Brush Creek teams with LaunchKC to pioneer InsurTech accelerator
The insurance community will take center stage in 2020 in the latest industry accelerator program in Kansas City.
Brush Creek Partners (bcp), the technology-focused insurance agency based in the Crossroads Arts District, will champion the InsurTech accelerator, powered by LaunchKC and TechAssure. Applications for the accelerator program will open in January.
“Kansas City has a long history and legacy of insurance, and there are great opportunities to support high-growth potential InsurTech companies looking for customer feedback and growth,” said Nathan Kurtz, bcp chief operating officer. “Our purpose is to challenge how the insurance industry works and exceed expectations.”
Kurtz explained that the accelerator aims to select five agency-focused technology companies, and open pathways for access to clients, mentors and investors who can help them quickly grow and scale their companies.
“We are looking for companies with a product that is live and ready for real-time feedback from commercial property and casualty insurance agencies,” he said.
Brush Creek turned to LaunchKC, a leader in KC’s tech accelerator space, to bring its experience into the fold. LaunchKC powered three Kansas City-based accelerators in 2019 in the financial, cleantech and health verticals.
“Kansas City is entrepreneurial at its core,” said Drew Solomon, accelerator chair of LaunchKC and senior vice president of business and job development at the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City (EDCKC). “Without the public and private commitment we’ve seen over the years to programs like this, we wouldn’t be nearly as competitive as we are on a national scale. Let’s keep it up.”
Applications will open in January 2020, and will remain open until March 1, with semi-finalists narrowed down in March. The five-member cohort will be announced in April, and the program will run May-July, culminating in a Demo Day at the end of July.
About Brush Creek Partners
Brush Creek Partners is a full-service technology-focused insurance agency based in the Crossroads of Kansas City. Brush Creek specializes in helping growth-stage technology companies manage risk while providing additional value-add services, customer and investor introductions, and truly act as a partner to our clients.
Bcp tech is the technology arm of Brush Creek Partners, helping digital health, fintech, insurtech and high-growth companies manage technology and cyber risk.
InsurTech Accelerator Team
- Steve Gardner is the InsurTech managing director. He’s a serial entrepreneur who has worked with business owners and professional athletes in a variety of industries. He specializes in helping companies increase sales and overall brand impact.
- Alex Springer, program manager, joined the team to support the day-to-day operations of the accelerator. A retired professional athlete, he brings his experience to help the founders and their teams get access to the resources they need to help them grow effectively throughout the accelerator period.
- Nathan Kurtz is the Brush Creek COO. He is a serial entrepreneur with a background in helping founders access early-stage and growth-stage funding, mentorship and skills to scale their companies effectively.
About LaunchKC
LaunchKC is a vibrant leader in the Kansas City tech ecosystem – beginning as a grants competition for tech entrepreneurs (founded 2014) and elevating to a tech accelerator platform (beginning 2019) that works in partnership with industry-specific verticals, including the InsurTech accelerator.
LaunchKC, a nonprofit initiative of the Downtown Council of Kansas City, Missouri, is fueled by the Missouri Technology Corporation, the City of Kansas City, Missouri, the Economic Development Corporation of KCMO, along with corporate, governmental and philanthropic supporters.
About TechAssure
TechAssure is a unique consortium of risk management experts serving innovative industries, such as technology, telecommunications, life sciences, clean tech, as well as the venture capital and private equity firms that fund them. Now comprised of 29 specialist firms located in strategic locations across the world, TechAssure members collectively serve over 4,000 clients and represent over $5 Billion in premium volume.
The association also produces a proprietary annual benchmarking report for the industries it serves. TechAssure, headquartered in Davidson, NC, is currently celebrating its 19th year.
