Guidewire to host InsurPitch Sydney for insurtechs

Guidewire will host its second InsurPitch Sydney competition for Australian insurtechs as part of its wider InsurPitch series.

The competition is free to enter and gives participating companies the chance to present at Guidewire's Connections gathering in Las Vegas. Entrants must submit a 90-second video outlining their product and the business problem it addresses.

Five finalists will be selected to pitch live in Sydney before industry leaders and a judging panel. The winner will receive an expenses-paid trip to the Las Vegas event and may also be considered for the Guidewire Insurtech Vanguards programme.

The Sydney competition follows an earlier Australian edition in 2024, which drew more than 20 entries. Brisbane-based Codafication, a self-funded technology start-up, won that event and later joined Guidewire PartnerConnect as a full technology ecosystem partner.

Codafication's progress has become a reference point for the event's role in linking smaller technology firms with insurers and partners. According to the company, the exposure from the contest and its later inclusion in the Vanguards programme helped raise its industry profile.

"Winning InsurPitch Sydney in 2024 and being selected for the Guidewire Insurtech Vanguard program have been powerful catalysts for Codafication's growth. This recognition has significantly enhanced our market visibility and credibility, opening doors with insurers and strengthening our value proposition to accelerate sales opportunities. The support and partnership from the Guidewire Alliances team have been invaluable. Through their network and industry events, we have built meaningful relationships with Guidewire customers, partners, and industry leaders-leading to strategic conversations and collaboration opportunities that continue to expand our reach. Overall, the experience has reinforced our vision, validated our product-market fit, and helped to generate momentum, enabling us to scale both locally and into international markets," said Bryn McKay, Chief Operating Officer, Codafication.

Global series

InsurPitch Sydney is part of a broader programme that also includes editions in Dublin, Toronto, Las Vegas and London. Guidewire uses the series to identify emerging insurance technology companies and connect them with insurers, investors and industry executives.

Guidewire also pointed to another former winner from its North American programme as an example of the path available to participants. ProNavigator, an artificial intelligence-enabled knowledge management platform provider and former InsurPitch Toronto winner, was recently acquired by Guidewire.

Guidewire has since integrated ProNavigator's insurance-trained intelligence into its platform for use by underwriters, claims adjusters, brokers, agents and customer service representatives. The acquisition also highlights how the competition can support Guidewire's product and partner ecosystem strategy.

Insurtech focus

In Australia, the competition gives local insurtechs a way to present their products to a wider audience without an entry fee. It also reflects continued interest among established insurance software providers in identifying specialist tools that address operational and distribution challenges across the sector.

According to company figures, Guidewire works with more than 570 insurers in 43 countries. Its customer base ranges from smaller ventures to large property and casualty insurers, giving start-ups selected through programmes such as InsurPitch access to a broad range of potential commercial relationships.

Laura Drabik, Chief Evangelist at Guidewire, outlined the company's view of the competition's purpose.

"Guidewire is on a mission to inspire today's enterprising insurtechs to further develop their solutions and propel their market opportunities. As the business and technology landscape continues to shift, Guidewire is committed to the community by providing an opportunity for tournament-style industry development programs while enabling participating companies to showcase innovation, interact with fellow competitors, share feedback, stay connected with peers, and discuss best secure practices. We're looking forward to InsurPitch Sydney providing a forum for those leading in innovation to provide insight and knowledge into solutions to these pressing insurance industry challenges," said Laura Drabik, Chief Evangelist, Guidewire.