Finance

A crucial point that many businesses engaged in the B2B sharing economy are increasingly aware of is that engagement often carries considerable liability risk, which is why it is of utmost importance for businesses to insure against this risk with robust verification services.

The Palo Alto, California-based company is now valued at $900 million, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Australian insurance startup Cover Genius Pty Ltd. boosted its valuation to A$1 billion ($729 million), after raising A$100 million from investors including G Squared and Japanese insurer Sompo Holdings Inc.

Thiel invested more than $20 million in HySpecIQ LLC, the startup said. The cash will enable the Herndon, Virginia-based company to build and launch two satellites with cameras featuring advanced sensors to peer through solid objects in early 2023.

Truepic Inc., which helps companies like banks and insurers fight fraud by verifying images, raised $26 million in a funding round led by Microsoft Corp.’s M12 venture capital arm.

In other news: Cowbell Cyber releases API; Discount Tire, Motorq offer data analytics platform; and Roamly announces new hire and expansion plan.

There were about 12 funding rounds in the insurtech sector in August 2021, according to a review by Digital Insurance and with data from Crunchbase.

DealerPolicy, which functions as an insurance agency in the lower 48 states, connects car buyers with insurance quotes.

Its the biggest investment the vehicle has made to date in South African startups.

There were about 36 funding rounds in the insurtech sector in July, according to a review by Digital Insurance and with data from Crunchbase.

Amount raised in this time period was more than all of 2018.

A selection of 36 rounds recorded in the U.S., Canada and Europe.

A major stock investment in Acrisure weighed the numbers, however.

More than 97% of venture backing goes go white-owned startups. Firms like Mendoza Ventures, Chingona Ventures and MaC Venture Capital are stepping in to support underserved entrepreneurs.

A selection of notable investments in insurance startups.

The major increases included both mega-rounds and an influx of early-stage companies.

There were more than 40 rounds of more than $10 million in the quarter.

Insurtech maturity and the pandemic are driving investment.

The risk-analytics provider will buy insurance modeling platform Tyche and another company as it goes public.

The health insurance startup and its existing shareholders are offering 31 million shares at $36 to $38 apiece.