FS Brew Episode

Marsh Launches Coverpro.ae for UAE SMEs + Global Insurtech Funding Surges on AIIn this episode of FS Brew: News with Analysis, the hosts discuss Marsh UAE’s launch of CoverPro.ae, a new retail website aimed at small and medium enterprises, marking a shift toward digital-first distribution and raising questions about how Marsh will market to SMEs. They then review the Global Insurtech Funding Report (Be Insure), noting insurtech funding rose 19.5% year-on-year to $5.1B, driven largely by AI-focus...

How Novo AI Uses AI to Cut Claims Leakage: Julien Condamines on Fraud, Waste & Abuse | FS BrewRenjit and co-host Vidya welcome Julien Condamines, co-founder of Novo AI, to the FS Brew Insurtech podcast to discuss why he chose claims as the starting point for innovation and how Novo AI now focuses on reducing fraud, waste, and abuse. Julien describes insurers facing rising medical inflation, legacy claims operations that fail to capture usable data, and regulatory premium caps that worsen loss ra...

AI in Commercial Insurance, Fully Autonomous Carriers, and Emirates’ War Risk Coverage | FS Drew’s News + AnalysisIn this episode of FS Brew's News with analysis, Renjit and Vidya discuss three insurance developments shaped by AI and geopolitical risk: insurtech Shepherd’s $42M Series B and its AI-driven commercial insurance platform that pulls real-time data from tools like Procore and Autodesk to speed underwriting for AI economy infrastructure; US firm di Primus Holdings’ launch of “Lucy,” a ...

War Risk Cover Pulled in Strait of Hormuz, Hippo Turns Profitable, Aon Tests Stablecoin Premiums | FS Brew NewsVidya and Renjit discuss insurance developments amid the Iran–Israel–US conflict, noting major insurers have withdrawn war risk cover for ships in the Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf, pushing premiums from about 0.2–0.25% of vessel value to 1% or more and threatening fuel prices and supply chains as a major share of global oil transits the strait. They cover Hippo Insurance’s first fu...

FS Brew January Roundup: AI InsurTech Boom & GCC Regulatory ChangesWelcome to FS Brew, the region's premier podcast for insurance enthusiasts! In this January news and analysis episode, hosts Vidya, founder of Forward, and Renjit, partner at Futureu Strategy Group, tackle the latest developments in the insurance industry. Discover how AI-native carrier Corgi secured a $108 million funding round to revolutionize insurance for startups. Dive into the impact of new GCC regulations on brokers and MG...

Welcome to FS Brew, the UAE and Middle East's first podcast dedicated to all things insurance and InsureTech. In this episode, hosts Renjit and Vidya are joined by Neeraj Gupta, CEO of Policy Bazaar UAE, for an insightful discussion on the latest innovations and challenges in the insurance landscape. Neeraj highlights Policy Bazaar's customer-centric initiatives, including the NRI Healthcare plan and the PB Advantage program. The conversation covers regulatory updates, the role of AI in the indu...

Navigating the Future of Energy and Insurance: Insights from FS Brew Podcast and MEECON 2025In this must-listen episode of the FS Brew Podcast, co-hosted by Vidya and Renjit in collaboration with MEECON 2025, experts from the insurance and energy sectors reveal crucial insights on the evolving landscape in the Middle East. Featuring industry leaders like Sunil Machado from Lockton Insurance Brokers, Sam Foster from Lloyd Warwick, Alan Purbrick from MEECON, Julie Kimmens from Star Insurance Compa...

Integrating Digital Wellness & Insurance: The Future of Employee WellbeingIn this special episode of the FS Group podcast, we host a panel discussion on the critical topic of health, specifically focusing on integrating digital wellness and insurance. Our guests are Jasmyne Rana, a mental health practitioner and consultant, and Mirka Strano, Regional Director for Employee Benefits Consulting at Howden for the Middle East and Africa. They explore the future of employee wellbeing and personalized ...

Building Trust in Insurance: CII's Vision and Pathway for the Middle East & CSAIn this episode, we are delighted to host a representative from the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) to discuss their role in enhancing the insurance and financial planning professions across the Middle East and Central and South Asia (CSA) regions. We explore the organization's goals and priorities for the next three to five years, including increasing their regional footprint, deepening relationships, and hosting...

Innovating Health Insurance with Vita Virtues – An Interview with CEO Miro Fok | FS Brew PodcastJoin us on this episode of FS Brew, the Middle East’s first podcast dedicated to the world of insurance and Insurtech in the UAE and broader Middle East. Hosts Vidya and Renjit welcome Miro Fok, the CEO and founder of Vita Virtues, a pioneering Insurtech firm specializing in digital health insurance solutions. Dive into Miro’s entrepreneurial journey, inspired by his sales background and a unique visi...

Exploring Insurance Innovation with Koy Nien Lee, CEO of Protego Insurance | FS Brew PodcastWelcome to another episode of FS Brew, the region's first podcast dedicated to insurance and Insurtech in the UAE and the Middle East. In this episode, hosts Vidya and Renjit Philip sit down with Koy Nien Lee, the CEO of Protego Insurance, backed by RAK Bank. Koy shares his captivating journey from engineering in Singapore to leading Protego Insurance in the UAE, highlighting his goals to revolutionize th...

Welcome to FS Brew, the UAE and Middle East’s first podcast dedicated to insurance and Insurtech.In this episode, Renjit Philip and Vidya Veerapandian sit down with Jonathan Cooper, CEO and Founder of WIS Group (Worldwide Insurance Solutions).Jonathan shares his journey from working in claims at a local insurer to building an innovative Insurtech company offering travel, cyber, pet, and gadget insurance.We dive into: • The rise of personalized travel insurance • How AI is reshaping policy delive...

