Insurtech Insights USA 2025: Modernization, AI, and the Shift from Hype to Impact

Insurtech Insights USA 2025 took over New York this week, and yes—there were multiple mini golf booths, a LEGO bar, and no shortage of branded pens. But beyond the swag and spectacle, one thing was clear: this industry is getting serious about transformation.

Modernization was the headline theme, with conversations spanning everything from digital life insurance platforms to AI-powered underwriting and smarter policy servicing. The hype around artificial intelligence is still in full force—but this year, the tone shifted. It’s not just about what’s possible with generative AI; it’s about what’s practical, scalable, and real.

Carriers are showing up with sharper filters and real expectations. Traditionally risk-averse insurers want proven insurtech solutions to very real operational challenges. And the market is crowded with startups making the bold claim that they can increase revenue and decrease investment without ever quite explaining how. That’s why credibility matters. The companies gaining traction are the ones with firsthand carrier experience and real-world results to show for it.

I had the pleasure of joining a panel with Charlie Fellerman, Head of Strategy at Ki Insurance; Will Thorne, Managing Partner at SCOR Ventures; Dan Watt, CMO at FINEOS; and Nico Stainfeld, Partner at Foundation Capital. We had a great debate over the core question: is insurtech a friend or foe? My takeaway was no surprise: while insurtechs can be both, the ones who choose to enable carriers have more scalable impact. 

Enter Bestow: offering proven, scalable tech that supports the full life insurance purchase and administration lifecycle.

Another theme that came through loud and clear: ecosystem collaboration is not optional. Carriers want to modernize and they need trusted partners on this journey. Innovation at scale only happens when solution providers and technology partners work closely with carriers—not around them. The insurtech platforms that succeed will be the ones that enable flexibility, not force reinvention.

And of course, there was AI. Generative AI dominated the sessions along with the side chats. But the narrative has matured—insurers are no longer asking, “Should we use AI?” They’re asking, “Where can we use it now, and who can help us do it responsibly?” The most compelling conversations weren’t about the far-off future—they were about applied AI in underwriting automation, claims triage, customer engagement, and product development.

Life insurance may still be the laggard when it comes to digital transformation—but after this week, it’s clear that change is accelerating. Carriers are showing up ready to solve problems, not just shop for buzzwords. And the market is waking up to the difference between disruptors and true enablers.

Bestow’s takeaway? The appetite for real transformation is there. And the winners will be the ones who’ve lived the complexity, learned from it, and built the infrastructure to fix it.