American Family Ventures

American Family Ventures is the venture capital arm of American Family Insurance, established in 2010 and headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. The firm focuses on early-stage investments, primarily in seed to Series B rounds, and typically commits between $0.5 million and $2 million in startups. Its investment strategy targets companies that are innovating within the insurance industry and related sectors, including FinTech, data analytics, IoT, and cybersecurity. By seeking to enhance American Family's core insurance business, American Family Ventures aims to foster the development of technologies and business models that improve safety, efficiency, and quality of life. The firm also emphasizes active partnerships and collaboration within its extensive InsurTech network to help create category-leading companies.

Armbrust, Clayton

Principal

Josh Aycock

Principal

Jeremy Epstein

Senior Analyst

Amanda Joseph

Principal

Cooper LaRue

Associate

Mike Mansell

Principal

Tiana Pidgeon

Senior Associate

Vik Sasi

Associate

Stephen Todres

Senior Associate

Past deals in InsurTech

Elysian

Convertible Note in 2024
At Elysian, we are reshaping the future of insurance claims handling by seamlessly merging human expertise with frontier AI intelligence. Combining decades of industry experience in both insurance and technology, we are building an AI-first platform from the ground-up to empower high caliber claims talent with technological solutions leveraging claim intelligence. We enable the strategic growth of our clients through exceptional cradle-to-grave claim services and deliver exceptional outcomes, including real-time observability, cost optimization, and customer satisfaction. We're not just building "another insurtech" or another "AI point-solution." Elysian is here to break traditional boundaries, thoughtfully merging technology and human expertise to create a future where claims are no longer a burden, but a solution.

Ledgebrook

Series B in 2024
Ledgebrook is a technology-driven managing general agent (MGA) focused on modernizing specialty insurance for wholesale brokers. The company provides a streamlined quoting experience through its API-powered platform, which utilizes artificial intelligence for risk assessment and data-driven decision-making. By eliminating manual processes and lengthy underwriting delays, Ledgebrook enables brokers to secure competitive pricing and access a diverse range of specialty products, ultimately helping them close deals more efficiently and enhance their client portfolios. Led by experienced professionals from the insurance industry, Ledgebrook aims to evolve into a globally diversified reinsurer, leveraging modern technology to reshape the insurance landscape.

XP Health

Series B in 2024
XP Health is a health tech startup founded in 2019 by Antonio Moraes and James Wong, specializing in an AI-powered vision benefits platform. The platform is designed to enhance vision care for employees and their families by offering a virtual-first approach that integrates seamlessly with existing vision insurance plans. Utilizing advanced machine learning and facial recognition technology, XP Health recommends eyewear frames from leading designers such as Tom Ford and Ray-Ban with high accuracy. The service includes features like online vision acuity tests, prescription renewals, and access to in-person eye exams, ensuring comprehensive vision care at reduced costs. XP Health collaborates with companies like Chegg, Zenefits, and Sequoia Consulting Group to provide these innovative benefits, striving to improve the overall accessibility and quality of vision care.

Ledgebrook

Series A in 2024
Ledgebrook is a technology-driven managing general agent (MGA) focused on modernizing specialty insurance for wholesale brokers. The company provides a streamlined quoting experience through its API-powered platform, which utilizes artificial intelligence for risk assessment and data-driven decision-making. By eliminating manual processes and lengthy underwriting delays, Ledgebrook enables brokers to secure competitive pricing and access a diverse range of specialty products, ultimately helping them close deals more efficiently and enhance their client portfolios. Led by experienced professionals from the insurance industry, Ledgebrook aims to evolve into a globally diversified reinsurer, leveraging modern technology to reshape the insurance landscape.

Ledgebrook

Seed Round in 2022
Ledgebrook is a technology-driven managing general agent (MGA) focused on modernizing specialty insurance for wholesale brokers. The company provides a streamlined quoting experience through its API-powered platform, which utilizes artificial intelligence for risk assessment and data-driven decision-making. By eliminating manual processes and lengthy underwriting delays, Ledgebrook enables brokers to secure competitive pricing and access a diverse range of specialty products, ultimately helping them close deals more efficiently and enhance their client portfolios. Led by experienced professionals from the insurance industry, Ledgebrook aims to evolve into a globally diversified reinsurer, leveraging modern technology to reshape the insurance landscape.

