On this episode of FNO: InsureTech, Rob Beller and Lee Boyd sit down with Stacey Brown, Founder and President of InsurTech America (formerly InsurTech Hartford), to unpack how a grassroots meetup in Connecticut evolved into a multi-regional insurtech community platform shaping conversations across the industry. Stacey shares the accidental origin story, the power of community-driven innovation, and how events can spark the “chocolate meets peanut butter” moments where real progress happens.

From pizza meetups to a national insurtech platform
Stacey recounts how InsurTech Hartford began with a simple desire to bring insurance and technology professionals together, long before “insurtech” became a mainstream buzzword. What started as small, local gatherings fueled by curiosity and connection grew into a thriving ecosystem. Through persistence, partnerships, and a timely pivot during the pandemic, those community roots expanded beyond Hartford into a broader network now unified under the InsurTech America banner.

A “community of communities” model
At the heart of InsurTech America is a unique structure Stacey describes as a “community of communities.” Rather than operating as a traditional conference organizer or investment fund, the organization focuses on convening regional ecosystems — from Chicago to the Carolinas and beyond — and connecting them through shared programming, sponsorship opportunities, and cross-market collaboration. The model emphasizes relationships, peer learning, and practical innovation over hype.

Learning beyond the four walls of one company
Stacey reflects on how stepping outside a single corporate environment transformed his understanding of the insurance industry. From distribution models and MGAs to emerging product structures like parametric insurance, he explains how industry knowledge expands dramatically when professionals engage across carriers, startups, investors, and service providers. Events, he argues, create the exposure and collisions that drive that learning.

The pandemic pivot that changed everything
When in-person events stopped, InsurTech Hartford didn’t pause — it went digital. Virtual programming unexpectedly expanded reach from local audiences to hundreds of participants worldwide. That moment accelerated brand visibility and demonstrated the scalability of the community model, setting the stage for broader geographic expansion and the eventual creation of InsurTech America.

Reimagining the modern insurance event
The discussion explores how the rapid growth of industry conferences has forced organizers to innovate. Stacey outlines how InsurTech America differentiates through curated audiences, role-specific engagement, and its evolving Content Studio concept — a dedicated space where media, podcasts, and thought leaders create live content during events. The goal is to extend value before, during, and after the conference, turning events into ongoing engagement platforms rather than one-off gatherings.

Who the symposium is built for
Stacey explains that attracting the right insurance professionals is key. Rather than focusing only on company logos, InsurTech America targets decision-makers and influencers in underwriting, claims, innovation, and data roles. Through collaborative agenda design, roundtable discussions, and peer-driven content development, the event aims to deliver practical value and meaningful dialogue, not just stage presentations.

An accidental entrepreneur’s journey
Throughout the conversation, Stacey emphasizes that InsurTech America was never part of a formal master plan. His story highlights how curiosity, community-building, and willingness to experiment can evolve into something much larger. It’s a candid look at entrepreneurship shaped by passion for the industry rather than a predefined business model.

Listeners come away with insight into how industry communities can accelerate learning and innovation, why in-person and digital connections still matter deeply in insurance, and how InsurTech America is working to create more intentional, content-rich, and collaborative industry events.

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