video description are affiliate links. This means that if you click on one of the links and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Your support helps us create more content, and we truly appreciate it! Thank you for watching!

In this episode, we sit down with Steve Anderson, best known for his work with The Bezos Letters, to explore how the past informs the future of innovation in the insurance industry. Steve shares his deep knowledge of insurance, technology, and risk, drawing from decades of experience to help founders, carriers, and investors understand what truly drives transformative growth. From Jeff Bezos’ leadership principles to the adoption curve of new technologies, this episode is packed with insights on how traditional insurers can embrace change and how insurtech founders can navigate resistance in legacy systems. Steve also discusses the biggest mistakes leaders make during transitions, the role of experimentation in innovation, and what Amazon can teach insurance about risk and reinvention. This is a can't-miss conversation for anyone passionate about the evolving insurance landscape.

-----------------------------

Thank you to our sponsors:

Traq AI!

To schedule a demo with Traq AI today -- https://calendly.com/traq/traq-ai-introduction-for-insuretechs-io

Mav

Sign up today to claim your exclusive offer: https://hiremav.com/insurtechs

Who said insurance isn’t sexy? Prove ‘em wrong – grab your merch today!

https://insurtechs-2.creator-spring.com

Follow Insurtechs.io :

https://www.linkedin.com/company/insurtechs/

https://www.youtube.com/@insurtechs

https://x.com/Insurtechs_io

https://www.instagram.com/insurtechs/

https://www.facebook.com/Insurtechs/

https://www.tiktok.com/@insurtechs

Listen to the Pod :

Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/insurtechs-io/id1775588982

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2jAGcKCT2v6rdWea3nvrYh

Pandora - https://www.pandora.com/podcast/insurtechsio/PC:1001094614

Jeff Shi :

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffshiva/

Steve Anderson :

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevetn/

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Disclaimer: Some of the links in this video description are affiliate links. This means that if you click on one of the links and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Your support helps us create more content, and we truly appreciate it! Thank you for watching!

In this episode of Industry Voice, Jeff Shi and Alex Moy welcome Kevin McGrath, co-founder of Meibel AI, for a deep dive into how product and engineering teams can operationalize generative AI with confidence. Kevin shares insights from decades of experience in infrastructure at scale, explains Meibel’s unique approach to AI reliability via measurement and confidence scoring, and reflects on how gen AI democratizes capability across industries. From building billion-dollar businesses with lean teams to identifying overlooked sectors ripe for AI transformation, this episode is packed with actionable insights for builders in insurtech, fintech, and beyond. Kevin also discusses U.S. innovation, AI regulation, and where he sees AI + robotics going next. If you're navigating the frontier of applied AI and want to build with reliability at scale, this conversation is a must-listen.

-----------------------------

Thank you to our sponsors:

Traq AI!

To schedule a demo with Traq AI today -- https://calendly.com/traq/traq-ai-introduction-for-insuretechs-io

Mav

Sign up today to claim your exclusive offer: https://hiremav.com/insurtechs

Who said insurance isn’t sexy? Prove ‘em wrong – grab your merch today!

https://insurtechs-2.creator-spring.com

Follow Insurtechs.io :

https://www.linkedin.com/company/insurtechs/

https://www.youtube.com/@insurtechs

https://x.com/Insurtechs_io

https://www.instagram.com/insurtechs/

https://www.facebook.com/Insurtechs/

https://www.tiktok.com/@insurtechs

Listen to the Pod :

Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/insurtechs-io/id1775588982

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2jAGcKCT2v6rdWea3nvrYh

Pandora - https://www.pandora.com/podcast/insurtechsio/PC:1001094614

Jeff Shi :

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffshiva/

Kevin McGrath :

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcgrathk/

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Disclaimer: Some of the links in this video description are affiliate links. This means that if you click on one of the links and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Your support helps us create more content, and we truly appreciate it! Thank you for watching!

