InsurTech Reask has closed its seed funding round led by Tencent, the global technology giant headquartered in China.
Reask plans to use the funding on product development, operational expansion, and business development worldwide, including a focus on the London Market.
The insurtech is currently taking on legacy Nat Cat modelling firms by fundamentally rethinking how catastrophe models are created, offering real-time, post event, and longer-term probabilistic risk forecasting solutions for global weather-related catastrophes, which leverage the power of artificial intelligence (AI).
Reask explained that, “at present, Nat Cat risk modelling is based on historical data, which risks being outdated, incomplete, or inaccurate.
“Instead, insurers need to leverage modelling solutions that incorporate current and potential future changes to our climate.
“Only then can they have confidence in the accuracy of their risk modelling and pricing moving forward.”
The funding round was also supported by SV Angel, a San Francisco-based seed fund and early investor in Google, Twitter, and Airbnb, and by Hawktail, an early-stage US-based venture fund.
It follows increasing traction by Reask with leading clients such as Swiss Re, AXA and ILS firms including Twelve Capital and Securis Investment Partners.
Thomas Loridan, CEO and Co-Founder of Reask, said: “Reask is on a mission to be the leading provider of next-generation Nat Cat modelling, worldwide. We are already gaining great traction in the market with our unique AI-based solutions, and are thrilled that our high-profile investors have recognised this with their investments supporting the next stage of our growth strategy.
“There are three key purposes for the funding: technical – building out our science and AI teams to continue to expand our model range; sales and marketing – enhancing our business development and account management team; and operations – strengthening our internal capabilities to help build our business.”
David Wallerstein, Chief Exploration Officer, Tencent, added: “Artificial intelligence will be a critical tool to help humanity more accurately predict climate patterns and risks in the near future. In a dynamically-changing world, our forecasting tools must become more sophisticated.
“Reask has built a suite of products leveraging their climate forecasting engine for the insurance industry that are helping insurance companies accelerate the development of their climate-related offerings.
“The insurance industry will play an increasingly critical role in helping economies adjust and mitigate risks from climate-driven catastrophic events. We believe Reask is well positioned to partner and grow with the global insurance industry.”