Branch

Series C in 2022
Branch Financial, Inc. is an insurance agency based in Columbus, Ohio, founded in 2017 by Steve Lekas and Joe Emison. The company specializes in home and auto insurance, offering a range of products including renters and umbrella insurance, which can be added to auto policies. Utilizing advanced technology, Branch streamlines the process of bundling home and auto insurance online, aiming to enhance accessibility and affordability for its customers. By leveraging community resources, Branch seeks to transform the insurance landscape, making it easier for individuals to obtain necessary coverage.

Pendella Technologies

Seed Round in 2022
Pendella Technologies, established in 2018 and headquartered in Fort Myers, Florida, specializes in streamlining employee benefits and individual insurance solutions. The company operates a virtual portal that connects businesses with health insurance providers, offering employee benefit plans and income protection programs. Pendella's core solution leverages artificial intelligence and big data to automate underwriting, enabling users to compare plans, obtain quotes, and implement group insurance programs efficiently. Additionally, Pendella provides instant, no-medical-exam life and disability insurance to individuals through partnerships with top-rated carriers, making financial protection accessible to a broader range of people.

Branch

Series B in 2021
Branch Financial, Inc. is an insurance agency based in Columbus, Ohio, founded in 2017 by Steve Lekas and Joe Emison. The company specializes in home and auto insurance, offering a range of products including renters and umbrella insurance, which can be added to auto policies. Utilizing advanced technology, Branch streamlines the process of bundling home and auto insurance online, aiming to enhance accessibility and affordability for its customers. By leveraging community resources, Branch seeks to transform the insurance landscape, making it easier for individuals to obtain necessary coverage.

Clearcover

Series D in 2021
Clearcover, Inc. is a digital car insurance provider based in Chicago, Illinois, established in 2016. The company focuses on delivering affordable car insurance products through an online platform and agents, utilizing an API-first approach to enhance customer experience. Clearcover leverages advanced technology to streamline the insurance process, minimizing costs by avoiding expensive advertising, which allows them to offer better coverage at lower rates. The company's commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction has garnered recognition, including accolades from Glassdoor and Inc. Magazine for its workplace culture.

LeaseLock

Series B in 2021
LeaseLock Inc. is an insurance technology company that provides lease guarantor services for renters by replacing traditional security deposits with insurance. Founded in 2013 and based in Marina Del Rey, California, LeaseLock streamlines the rental process through its online application, eliminating the need for cosigners and facilitating instant lease approvals. The company's flagship product utilizes artificial intelligence to optimize coverage based on property history, resulting in significant improvements in conversion rates and reduced vacancy for property owners. LeaseLock has insured over $1 billion in leases, backed by insurance rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best. The company has strategic partnerships with notable investors, including SoftBank Ventures Asia and Liberty Mutual Strategic Ventures, which support its mission to enhance the rental experience and minimize financial risks for apartment operators.

Branch

Series A in 2020
Branch Financial, Inc. is an insurance agency based in Columbus, Ohio, founded in 2017 by Steve Lekas and Joe Emison. The company specializes in home and auto insurance, offering a range of products including renters and umbrella insurance, which can be added to auto policies. Utilizing advanced technology, Branch streamlines the process of bundling home and auto insurance online, aiming to enhance accessibility and affordability for its customers. By leveraging community resources, Branch seeks to transform the insurance landscape, making it easier for individuals to obtain necessary coverage.

