For Argentinian ICMIF member La Segunda Seguros, innovation is a fundamental pillar of the cooperative insurer’s strategy. In 2018, with its first Hackathon, the company began a path of incorporating technological solutions to its business that allow it to enhance and facilitate the experience of working with the insurer, both for its own insurance producers and also for customers and the community in general.
Earlier this month, the company launched InnLab, an open innovation programme which La Segunda Seguros says is aimed at entrepreneurs who have disruptive ideas that they wish to apply to the world of insurance. The insurer is looking for startups or scaleups with at least one prototype or minimum viable product (MVP) launched on the market and that need support to continue growing.
“Through InnLab we will focus on key challenges such as enhancing the service experience and providing solutions that promote the well-being of society. We are committed to innovation and sustainability and look forward to supporting passionate entrepreneurs who share our vision,” said Martin Moser, leader of La Segunda Seguros’ Open Innovation Programme.
Moser added that the goal of La Segunda since the first Hackathon they organised in 2018, is to be close to entrepreneurs: “We see many startups that are improving the value chain with ideas that grow the entire industry and, in turn, that all the big companies are already closely following all these issues.”
As part of its vision of being close to technology-based entrepreneurs, La Segunda Seguros participated in two key events during Agtech Week 2023 (7-11 August) in Argentina. La Segunda Seguros’ executives attended the BCR Agtech Forum, an event organised by the innovation area of the Rosario Stock Exchange where the technology-based entrepreneurial ecosystem is in direct contact with potential investors.
La Segunda Seguros had its own stand at Agtech Forum for the first time, from where they shared details of the new InnLab programme to attendees. MartÃn Moser, explained that “the idea is to register entrepreneurs who have a developed prototype that can be complemented with some of the services or processes that La Segunda offers to the market.”
For startups, this is a real possibility to reach the network of contacts of a leading company, because if they are chosen and if the pilot is successful, then they could be suppliers of La Segunda and significantly expand their business possibilities.
Innovation in agriculture
From the stand at Agtech Forum, the La Segunda team answered the queries of the entrepreneurs who attended the event at the Stock Exchange. Sebastián Ferrari, Commercial Manager of Agricultural and Forestry Risks, said: “The meetings were very positive. We find innovative solutions to problems that arise mainly in agriculture and that could be applied especially to our insurance industry.”
Moser added: “What we propose is to mentor these companies because we know the industry, we have a very strong corporate network where we can help startups.”
Participation
To participate in the programme, entrepreneurs must visit the innlab.lasegunda.com.ar website and complete the application form explaining their project and the challenge to which they apply.
La Segunda Seguros is accepting applications until 31 August 2023 inclusive. The first stage will be in charge of ten managers from different areas of La Segunda Seguros who will see the feasibility of each prototype and its usefulness within each sector. From there, the chosen ones will be communicated and then work will begin with the startups in the development of the pilot throughout the rest of the year until its final presentation in February 2024. From there, a new path can emerge for the selected startups.
