We take a look in advance at the upcoming Insurtech conference on 30th April from Fintech Global in London, and ask; what makes this Conference different?
And the unspoken question that we are all then thinking is; “and why should I indeed go”?
It’s not like we all have days to spare. And it’s not like there were no other similar conferences. Any Londoner will tell you that, just like London buses, – you can be waiting twenty minutes – and then three will come along what appears to be just a few seconds apart. “Fintech” has become the label du jour, so to say.
It’s an interesting parallel. And it would be wrong.
This Conference has a uniqueness, that demand our attention, not just because it is an internal discussion point of business leader to business leader (and thus a proper information and meeting point) – but also because it focusses on the practical issues of our day, rather than the discussions of yesterday. It offers a free and open opportunity to a dozen chosen vendors, to pitch for five minutes – to the seriously corporate decision-maker audience. If you’ve got something to say – then make that point. And make it quick.
The topics, – that are grouped together into three separate streams (are you a “presentation”, or maybe a “roundtable?” Etc) – are down to earth. The titles are those that you and I can understand because we face them every day. “What about the future of Insurance?” Or… “Peace of Mind and Connected Platforms”. And there is one that says: “The Evolution of Distribution”.
Hhmmm. Maybe I’ll give that last topic a miss. But that one has some serious heavyweight speakers from Covea and Generali.
Scratch that. I will go to that one.
There is no big in your face discussion about AI – at least not obviously. This Conference is about the routine but key worries that your peers have had to face,, and have already faced, – and this is how they solved the same inquietude that you are pondering now.
And it brings up some surprises. Mike Downing, CIO at the WPA Health Insurance, – and a Speaker at this event – told me when we chatted over coffee recently, – that it may well have moved on. He is looking at the use of what he calls “vertical AI agents” – the selection of very specific task -oriented AI processes, in the same way that say you would employ a specialist new member of your Team. The horizontal nature of tech is metamorphosing into something different.
There is no magic in this. The Conference itself is just one day. You get there early – make your choices – and there are four “networking” periods, including the obligatory “networking reception at the end of the day”. So you get to meet and discuss, with the same people who have been speaking, and with your peers.
And then you go home.
What we like is its immediacy. Sure, there are philosophical pointers, but if the guy sitting next to you, can solve your today’s issues, well, I’m sure we all have time for that.
The Global Insurtech Summit 2025 is on 30th April, London; https://fintech.global/globalinsurtechsummit/
