The Insurtech UK AGM and pitching event set out to demystify the world of angel investment, lifting the lid on topics such as what it’s really like to work with angel investors, what they look for in an investee, and how much money and how often companies should look to raise.
Held at the London offices of our principal partners McKinsey & Company, the afternoon began with the Insurtech UK Annual General Meeting: a chance to update members on various developments at Insurtech UK, approved nominations to our governing body the Insurtech UK Council, and to receive the accounts of the company for 2025-26.
We were also able to review our work and activities over the past year by presenting our 2025-26 Annual Report, designed for us by our creative partners Kohde.
Insurtech UK Council updates
Four new Council members were welcomed on board: Jonathan Spry, CEO and co-founder of Envelop Risk; Manjit Rana, Executive VP (Insurance) at Clearspeed; Christopher Barclay, CEO of Superscript; and Tim Hardcastle, CEO and co-founder of Instanda.
They replace outgoing members Joanne Safo, Fraser Edmond and Jonathon Valentine, who we thank for their contributions during their time on the Council.
Insurtech UK co-chairs Ernesto Suarez and Louise Birritteri were re-elected to serve further two-year terms.
Exploring angel investment
Once the official business was concluded, Insurtech UK CEO Melissa Collett welcomed everyone to the second part of the event, unveiling a programme designed to lift the lid on the often ‘inaccessible and opaque’ world of angel investment.
First up, Leda Zaharieva, Partner at McKinsey & Company, gave an overview of the strength of UK insurtech and the wider insurance industry, highlighting key factors shaping growth and sharing her hopes for some notable advances in the UK market over the next 12 months.
Then it was the turn of two founders who have 'been there, done that' when it comes to seeking investment in their companies to have their say.
In a fireside chat with Eloise Morgan, Managing Director - Ventures at Price Forbes, Matt Hicks, co-founder of Recorder and Simon Catley, co-founder of Canongate AI, offered a founder perspective on the differences between angel investment and raising institutional VC capital as well as the trade-offs involved in both approaches.
Next up, we asked a panel of angel investors that burning question: “What makes a business a viable investment proposition?”
The answer? Resilience, a team you can believe in, and an idea that stands out.
During a panel discussion with Leda Zaharieva, Partner at McKinsey & Company, veteran angel investors William Reeve, CEO of Goodlord, Alex Bond, founder of FinPro, and Gilbert Harrap, co-founder of insurtech InsurX, revealed how investors and investees meet, the factors influencing a decision to invest, and what to expect from the investor-investee relationship.
Finally, we concluded with a pitching session, giving six insurtech companies the opportunity to present their innovative solutions to the audience. Congratulations to BEYLA, Capitawise, Cluda, RiVR, Seamlis Health and especially to our People’s Choice winner Nolana AI for some brilliant pitches.
It’s been another great year for Insurtech UK, and this event is always a fun and inspiring way to mark all that we and our members have achieved together - as well as look forward to what comes next! Watch this space…
View image gallery - see all the images from the event here