Image courtesy of Futures Group
A major thesis at Daily Fintech is that digital financial inclusion is driving what we call “first the Rest then the West“. This reversal of the flow of innovation is a big 21st century megatrend. We have already described this happening in mobile payments thanks to real consumer needs and a leapfrogging over old technology. This may also be happening in Insurance, which is a key plank to a middle class life. Both China & India have a growing middle class. So the demand is strong and the lack of a big established insurance industry offers the opportunity to leapfrog the West in the use of new technology and business models.
China
Zennon Kapron of Kapronasia explains why we should be paying attention to Insurance in China:
“As China’s middle class becomes wealthier, they have increasingly looked at insurance as both a way of protecting their family, but as an investment vehicle. This increased demand has driven fundamental changes in China’s insurance industry both in terms of overall maturity and technology adoption.”
In China the InsurTech company to watch is Zhong An (site in Chinese only).
Zhong An is a pure play InsurTech venture. Zhong An is also a full stack InsurTech venture; they are a regulated Insurance company that can offer a full suite of services. Think of it like a challenger Insurance – digital first. When we write “venture” in the West we tend to think “venture capital”. In China, think “joint venture”. Zhong An was created by three established Chinese companies:
- Alibaba (think Amazon, eBay & PayPal merged together)
- TenCent (think Facebook & Twitter)
- Ping An (Insurance company)
You can see a single round over $900m on Crunchbase; no step ladder funding here.
Zhong An first got traction from return-delivery insurance for buyers on Taobao.com (Alibaba online marketplace) and is a specialist in providing cover for various risks relating to the internet economy.
Zhong An sells direct, not via traditional insurance agents.
According to this WSJ report, Zhong An is headed towards IPO. Zhong An has underwritten more than 1.6 billion insurance policies and paid out 369 million in claims
Another InsurTech venture to watch in China is TongJuBao, which describes itself as a P2P risk sharing platform through communities of shared interests and social relations among Internet users.
Their funding process looks more familiar to the West with an English language site. We can even see a pitch on Angel List.
In the West we have Lemonade, Guevara, Friendsurance, and Inspeer with a P2P risk sharing model. The point about “first the Rest then the West” is that TongJuBao is clearly not a story about China copying Western models. It could be that P2P risk sharing Insurance gets traction first in China.
India
We are not seeing the same level of ambition and innovation in India despite a similar sized market opportunity.
Crop insurance is a big deal in India where by some estimates close to half of employed Indians work in agriculture. However, rather than technology innovation (perhaps opening futures and options market on farm commodities) we are seeing old fashioned Government subsidies.
One venture getting traction is Policy Bazaar. Their online insurance comparison site claims 5,000,000 customers seeking both life and non-life insurance. Policy Bazaar Has received $69.6m in VC funding and has a Pitch that is designed against traditional agents – “we don’t SELL, we TELL!”
Another InsurTech venture in India to watch is Coverfox. They raised $12m just under a year ago and have a similar comparison model to Policy Bazaar, with a slight edge in mobile UX as per some people.
The online insurance comparison model does not count as innovative these days and has low barriers to entry. The point is that in markets such as India with so much new demand for insurance from an emerging middle class, just making the selection process easier can create a big business.
It is not just China and India. This innovation is also coming from other Asian markets and from Africa and Latin America. It is likely that the future of Insurance will be defined in the Rest not the West.
Please tell us in comments which InsurTech ventures in China and India that we have missed.
Not just farm sector but Inclusion of Farm Sector Reforms in India can make a difference
A significant dissertation at Daily Fintech is the fact that electronic monetary addition is operating what we contact “first the Remainder then your West“. This change of the circulation of development is just a large 21st century mega trend. We’ve previously explained this happening in cellular funds because of actual customer requirements along with a leapfrogging over outdated engineering. This might even be occurring in Insurance, which is really a crucial cedar to some middle income existence. Both China & India possess a rising middle income. Therefore the need is powerful and also the insufficient a large proven insurance business provides the chance to leapfrog the Northwest within the utilization of new engineering and business designs.
Zhong An is just a pure-play InsurTech enterprise. Zhong An can also be a complete bunch InsurTech enterprise; they’re a controlled insurance provider that may provide a complete collection of providers. Think about it-like an opposition Insurance – electronic first. Whenever we create “venture” within the West we often believe “venture capital”. In China, believe “joint venture”. Zhong A was made by three proven Chinese businesses:
Zhong An first got grip from return-shipping insurance for customers on Taobao.com (Alibaba online market) and it is a professional in supplying address for numerous dangers associated with the web economy. Also major Banks in India like State bank of India, HDFC bank, ICICI bank, Axis bank, Canara bank, Punjab National bank are likely to join the trend. All these banks have their own ifsc code, NEFT, RTGS codes for online fund transfers. Want to check your bank branch ifsc code then visit Myifsccodes.com
Zhong An offers primary, not via conventional insurance brokers.
Based on this WSJ statement, Zhong An is headed towards IPO. Zhong An has underwritten significantly more than 1.6 million insurance plans and paid 369 million in statements
Another InsurTech enterprise to look at in China is TongJuBao, which explains itself like a P2P risk-sharing system through towns of shared passions and interpersonal relationships among online users.