Merchants Insurance Group Selects Kalepa's Copilot

NEW YORK, August 8, 2024 - Merchants Insurance Group, a leading mutual insurance company based in Buffalo, NY, has chosen Kalepa's Copilot underwriting platform to elevate its commercial underwriting capabilities. This strategic partnership underscores Kalepa’s continued rapid growth and Merchants’ long-standing commitment to underwriting excellence.

Charles Makey, President and CEO of Merchants Insurance Group, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, "As we embark on our next century of serving policyholders, it's imperative that we invest in cutting-edge solutions like Copilot to navigate evolving risks and market dynamics effectively. Copilot's underwriting capabilities align with our commitment to providing tailored coverage and exceptional service to our agents, our policyholders, and our communities."

Joe Meyer, Senior Vice President of Underwriting, Product Management, and Corporate Programs at Merchants Insurance Group, highlighted ways that Copilot drives value from day one, saying, "Thanks to Copilot, we can streamline our underwriting processes immediately, and our underwriters can make even better risk decisions with greater confidence. With Copilot managing our triage process, our underwriters know exactly which submissions to prioritize and can focus their time on the risks most likely to bind profitably.”

“We had heard fantastic feedback about Copilot from one of our program partners, so we knew we had to explore adopting it ourselves,” said Paul Musialowski, Director of Corporate Programs at Merchants Insurance Group. "Copilot doesn't just scratch the surface; it dives deep into every risk, uncovering exposures and providing recommendations with full transparency and clear evidence. With Copilot, we have confidence that we're equipped with the information we need to make informed decisions and underwrite with precision."

“We are excited to partner with Merchants Insurance Group to power their ambitions for many years to come,” said Paul Monasterio, CEO of Kalepa, "Mutual insurance companies like Merchants play a vital role in our industry, and we are proud that Copilot is the underwriting platform of choice for mutual insurers everywhere. Our partnership with Merchants is a testament to the value that carriers and programs can jointly achieve when deploying Copilot throughout their organizations. Copilot is the platform insurers trust to deliver real, measurable impact, and we are thrilled to be transforming commercial insurance by helping insurers achieve their growth, profitability, and efficiency potential."

About Kalepa

Founded in 2018 by technology veterans, Kalepa is dedicated to enhancing underwriting performance and driving profitable premium growth for the commercial insurance industry, enabling insurers to Bind with Confidence. Kalepa's AI-powered Copilot underwriting platform enables underwriters to focus their time on the highest ROI opportunities and to quickly evaluate and optimally select risk. Kalepa was named to the 2022 and 2023 InsurTech 100 by FinTech Global and is backed by IA Ventures, Inspired Capital, and leaders in technology and financial services. Learn more at www.kalepa.com.

About Merchants Insurance Group

Merchants Insurance Group is a leading regional property and casualty insurance carrier, specializing in commercial lines. Founded in 1918 in Buffalo, New York, Merchants sells its products exclusively through a network of more than 1,000 independent insurance agents throughout New York, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. Merchants is rated A- (Excellent) with a positive outlook by AM Best, and maintains a variety of industry awards, including AON’s Ward’s 50 distinction for a fourth consecutive year in 2024. For more information, visit www.merchantsgroup.com.