MSIG, Sønr Summit & 2025 reflections

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Hello.

Last SøNws of the year 😢
But what a year it’s been 😀

I recorded a podcast with Alex Bond earlier this week – the Leadership in Insurance pod – and he asked how 2025 had been for Sønr.

I started talking about this being our ninth year in business… and how it feels very much like the precursor to that “10-year overnight success” people love to talk about.

For Sønr, it’s been our biggest year ever.
Again.
And that, I’m super proud of.

The reason (for the success, not the pride)?
I genuinely believe innovation has gone mainstream.

All over the world, the status quo is being challenged.
Teams are being asked to find partners, to do something with AI, to build what’s next.

But many don’t yet have the vision or context for what good looks like.
And most don’t have the time, network, or experience to do it alone.

That’s where Sønr comes in.

We use market intelligence to shape strategy, align tech to strategic priorities, and validate new opportunities – helping companies move with confidence.

And after nine years of this, we know how to package this in ways that genuinely drive businesses forward 🙏

Right, let’s get into it.

MSIG Europe – Claims Innovation

Last week – for my final work trip of the year (well, before heading to the mountains with the fam this weekend) – Emily Peters and I headed to Rotterdam.

A brilliant two day workshop with Daniella de Lint, MSIG Europe’s Chief Claims Officer, and her leadership team.

During this time we went deep into how to fast-track their journey toward a future-proof, state-of-the-art claims organisation.

Collectively we dug into emerging tech, AI’s role in smarter work, and how to build a culture of curiosity, data-driven decision-making, continuous learning – and create the courage to challenge “how we’ve always done it.”

A brilliant couple of days.
A huge shout-out to the whole MSIG team.

The First Sønr Summit

This week we hosted something we’ve wanted to do for years: the first Sønr Summit.

A space for real conversation – honest, human, unscripted – about what innovation should look like next.

I wasn’t there on the night (ill wife, family first) but from everything I’ve seen, the tone was perfect.

Massive thanks to Rocio for stepping in as compere, to Matt Ferguson for running the whole thing, and to Dan Caines for joining the panel last-minute.

And to our speakers – Freddie, Nigel, Emily, Iryna, Arslan and Nasra – thank you for setting exactly the tone we hoped for.

More Summits are coming.
Bigger rooms, braver conversations.
And hopefully one in the Italian mountains – May/June time.
Perché no, right?

Fundraising + M&A

🚗 Liablix raises €1.2m pre-seed
These guys are an Italian company using AI to automate motor-claims analysis – helping carriers assess liability faster and more consistently.

They’re now scaling the tech internationally, tapping into growing demand for automation across high-volume motor portfolios. Nice.

🤖 Curvestone AI lands $4m seed
Curvestone AI builds dependable automation for document-heavy workflows in regulated sectors. You got that? The pitch: individual tasks may hit 98% accuracy, but in multi-step workflows those small errors compound dramatically.

Their tech is designed to keep accuracy stable end-to-end which of course is a big deal for insurers bringing AI into underwriting, claims and operations.

Interestingly, they currently work across law, mortgage services, and wealth management, and are only now expanding into the insurance sector.

💰 Parametrix raises $27m Series B
Parametrix – a Signal50 company – eliminates digital interruption risk through parametric insurance “insuring the growth of AI” as digital infrastructure becomes more critical and complex.

They’re delivering enterprise-grade cyber and downtime solutions to some of the best companies in the world, with real momentum behind their mission. And they seem to be pretty good at it.

💸 bolttech acquires Kenya-based mTek
One of our Scale 50s, bolttech is continuing its global expansion – this time into East Africa with the acquisition of digital insurance platform mTek.

The deal strengthens bolttech’s embedded insurance capabilities and gives them a strong foothold in a rapidly growing, mobile-first market.

The Underwriting One Million

One worth celebrating: Sixfold, another Signal50 company, has now processed more than 1 million underwriting submissions through its platform.

That’s 1 million times an underwriter didn’t have to sift through documents or rekey data – freeing them up for much more meaningful work.

It’s a nice angle to pitch, right?

They’ve also released an AI Adoption Guide which I thought was super smart.

It’s based on what they’ve learned working with over 50 underwriting teams globally (and something I might just steal/replicate for Sønr’s work).

The Health One Million

A huge milestone from one of our Scale50s – Alan has now crossed 1 million members.

Behind that number: 35,000 companies and more than 700 ‘Alaners’ pushing prevention-led, digital-first health. Impressive growth.

And in the US, Curative has secured more than $150m in a Series B and now sits at a valuation of $1.275bn.

Their bet – a model where people can access everyday healthcare without paying anything out of pocket, continues to resonate in a system desperately in need of simplicity.

It removes the usual financial barriers that stop people from getting care, and the traction suggests the market is more than ready for that shift.

Surety Collaboration

Some collaboration news in the surety world: Chubb, The Hartford, Liberty Mutual and Travelers have teamed up to launch SuretyBind, a shared digital infrastructure for the entire market.

They’re starting with two long-overdue fixes – a common data-exchange platform to eliminate duplicate entry, and fully digital bond execution to improve verification and reduce fraud.

What I particularly like about this is the model: a reminder that open innovation isn’t just incumbents working with tech companies. Sometimes it’s incumbents working with each other to build the shared rails the industry actually needs.
It’s a very good thing. And something I’m keen to see more of.

ITC, Generali, Challenge Lab

A great opportunity coming up at ITC London: Generali’s Challenge Lab.

It’s a chance for startups to pitch directly to one of the world’s largest insurers, with a particular focus on solutions that support sustainable, low-carbon transitions.

If you know (or are) a standout company in this space, get them to apply.

–

Right, that is it from me.

The last SøNws before Christmas.

Here’s to a proper break. Time with friends, family, mountains, food, and maybe just a little Hyrox training 🤷‍♂️. Oh and that note, check this post – my Hyrox with Mr Nigel Walsh in London last week.

Not sure we podium’d but we definitely had a lot of fun!

Have a wonderful few weeks.

Big love,
Matt

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