Willis Towers Watson Public : Record-high InsurTech funding of $7.1 billion achieved in 2020 after Q4 investments total $2.1 billion

LONDON, January 28, 2021 - Despite the challenges faced by the (re)insurance sector in 2020 and the relatively slow start to InsurTech funding for the year, global investment in the sector reached a new accumulated annual high of $7.1 billion for 2020, through 377 deals, the most in any year to date, according to the new Quarterly InsurTech Briefing from Willis Towers Watson, a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company (NASDAQ: WLTW).

Compared with 2019, total funding increased by 12%, while deal volume increased by 20%. InsurTechs raised $2.1 billion across 103 deals during Q4, with 67% of the funds attracted by property/casualty-focused firms. Life & health InsurTechs saw a modest decrease in deal share of 1.6 percentage-points in the quarter, and an 8.4 percentage-point decline in total funding over Q3, 2020.

Q4 fundraisings in excess of $100 million by later-stage companies Hippo, Unqork, Waterdrop, Oscar Health, Bind Benefits, and Newfront Insurance totaled $1.1 billion, as early-stage deals declined to 47% of the total from 57% in Q3, 2020. Mid-stage Series B or C deal flow surged somewhat to reach 29% of the total number. InsurTechs from 23 countries attracted investor capital, including in previously dormant Hong Kong, Brazil, and Switzerland.

Dr. Andrew Johnston, global head of InsurTech at Willis Re, said: 'While our industry is facing extreme issues relating to COVID-19, we also have an unprecedented level of access to technology and technologists who can help it prevail during these times of instability. Many InsurTechs probably feel vindicated that the insurance industry has been forced to realize the value of technology. The issue for InsurTechs now is to survive months, possibly years, of market uncertainty.'

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While our industry is facing extreme issues relating to COVID-19, we also have an unprecedented level of access to technology and technologists who can help it prevail during these times of instability.'

Dr. Andrew Johnston | Global head of InsurTech at Willis Re

The latest Briefing, which focuses on InsurTech for life, accident and health (re)insurance, opens with a detailed exploration of the segment. The Briefing includes case studies of the InsurTechs Afficiency,a digital life insurance platform that allows new products to be digitized and distributed rapidly; Inclusivity Solutions, focused on hospital cash products and medical association gap protections for emerging markets; Decent, which aims to offer affordable health insurance for underserved groups; dacadoo, which operates a motivational digital health engagement platform; Player's Health, a provider of digital risk management services to sports organizations; Abi Global Health, a medical micro-consultation service; and Global IQX, which automates new business and renewal processes in the employee and voluntary benefits sector.

The Briefing includes discussions with Stephen Goldstein, Vice President of RGAX, the InsurTech investor and incubator of life reinsurer RGA; with Adrian Gore, founder of insurer Discovery, which through its Vitality program is driving behavioral improvement among insureds and integrates resulting changes into insurance pricing; and with Santosh Gon, Chief Information Officer for Aviva Singapore, who leads development of the company's technology environment.

The Briefing also includes a deep-dive into the recent $14 million Series A investment in Coherent, which provides digital platforms and data intelligence engines, and an exploration of Willis Towers Watson's Optimum SAA, a web-based platform for strategic asset allocation that helps users find their optimal weightings to achieve better risk management and investment return.

Finally, the issue carries an article by Ryan Jessell, Senior Director and Head of Individual Marketplace Strategy at Willis Towers Watson, on the movement to electronic enrolment, and the new roles of agents and brokers. The article is followed by Jessell's discussion with John Jevin, Senior Director, Information Technology at Aetna.

Jessell said: 'The initiatives winning priority among life and health insurers' technology departments are those that support agents and brokers by simplifying their efforts to help customers purchase and manage insurance policies. That said, the profile of the agent/broker market has continued its evolution, with a proliferation of large-scale call- center and web-based agencies experiencing explosive growth. The key for InsurTechs looking for opportunity is to understand the role they can play in facilitating or enhancing connections along the value chain.'

View the full report here.

About Willis Re

One of the world's leading reinsurance brokers, Willis Re is known for its world-class analytics capabilities, which it combines with its reinsurance expertise in a seamless, integrated offering that can help clients increase the value of their businesses. Willis Re serves the risk management and risk transfer needs of a diverse, global client base that includes all of the world's top insurance and reinsurance carriers as well as national catastrophe schemes in many countries around the world. The broker's global team of experts offers services and advice that can help clients make better reinsurance decisions and negotiate optimum terms. For more information, visit Reinsurance.

About Willis Towers Watson

Willis Towers Watson (NASDAQ: WLTW) is a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company that helps clients around the world turn risk into a path for growth. With roots dating to 1828, Willis Towers Watson has 45,000 employees serving more than 140 countries and markets. We design and deliver solutions that manage risk, optimise benefits, cultivate talent, and expand the power of capital to protect and strengthen institutions and individuals. Our unique perspective allows us to see the critical intersections between talent, assets and ideas - the dynamic formula that drives business performance. Together, we unlock potential.