In this episode of Insurance VC, PE, and M&A, host Jeff Shi sits down with Dave Wechsler, Principal at OMERS Ventures, for a deep dive into the evolving landscape of venture capital and insurtech. Dave shares his unconventional path from launching startups to leading one of the most active fintech and insurtech investment portfolios. He offers founders a transparent look into the venture capital mindset, including how funds decide where to invest, the importance of matching stage and thesis, and why most pitches get rejected. Dave and Jeff explore insurtech’s journey from 1.0’s disruptive beginnings to today’s 2.0 and the emerging 3.0 wave driven by AI innovation. The episode is packed with tactical advice on how to make your startup VC-ready, understanding lead versus follow investors, navigating board dynamics, and the realities of raising capital. If you’re a founder looking to understand the venture capital world or an operator curious about where insurtech is headed next, this conversation is a must-listen.

-----------------------------

Thank you to our sponsors:

Traq AI!

To schedule a demo with Traq AI today -- https://calendly.com/traq/traq-ai-introduction-for-insuretechs-io

Mav

Sign up today to claim your exclusive offer: https://hiremav.com/insurtechs

Who said insurance isn’t sexy? Prove ‘em wrong – grab your merch today!

https://insurtechs-2.creator-spring.com

Follow Insurtechs.io :

https://www.linkedin.com/company/insurtechs/

https://www.youtube.com/@insurtechs

https://x.com/Insurtechs_io

https://www.instagram.com/insurtechs/

https://www.facebook.com/Insurtechs/

https://www.tiktok.com/@insurtechs

Listen to the Pod :

Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/insurtechs-io/id1775588982

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2jAGcKCT2v6rdWea3nvrYh

Pandora - https://www.pandora.com/podcast/insurtechsio/PC:1001094614

Jeff Shi :

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffshiva/

Dave Wechsler :

https://www.linkedin.com/in/davewechsler/

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Disclaimer: Some of the links in this video description are affiliate links. This means that if you click on one of the links and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Your support helps us create more content, and we truly appreciate it! Thank you for watching!

In this episode of Industry Voice, Jeff Shi sits down with Andrew Correll and David Perez, the driving forces behind InsurTech ATX — Austin's thriving grassroots insurtech community. They share the origins of InsurTech ATX, which started as a humble meetup in 2016 and has grown into a vibrant, international hub for insurance and tech professionals.

Andrew and David recount how they transitioned into leadership during the pandemic and scaled the group through community engagement, thoughtful programming, and strategic sponsorships. The episode dives into how Austin’s unique mix of insurance talent and tech innovation fosters insurtech collaboration, highlighting notable local players like Steadily, Hippo, Loop, Assurely, Romely, and more.

Listeners will learn about their monthly events, the highly successful McGlinchey symposium, and their vision for 2025 — including more founder dinners, startup showcases, and expanded collaboration with industry stakeholders. This is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of insurtech, grassroots innovation, and the power of community-driven ecosystems.

-----------------------------

Thank you to our sponsors:

Traq AI!

To schedule a demo with Traq AI today -- https://calendly.com/traq/traq-ai-introduction-for-insuretechs-io

Mav

Sign up today to claim your exclusive offer: https://hiremav.com/insurtechs

Who said insurance isn’t sexy? Prove ‘em wrong – grab your merch today!

https://insurtechs-2.creator-spring.com

Follow Insurtechs.io :

https://www.linkedin.com/company/insurtechs/

https://www.youtube.com/@insurtechs

https://x.com/Insurtechs_io

https://www.instagram.com/insurtechs/

https://www.facebook.com/Insurtechs/

https://www.tiktok.com/@insurtechs

Listen to the Pod :

Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/insurtechs-io/id1775588982

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2jAGcKCT2v6rdWea3nvrYh

Pandora - https://www.pandora.com/podcast/insurtechsio/PC:1001094614

Jeff Shi :

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffshiva/

Andrew Correll :

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-r-correll/

David Perez :

https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidperezatx/

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Disclaimer: Some of the links in this video description are affiliate links. This means that if you click on one of the links and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Your support helps us create more content, and we truly appreciate it! Thank you for watching!

In this engaging episode of Industry Voice, host Jeff Shi sits down with serial entrepreneur and best-selling author Jeff Arnold. The conversation delves deep into Arnold’s dynamic journey through insurance, insurtech, private equity, and even professional sports ownership. Jeff shares how he went from stand-up comedy in North Hollywood to building and exiting multiple tech and insurance ventures, including RightSure, Lender Bridge, and Lender's Portal.