Bold Penguin

Series B in 2020
Bold Penguin is a commercial insurance exchange that connects customers, agents, and carriers to match the right quote in record time. With a heavy focus on the agents, Bold Penguin pushes the boundaries of user experience for businesses, an easy tool for agents, and a streamlined process of underwriting for carriers. The company operates an Exchange which utilizes a set of solutions to identify, triage, quote, and bind commercial insurance in a highly efficient and tech-enabled way. It plans to deliver on the platform enhancements which include more flexibility in how the core technology is leveraged by enterprise customers, expanding in excess and surplus lines. The Company offers a streamlined process of underwriting for carriers in commercial property and casualty insurance services. Bold Penguin was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, USA.

Clearcover

Series C in 2020
Clearcover, Inc. is a digital car insurance provider based in Chicago, Illinois, established in 2016. The company focuses on delivering affordable car insurance products through an online platform and agents, utilizing an API-first approach to enhance customer experience. Clearcover leverages advanced technology to streamline the insurance process, minimizing costs by avoiding expensive advertising, which allows them to offer better coverage at lower rates. The company's commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction has garnered recognition, including accolades from Glassdoor and Inc. Magazine for its workplace culture.

Protecht

Series A in 2019
Protecht, Inc., also known as TicketGuardian, specializes in developing insurtech products tailored for the consumer experience economy. Founded in 2016, the company offers a range of ticketing and registration platforms that enable clients to manage inventory, revenue, and fan engagement while providing real-time data and payment processing capabilities. Protecht focuses on delivering enterprise-level technology that ensures security, scalability, and data protection. With a strong foundation in fraud, risk management, insurance, finance, and payments, the company leverages embedded technologies to enhance financial and inventory control for its partners, ultimately fostering customer engagement and increasing conversion rates. Protecht is headquartered in Newport Beach, California.

LeaseLock

Series A in 2019
LeaseLock Inc. is an insurance technology company that provides lease guarantor services for renters by replacing traditional security deposits with insurance. Founded in 2013 and based in Marina Del Rey, California, LeaseLock streamlines the rental process through its online application, eliminating the need for cosigners and facilitating instant lease approvals. The company's flagship product utilizes artificial intelligence to optimize coverage based on property history, resulting in significant improvements in conversion rates and reduced vacancy for property owners. LeaseLock has insured over $1 billion in leases, backed by insurance rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best. The company has strategic partnerships with notable investors, including SoftBank Ventures Asia and Liberty Mutual Strategic Ventures, which support its mission to enhance the rental experience and minimize financial risks for apartment operators.

Teraki

Venture Round in 2019
Teraki GmbH, founded in 2014 and based in Berlin, Germany, specializes in software solutions that enhance data management for insurance, predictive maintenance, and autonomous driving applications. The company's platform facilitates access to high-quality data while ensuring low-latency performance, which is crucial for meeting strict service level agreements. Teraki's technology supports various applications, including usage-based insurance, fleet management, and advanced driver assistance systems. By focusing on edge processing and artificial intelligence, Teraki enables clients to build, train, and improve sensor-driven AI models, automating the training process and enhancing accuracy. This innovative approach allows for efficient selection of relevant sensor information on low-power hardware, making previously impossible applications feasible within the automotive sector.

Avinew

Seed Round in 2019
Avinew, Inc. develops artificial intelligence and telematics-based software solutions specifically for the insurance industry. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Westlake Village, California, the company focuses on providing auto insurance services tailored for autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles. Avinew's offerings include usage-based insurance programs that leverage driving data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to assess premium discount eligibility. By utilizing these advanced technologies, Avinew aims to enhance road safety while delivering value to vehicle drivers and fleet operators. The company was previously known as DRIAV, Inc. and rebranded to Avinew, Inc. in January 2019.

Clearcover

Series B in 2019
Clearcover, Inc. is a digital car insurance provider based in Chicago, Illinois, established in 2016. The company focuses on delivering affordable car insurance products through an online platform and agents, utilizing an API-first approach to enhance customer experience. Clearcover leverages advanced technology to streamline the insurance process, minimizing costs by avoiding expensive advertising, which allows them to offer better coverage at lower rates. The company's commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction has garnered recognition, including accolades from Glassdoor and Inc. Magazine for its workplace culture.

