Extra Crunch roundup: EU insurtech, 30 years of ‘Crossing the Chasm,’ embedded finance’s endgame

This morning, Anna Heim and Alex Wilhelm dug into the EU insurtech market, interviewing European VCs and collating the biggest recent rounds to take the temperature of the waters across the pond:
- Alex Timm, CEO, Root
- Dan Preston, CEO, MetroMile
- Luca Bocchio, partner, Accel
- Florian Graillot, investor, Astorya.vc
- Stephen Brittain, director and founder, Insurtech Gateway
Several European-based insurtech startups entered unicorn territory this year, such as Bought By Many, which offers pet insurance; London-based Zego; and Alan, a French startup that raised a $220 million round.
According to Brittain, EU startups in this sector are “still at the very early stages of innovation,” having only shown “a fraction of what’s possible” in a market that is “as large as banking.” Interestingly, he predicted that AI will play a larger role in the future as companies deploy it for fraud detection, improved customer experiences and processing claims more quickly.
“We are fully expecting the next generation of AI-driven business to unlock real-time risk analysis, pricing and claims resolution in the next few years,” he said.
Thanks very much for reading Extra Crunch; I hope you have a safe, relaxing weekend.
Walter Thompson
Senior Editor, TechCrunch
@yourprotagonist
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Image Credits: Nigel Sussman (opens in a new window)
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Image Credits: Bessemer Venture Partners / Toast
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AI startup investment is on pace for a record year

Image Credits: Nigel Sussman (opens in a new window)
Alex Wilhelm and Anna Heim solicited feedback from investors to get a temperature on the market for AI startup investments.
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Their expectation is coming true: Investors reported a fierce market for AI startups.
Dear Sophie: What is a diversity green card and how do I apply for one?

Image Credits: Bryce Durbin/TechCrunch
Dear Sophie,
I started a tech company about two years ago, and ever since I’ve dreamed of expanding my company in the United States.
I would love to have a green card. Someone mentioned that I should apply for a diversity green card. Would you please provide me with more details about it and how to apply?
— Technical in Tanzania
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Image Credits: MediaProduction (opens in a new window) / Getty Images
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Health clouds are set to play a key role in healthcare innovation

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This shift, they write, “is being stimulated by federal mandates, technological innovation, and the need to improve clinical outcomes and communication between providers, patients and payers.”
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Image Credits: Donald Iain Smith (opens in a new window) / Getty Images
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After 30 years, ‘Crossing the Chasm’ is due for a refresh

Image Credits: Grant Faint (opens in a new window) / Getty Images
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“I have been reflecting on why it is that we venture capitalists and founders keep making the same mistake over and over again — a mistake that has become even more glaring in recent years,” he writes.
Bussgang goes on to consider the Chasm — and propose tweaks for thinking about market size in the modern era.
This morning, Anna Heim and Alex Wilhelm dug into the EU insurtech market, interviewing European VCs and collating the biggest recent rounds to take the temperature of the waters across the pond: Alex Timm, CEO, Root Dan Preston, CEO, MetroMile Luca Bocchio, partner, Accel Florian Graillot, investor, Astorya.vc Stephen Brittain,…
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