With ten books under his belt—five of them Amazon #1 bestsellers—Jeff reflects on how he transformed academic struggles into thought leadership through discipline and creativity. He opens up about his foray into semi-pro soccer team ownership, the real ROI of sports investments, and his current mission: giving back to the industry through mentorship and board roles in various insurtech and AI startups.

This episode is packed with authentic insights, entrepreneurial lessons, and inspiration for founders, investors, and insurance professionals looking to leave their mark on the industry. Whether you're curious about the evolution of insurtech, scaling agencies with AI, or writing your first book, this episode offers a wealth of takeaways.

-----------------------------

Thank you to our sponsors:

Traq AI!

To schedule a demo with Traq AI today -- https://calendly.com/traq/traq-ai-introduction-for-insuretechs-io

Mav

Sign up today to claim your exclusive offer: https://hiremav.com/insurtechs

Who said insurance isn’t sexy? Prove ‘em wrong – grab your merch today!

https://insurtechs-2.creator-spring.com

Follow Insurtechs.io :

https://www.linkedin.com/company/insurtechs/

https://www.youtube.com/@insurtechs

https://x.com/Insurtechs_io

https://www.instagram.com/insurtechs/

https://www.facebook.com/Insurtechs/

https://www.tiktok.com/@insurtechs

Listen to the Pod :

Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/insurtechs-io/id1775588982

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2jAGcKCT2v6rdWea3nvrYh

Pandora - https://www.pandora.com/podcast/insurtechsio/PC:1001094614

Jeff Shi :

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffshiva/

Jeff Arnold :

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rjefferyarnold/

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Disclaimer: Some of the links in this video description are affiliate links. This means that if you click on one of the links and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Your support helps us create more content, and we truly appreciate it! Thank you for watching!

In this insightful episode, Jeff Shi is joined by Michael Blankenship, Partner at Winston & Strawn and Managing Partner of the Houston office, to unpack the current and future landscape of IPOs, SPACs, and M&A within the insurtech and broader insurance industry. Michael brings nearly two decades of legal and capital markets expertise to the conversation, offering founders, executives, and investors practical guidance on public company readiness, regulatory navigation, and capital strategy.

The episode covers the evolution and regulation of SPACs, why the market cooled, and what a potential rebound might look like. Michael also explores how AI is transforming valuations in the insurtech space, why board composition matters for IPO success, and what legal firms like Winston & Strawn look for when working with high-growth insurance companies.

Whether you're a Series C founder preparing for the next big leap or an investor curious about market signals for 2025, this episode delivers critical insights on navigating capital markets in a rapidly evolving insurtech landscape.

-----------------------------

Thank you to our sponsors:

Traq AI!

To schedule a demo with Traq AI today -- https://calendly.com/traq/traq-ai-introduction-for-insuretechs-io

Mav

Sign up today to claim your exclusive offer: https://hiremav.com/insurtechs

Who said insurance isn’t sexy? Prove ‘em wrong – grab your merch today!

https://insurtechs-2.creator-spring.com

Follow Insurtechs.io :

https://www.linkedin.com/company/insurtechs/

https://www.youtube.com/@insurtechs

https://x.com/Insurtechs_io

https://www.instagram.com/insurtechs/

https://www.facebook.com/Insurtechs/

https://www.tiktok.com/@insurtechs

Listen to the Pod :

Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/insurtechs-io/id1775588982

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2jAGcKCT2v6rdWea3nvrYh

Pandora - https://www.pandora.com/podcast/insurtechsio/PC:1001094614

Jeff Shi :

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffshiva/

Michael Blankenship :

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeblankenship/

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Disclaimer: Some of the links in this video description are affiliate links. This means that if you click on one of the links and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Your support helps us create more content, and we truly appreciate it! Thank you for watching!