Protecht

Series A in 2018
Protecht, Inc., also known as TicketGuardian, specializes in developing insurtech products tailored for the consumer experience economy. Founded in 2016, the company offers a range of ticketing and registration platforms that enable clients to manage inventory, revenue, and fan engagement while providing real-time data and payment processing capabilities. Protecht focuses on delivering enterprise-level technology that ensures security, scalability, and data protection. With a strong foundation in fraud, risk management, insurance, finance, and payments, the company leverages embedded technologies to enhance financial and inventory control for its partners, ultimately fostering customer engagement and increasing conversion rates. Protecht is headquartered in Newport Beach, California.

LeaseLock

Series A in 2018
LeaseLock Inc. is an insurance technology company that provides lease guarantor services for renters by replacing traditional security deposits with insurance. Founded in 2013 and based in Marina Del Rey, California, LeaseLock streamlines the rental process through its online application, eliminating the need for cosigners and facilitating instant lease approvals. The company's flagship product utilizes artificial intelligence to optimize coverage based on property history, resulting in significant improvements in conversion rates and reduced vacancy for property owners. LeaseLock has insured over $1 billion in leases, backed by insurance rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best. The company has strategic partnerships with notable investors, including SoftBank Ventures Asia and Liberty Mutual Strategic Ventures, which support its mission to enhance the rental experience and minimize financial risks for apartment operators.

Bunker

Series A in 2017
Bunker is a prominent provider of insurance compliance and verification solutions. The company has developed a digital business insurance platform that enhances contract-related insurance experiences for enterprises, suppliers, and independent contractors. By offering a comprehensive marketplace for contract-related insurance, Bunker identifies small business insurance buyers and delivers tailored policies precisely when needed. The platform integrates Smart Certificate of Insurance (COI) screening and compliance verification, streamlining the insurance process for its users. Through its innovative approach, Bunker aims to improve the overall insurance experience, particularly in the context of contingent staffing models.

Bunker

Seed Round in 2016
Bunker is a prominent provider of insurance compliance and verification solutions. The company has developed a digital business insurance platform that enhances contract-related insurance experiences for enterprises, suppliers, and independent contractors. By offering a comprehensive marketplace for contract-related insurance, Bunker identifies small business insurance buyers and delivers tailored policies precisely when needed. The platform integrates Smart Certificate of Insurance (COI) screening and compliance verification, streamlining the insurance process for its users. Through its innovative approach, Bunker aims to improve the overall insurance experience, particularly in the context of contingent staffing models.

CoverHound

Series C in 2015
CoverHound, Inc., operating as CoverHound Insurance Solutions, is a technology company based in San Francisco, California, that provides a comparison shopping platform for car and property insurance. Founded in 2010, CoverHound connects consumers with national insurance carriers and local agents, allowing them to compare accurate rates and find policies that suit their individual needs. The platform is designed to offer transparent access to insurance options, providing smart recommendations and personalized quotes without spamming users. With a focus on user control and data privacy, CoverHound facilitates a seamless experience for customers seeking to shop for and purchase insurance.

Zero Locus

Seed Round in 2015
Zero Locus Inc. is a software company based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, specializing in predictive analytics and advanced data analytics systems. The company focuses on helping clients across various sectors, including insurance, health, retail, and finance, to make sense of large and complex data sets. By providing tools that streamline the analysis process, Zero Locus enables businesses to extract valuable insights from vast amounts of data, facilitating informed decision-making and enhancing competitiveness in their respective industries.

CoverHound

Series B in 2015
CoverHound, Inc., operating as CoverHound Insurance Solutions, is a technology company based in San Francisco, California, that provides a comparison shopping platform for car and property insurance. Founded in 2010, CoverHound connects consumers with national insurance carriers and local agents, allowing them to compare accurate rates and find policies that suit their individual needs. The platform is designed to offer transparent access to insurance options, providing smart recommendations and personalized quotes without spamming users. With a focus on user control and data privacy, CoverHound facilitates a seamless experience for customers seeking to shop for and purchase insurance.
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