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InsurTech America Innovation Challenge 2026

Finalists are announced! Who will win?
Watch them pitch live online or in-person in Hartford

View Winners Attend The Awards
MEET OUR

2026 AWARD WINNERS

Celebrating three extraordinary companies and their innovative solutions

01
AWARD WINNER

Future of Customer
Protection Award

PRIZE AWARD: $10,000
02
AWARD WINNER

Best Emerging
Product / Service

PRIZE AWARD: $10,000
03
STUDENT WINNER

CT Student Entrepreneur
Seed Fund Award

PRIZE AWARD: $10,000
04
GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY

Startup World Cup

INVESTMENT PRIZE:
$1,000,000

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2026 INNOVATION CHALLENGE WINNERS!

WHY ATTEND THE INNOVATION CHALLENGE AWARDS

WHY YOU SHOULD BE THERE

  • Watch finalists pitch live — See the most promising insurtech startups present their breakthrough solutions

  • Celebrate the winners — Be in the room when $30,000+ in prizes are awarded across all categories

  • Hear from Josh Hershman — Keynote from CT Insurance Commissioner on innovation and regulation

  • Network with industry leaders — Connect with founders, carriers, investors, and global sponsors

  • Join in person or online — Hybrid event, livestreamed nationwide during Hartford Innovation Week

AGENDA & SCHEDULE

  • — Registration & Networking Lunch

  • — Livestream Kickoff

  • — Pitch Recording Stream

  • — Keynote: Innovation and Insurance Regulation – Josh Hershmann, Commissioner @ CT Insurance Department

  • — Awards Ceremony

  • — Wrap Up

  • — Celebration Reception

Interested in attending the Innovation Challenge Awards?

Register Now ↗

NEW THIS YEAR: MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

Winning isn't the finish line. It's the starting point.

That's why we're introducing the Innovation Challenge Mentorship Program — designed to help finalists and winners turn their breakthrough ideas into lasting impact.

Learn More ↗ Become a Mentor ↗
Innovation Challenge mentorship program
Empowering innovators through mentorship and industry expertise.

2026 Prize Categories

Explore the 2026 InsurTech America Innovation Challenge award categories, prizes, sponsors, and eligibility details.

ABOUT THE AWARD

Future of Customer Protection Award

This award recognizes an innovative, practical solution that uses AI and emerging technologies to help businesses and insurers predict, prevent, quantify, and manage risk.

Solutions should demonstrate meaningful potential to improve customer protection, strengthen risk management, and create measurable value for the insurance ecosystem.

PRIZE AWARD $10,000
SPONSORED BY The Hartford
Attend The Awards →
ABOUT THE AWARD

Best Emerging Product / Service

This award recognizes a new product or service that addresses technological, societal, or economic changes affecting customers and the insurance industry.

The winning solution should demonstrate how innovation can respond to changing market conditions and create meaningful value for customers, businesses, or insurers.

PRIZE AWARD $10,000
SPONSORED BY Travelers
Attend The Awards →
ABOUT THE AWARD

CT Student Entrepreneur Seed Fund Award

The CT Student Entrepreneur Seed Fund recognizes promising insurance innovation ventures led by current students or Spring 2026 graduates of Connecticut colleges and universities.

🥇
FIRST PLACE $5,000
🥈
SECOND PLACE $3,000
🥉
THIRD PLACE $2,000
TOTAL PRIZE FUND $10,000
SPONSORED BY
The Hartford Travelers
Nassau
State of Connecticut
Winner
Attend The Awards →
GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY

Startup World Cup

One startup from this year's InsurTech America Innovation Challenge will qualify for the Startup World Cup — the world's largest startup competition with participants from 200+ locations globally.

Sponsored by Pegasus Tech Ventures, the Startup World Cup brings together the best startups from around the world to compete for a $1,000,000 grand prize and global recognition.

Read Terms & Conditions →
INVESTMENT PRIZE $1,000,000 Startup World Cup Grand Prize
Startup World Cup
Attend The Awards →
Review Your Submission →

What Is the Innovation Challenge?

The InsurTech America Innovation Challenge recognizes the most revolutionary ideas and creations across the insurance industry.
The Insurtech America Innovation Challenge was launched to recognize and honor the most revolutionary ideas and creations across the insurance industry. The Challenge brings together forward-thinking insurance carriers, startups, and industry leaders to solve real business problems — from underwriting and claims to risk management and emerging technologies.
This is not just a pitch competition. It's a structured program designed to deliver real signal, real connections, and real impact.

Access Submission Portal

How the Program Works

A structured process to source, evaluate, and engage solutions — driving impact beyond the event.

01

Submissions Open

August 17 – October 7

The Innovation Challenge begins with a targeted call for solutions. We invite startups, scale-ups, and innovators from across the insurance ecosystem to submit their breakthrough ideas.

02

Evaluation

October 8 – October 20

Once submissions close, our panel of evaluators — including insurance carriers, industry experts, and technology leaders — reviews and scores each application to identify the most promising solutions.

03

Finalist Announcement

October 20

Finalists are announced publicly. Selected innovators will be invited to present their solutions at the Showcase & Awards event.

04

Showcase & Awards

October 27

Finalists present their solutions to a distinguished panel of judges at the Showcase & Awards event. Winners are announced in each category — with prize money and recognition.

05

Mentorship Program

November 9 – February 27

Winning isn't the finish line. It's the starting point. Our Mentorship Program connects finalists and winners with experienced insurance and insurtech leaders for ongoing engagement, structured milestones, and mentor-guided support.

GET INVOLVED

Be Part of the Innovation Challenge

Attend the awards or join our mentorship program to help shape the future of insurance innovation.

Attend Awards → Become a Mentor →

Our Partners and Sponsors

Powered by industry leaders committed to advancing insurance innovation

Innovation Challenge Finals and Awards

Watch Replays

Discover the past winners of the InsurTech America Innovation Challenge

View past winners

Interested in becoming a sponsor?

Learn More
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