In this powerhouse episode of Insurance VC, PE, and MA, host Jeff Shi is joined by Michael Mensch and Colby Allen from Agency Brokerage Consultants to explore the complex, ever-evolving landscape of mergers and acquisitions in the independent insurance agency space. With over 500 transactions under their belt, Mike and Colby share insights that are invaluable for any agency owner thinking about growth, preparing for an exit, or understanding their agency's valuation. They dive deep into the foundational mistakes agency owners make, the difference between valuations and real-world value, and how to strategically prepare for an optimal exit. The conversation covers topics like owner dependence, growth strategy, poor sales management, and the impact of equity in modern M&A deals. They also address the reality of competing with PE-backed giants, navigating due diligence, and preparing for storms—both financial and literal—with special attention to the Florida insurance market. Whether you're two years from selling or two weeks into scaling, this episode is a masterclass in agency growth and transition strategy, featuring actionable advice and real-world war stories. If you're an insurance entrepreneur, this is one episode you can't afford to miss.Keywords: insurance agency M&A, selling an insurance agency, insurance agency valuation, insurtech mergers and acquisitions, independent agency exit planning, agency brokerage consultants, fractional CFO for insurance, insurance agency growth strategy, private equity insurance deals, insurtech market trends-----------------------------Thank you to our sponsors:Traq AI! To schedule a demo with Traq AI today -- https://calendly.com/traq/traq-ai-introduction-for-insuretechs-ioMavSign up today to claim your exclusive offer: https://hiremav.com/insurtechsWho said insurance isn’t sexy? Prove ‘em wrong – grab your merch today!https://insurtechs-2.creator-spring.comFollow Insurtechs.io :https://www.linkedin.com/company/insurtechs/https://www.youtube.com/@insurtechshttps://x.com/Insurtechs_iohttps://www.instagram.com/insurtechs/https://www.facebook.com/Insurtechs/https://www.tiktok.com/@insurtechsListen to the Pod :Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/insurtechs-io/id1775588982Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2jAGcKCT2v6rdWea3nvrYhPandora - https://www.pandora.com/podcast/insurtechsio/PC:1001094614Jeff Shi :https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffshiva/Mike Mensch :https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelmensch/Colby Allen :https://www.linkedin.com/in/colbytallen/-----------------------------Disclaimer: Some of the links in this video description are affiliate links. This means that if you click on one of the links and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Your support helps us create more content, and we truly appreciate it! Thank you for watching!

In this powerful episode, host Jeff Shi sits down with Tracy Lownsberry to unpack his evolution from a captive insurance agent to the founder of the largest social media community for annuity professionals. Tracy shares how his early experiences shaped a deeper commitment to transparency, education-based sales, and doing business the right way. He dives into building Annuity Giants Agents Academy, a subscription-based training model that’s reshaping how agents and advisors learn about annuity sales — without the usual recruiting strings attached.

Tracy opens up about leveraging AI and CRM tools to scale his practice, the philosophy behind designing optimized lead funnels via Facebook and social platforms, and why his community-driven approach is gaining traction. He also discusses what sets top-performing annuity advisors apart in 2024, how his team builds sustainable virtual businesses, and why ethical product recommendations matter more than ever.

Whether you're an aspiring insurance agent, a seasoned annuity advisor, or a financial services leader exploring scalable growth strategies, this episode delivers unmatched value on building legacy, mastering annuity solutions, and optimizing the sales journey through real education and purpose.

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Thank you to our sponsors:

Traq AI!

To schedule a demo with Traq AI today -- https://calendly.com/traq/traq-ai-introduction-for-insuretechs-io

Mav

Sign up today to claim your exclusive offer: https://hiremav.com/insurtechs

Who said insurance isn’t sexy? Prove ‘em wrong – grab your merch today!

https://insurtechs-2.creator-spring.com

Follow Insurtechs.io :

https://www.linkedin.com/company/insurtechs/

https://www.youtube.com/@insurtechs

https://x.com/Insurtechs_io

https://www.instagram.com/insurtechs/

https://www.facebook.com/Insurtechs/

https://www.tiktok.com/@insurtechs

Listen to the Pod :

Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/insurtechs-io/id1775588982

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2jAGcKCT2v6rdWea3nvrYh

Pandora - https://www.pandora.com/podcast/insurtechsio/PC:1001094614

Jeff Shi :

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffshiva/

Tracy Lownsberry :

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-lownsberry/

-----------------------------

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this video description are affiliate links. This means that if you click on one of the links and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Your support helps us create more content, and we truly appreciate it! Thank you for watching!