Description
We take in early-stage insurtech companies who are building solutions that support the insurance industry. We provide seed funding, networking with our mentors, 100-days of ongoing support and a final presentation to a large audience of insurance professionals.
This is not your typical accelerator. Our investors are insurance carriers, our mentors are primarily insurance professionals. Participating in our program is a highly strategic decision to find product-market fit and do customer discovery faster than you could ever do on your own. We are a strategic partner.
We run one 100-day program annually from mid-January to the end of April, to align with the Global Insurance Symposium in Des Moines, Iowa. Why is the accelerator based in Des Moines, Iowa? It’s an important insurance hub with the highest concentration of insurance employment among the metros in the United States.
What an Applicant can Obtain
Investment
The GIA Fund, backed by insurance company investors, will make an equity-based investment of $50,000, converting to 5% of the company in the form of a post-money SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity). Each selected company will receive the same standard investment terms and amount. Final key investment terms will be communicated to all applicants prior to accepting an interview with the selection committee in November. Terms are not negotiable.
Mentorship
The GIA’s mentor program is our secret sauce and we pride ourselves on this. It’s been proven that one of the single most important aspects of the success of our portfolio companies is the mentoring and connections they will receive from the experts in the insurance industry.
Mentors are involved in almost every activity and session we provide to our founders. Mentors raise their hands to help lead or co-lead workshops and panels, they step in to help shape pitch presentations for the founders, and also work closely with each founder on their business needs.
The 100 Day Program Phases
The hybrid program will be conducted in-person in Des Moines, Iowa (required) for a total of 5.5 weeks and virtually for 9 weeks. Housing will be paid for during the 5.5 weeks in Des Moines. Each founder has the option to stay in Des Moines for the entire program, however housing will not be paid for during the virtual 9 week period. We structure the nearly 15-week accelerator program in three phases to mindfully support the acceleration of your startup during that time.
In Des Moines: January 7 - January 23, 2026
Virtual: January 26 - March 27, 2026
In Des Moines: March 30 - April 17, 2026
Estimated Time Commitments for each Phase
Phase 1: Full-time Monday through Friday during these 3.5 weeks
Phase 2: 6-8 hours per week plus mentor meetings that you will schedule.
Phase 3: 6-8 hours per week plus mentor meetings that you will schedule.
Ongoing Support
The Global Insurance Accelerator includes an alumni program designed for GIA alumni startups.This program includes ongoing mentorship as needed, continuing education, and reintroduction to GIA fund companies if applicable.