Exploring InsurTech and Innovation with Sabine VanderLinden | FS Brew PodcastWelcome to the FS Brew Podcast, the UAE and Middle East's first podcast dedicated to all things insurance and InsurTech. In this episode, hosts Vidya, and Renjit are joined by Sabine VanderLinden, a renowned corporate strategist and current CEO of Alchemy Crew. Sabine shares her 25-year journey in the industry and discusses her work with Alchemy Crew, a venture lab focused on accelerating innovation in the insurance sec...

Innovations & Insights in Middle East Insurance with Howden's Richard Market | FS Brew PodcastIn this episode of FS Brew, hosts Renjit Phillip and Vidya Veerapandian welcome Richard Mockett, CEO of Howden Insurance Brokers for the Middle East and Africa. Discover how Richard transitioned from a DJ to a leader in the insurance industry, and delve into Howden's strategic expansion in the Middle East and Africa. The dialogue covers Howden's approach to cybersecurity and climate risk resilience, inn...

Welcome to FS Brew, the UAE and Middle East’s first podcast dedicated to insurance and InsureTech. In this episode, hosts Renjit Philip, a boutique consulting firm partner, and Vidya Veerapandian, founder of Forward, engage in a riveting conversation with Mr. Fareed Lutfi, the legendary Secretary General of the Emirates Insurance Association and Gulf Insurance Federation.With over 40 years of industry experience, Mr. Fareed Lutfi shares his journey into insurance, the pivotal roles of industry f...

The Future of Insurance: Digital Transformation, Social Media, and Innovation with Dr. Robin Kiera Welcome to FS Brew, the first podcast in the UAE and the wider Middle East focused on insurance and InsureTech. In this episode, hosts Vidya Veerapandian, founder of Forward, and Renjit Philip, a consultant in M&A funding and go-to-market strategies for startups, sit down with Dr. Robin Kiera. Dr. Kiera is a prominent voice in the insurance industry, an advocate for its digital transformation, and ...

Insurtech Innovation & Collaboration: Insights from VC Expert Minh Q. TranWelcome to FSBrew, the Middle East's premiere podcast on insurance and insurtech. In this episode, hosts Vidya and Ranjit Phillip speak with Minh Q. Tran, a seasoned venture capitalist with over 25 years of experience in tech and finance, particularly focusing on Insurtech, FinTech, and PropTech. Minh leads Mandalore Partners which specializes in corporate venture capital as a service, helping insurance companies strateg...

Join us on FS Brew, the UAE's first podcast dedicated to insurance and Insurtech in the Middle East, as co-hosts Vidya Veerapandian and Renjit Philip engage in a deep conversation with Ayman El Hout, CEO of Marsh McLennan in the Middle East. With over 40 years of industry experience, Ayman provides insights into his career journey, the evolution of Marsh McLennan in the region, and the future landscape of the insurance sector. Key topics include the importance of AI, the challenges of medica...

In this episode of F S Brew, Vidya and Renjit interview Hasham Piperdy, GM of KSA and Director at Badri Consultancy, discussing the remarkable growth in the KSA insurance market. Hasham shares insights into the factors driving this growth, from an industry valuation of around 36-37 billion in 2020 to a staggering 64 billion last year. This includes the role of regulatory changes, successful campaigns to insure more drivers, and the potential of renewable energy projects. The conversation als...

Digital Transformation in Insurance: Insights from Dark Horse Digital SolutionsIn this episode of FSBrew, we sit down with the team from Dark Horse Digital Solutions, including Naren, Kishore, and Utkarsh, to delve into their journey and perspectives on digital transformation. They discuss the founding of Dark Horse, the evolving role of IT in business, and the significance of change management. The conversation spans across different sectors with a particular focus on the nuances of digital t...

FS Brew: Exploring UAE's New Broker Regulations and Insurtech InnovationsIn this episode of FS Brew, hosts Vidya and Renjit discuss the latest in the UAE's insurance and Insurtech landscape. They delve into new broker regulations issued by the Central Bank of UAE, focusing on premium collections and outsourcing rules that aim to bring stability to the industry. The hosts also spotlight emerging Insurtechs such as LookInsure and Shory, highlighting their innovations and market strategies. Addit...

In this episode of FS Brew, we sit down with Gabriel Lazaro, EVP at Chubb Overseas General, overseeing APAC, EMEA, and LATAM regions. Gabriel shares his journey into the insurance industry, the role of Chubb Studio in the group's strategy, and the evolving insurtech landscape. We cover diverse topics, including:- Gabriel’s transition from marketing to insurance - The role of Chubb Studio in embedded insurance and partnerships with insurtechs- How embedded insurance is gaining traction in b...

Navigating the Insurance Industry with Ken Maw: Insights and LeadershipWelcome to FS Brew, where we dive into the world of insurance and Insurtech in the UAE and the broader Middle East. In this episode, hosts Renjit Philip and Vidya Veerapandian interview Ken Moore, Managing Director at Al Futtaim Willis. With over four decades of experience in the #insurance sector, Ken shares his unique journey from working in the food industry to becoming a key figure in insurance. He discusses the evolution...

In this episode of FSBrew, the Middle East's premier podcast on insurance and insurtech, we sit down with Sarbvir Singh, Director & Joint Group CEO of PB Fintech (and PolicyBazaar), India's leading insurance marketplace.Sarbvir shares his journey from investment banking to leading one of India's most successful insurtech companies. He offers unique insights into PolicyBazaar's growth story, from its startup roots to becoming a publicly listed entity.Discover how PolicyBazaar is leveraging AI a...