Insurance technology is reshaping how financial protection is delivered across Africa. For years, insurance penetration across the continent has remained among the lowest globally due to limited access, complex policy structures, and costly distribution systems.
Today, a new generation of African entrepreneurs is addressing these challenges by building digital platforms that simplify insurance access, automate claims, and expand coverage to underserved communities.
Here are five African entrepreneurs advancing insurtech innovation across the continent:
— Jihan Abass (Kenya): Co-founder and CEO of Lami Insurance Technology, enabling businesses to embed insurance products into digital services through APIs, connecting insurers with fintechs, banks, and online marketplaces.
— Thomas Njeru (Kenya): Co-founder of Pula Advisors, delivering climate risk protection to millions of smallholder farmers through government, financial institution, and agricultural supplier partnerships.
— Ndabenhle Junior Ngulube (South Africa): Co-founder of Pineapple Insurance, an award-winning insurtech startup that transformed South Africa’s insurance landscape with affordable, mobile-first, and innovative digital solutions.
— Alex Thomson (South Africa): Co-founder of Naked Insurance, re-engineering the insurance value chain through data, automation, and self-serve technology for a faster, more transparent customer experience.
— Ernest North (South Africa): Co-founder of Naked Insurance, a qualified actuary who helped build one of Africa’s leading AI-driven platforms focused on automated claims and accessible coverage.
These entrepreneurs demonstrate how African-led innovation is modernizing insurance distribution, improving claims efficiency, and expanding financial protection across the continent.
Selection focused on African founders building or leading digital platforms that improve insurance distribution, underwriting technology, claims automation, or embedded insurance services across Africa.
Criteria included innovation, operational scale, and contribution to expanding insurance accessibility as of 2024–2025.
Image Credit: Magnific
