huckleberry, offering insurance to smbs, partners with berkshire hathaway
Huckleberry Partners with Berkshire Hathaway GUARD
Huckleberry, an insurtech firm specializing in insurance solutions for small businesses, has announced a strategic partnership with Berkshire Hathaway GUARD. This collaboration marks the most significant carrier partnership achieved by the startup to date.
Company Growth and Expansion
Founded in 2017 by Bryan O’Connell, Huckleberry has experienced substantial growth over the past year. The company initially launched an online portal designed to streamline the process of obtaining workers compensation and general liability insurance for small and medium-sized businesses.
Over the last twelve months, the San Francisco-based company has almost doubled its operational reach. Furthermore, it has expanded its product offerings to include five new insurance types.
New Locations and Talent Acquisition
Huckleberry is actively expanding its physical presence. Plans are underway to establish a new office in Columbus, Ohio, designated as HQ2, alongside a move to New York City.
O’Connell explained that the New York location is intended to tap into the city’s growing pool of fintech professionals.
To support this expansion and the new partnership, Huckleberry is actively recruiting. The company aims to reach a team of 100 employees by early 2022.
Key Personnel Additions
Recent hires include Bill Kaper, who joins as Chief Technology Officer. Kaper previously held the position of VP of Engineering at Root Insurance, leading a team of over 200 engineers.
Braden Davis, formerly of Jetty, has also been appointed as Chief Insurance Officer.
Funding and Investment
Huckleberry secured $18 million in Series A funding in December 2019. Investors included Tribe Capital, alongside contributions from Amaranthine, Crosslink Capital, and Uncork Capital.
Future Outlook
The combined momentum from these new hires and the partnership with Berkshire Hathaway GUARD will enable Huckleberry to enter more specialized and higher-risk insurance markets.
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