41 A closing note from Sabine VanderLinden Over 36 months on and it looks like InsurTech will remain a force for good. As we continue to work, support and interact with a multitude of early The market is evolving at a fast pace and it is now empowering teams to adopters, insurance brands and investors, we will pursue our vision of en- address the digital transformation agenda in unconventional and innova- abling true collaboration between innovative gems and the insurance sec- tive ways. Many insurers have now dedicated significant resources and are tor we all care so much for. building departments of experts who are able to screen and interact with start-ups, from early stage to mature ones. Furthermore, they are doing I can confirm that there are 1000s of highly effective and interesting start- this in an increasingly smart manner as they identify ventures that show ups that are incredibly relevant for a changing insurance landscape. This the best fit and alignment with their strategic direction and imperatives. year we have seen an increasing number of InsurTechs coming out of stealth mode, aiming to tackle more complex often internally focussed While we will continue to hear and read about disruptive InsurTech brands, problems, and a multitude of technologies is at the core of this enablement. for most it will be their ability to partner with insurance providers that will determine their success. Collaboration is still very much the glue that holds It is an incredibly exciting time for everyone involved in InsurTech and I can- the ecosystem together and the oil that will keep it running smoothly. not wait to see where we stand in one year’s time. One thing is for certain - it won’t be where we are now! As digital first personal lines platforms become more pervasive, the more complex needs of commercial lines providers will become a key focus area for start-ups looking at technology as a means to improving internal pro- cesses across the insurance value chain. It is likely that we will see InsurTechs moving their focus towards delivering fuller stack platforms. As this happens the mid and back office will gradu- ally become more prevalent as will robotics-led servicing, advanced pricing techniques, precision risk scoring, and digital claims platforms focussed on addressing specific weaknesses across ecosystems of interactions.