Cowbell Cyber has secured $100
million in capital led by Anthemis Group with participation from Permira Funds,
PruVen Capital, NYCA Partners, Viola Fintech and all
existing investors. This latest financing will increase investment in data
science, underwriting, risk engineering and claims management; expand
go-to-market channels including digital distribution; and support Cowbell Re,
the company's reinsurance captive.
"Since
its 2019 inception, Cowbell has delivered on its promise to meet the needs of
our policyholders by aligning cyber coverage to their specific exposures,
continuously monitoring their rapidly changing threat landscape, and offering
access to unique risk mitigation resources," said Jack Kudale, founder and CEO
at Cowbell Cyber. "As we position ourselves to lead the ‘second wave' of cyber
insurance growth, this funding will accelerate our pioneering approach to cyber
risk underwriting and drive growth and profitability while closing insurability
gaps."
A Gallagher Re report predicts that the
cyber reinsurance market will double in size every three years, becoming
comparable in size to property catastrophe or casualty by 2040. Cowbell
estimates that cyber insurance in-force premiums in the U.S. will total $100
billion by 2030. One in five U.S. SME remains uninsured or underinsured for
cyber risk, presenting Cowbell with an unprecedented opportunity to lead this
underserved market segment.
As
part of the funding, Matthew Jones, Managing Director at Anthemis Group will
join the Board of Directors and Victoria Cheng, Partner at PruVen
Capital will join as a Board observer. The company also appointed Michael J.
Christenson, Partner at CDX Advisors, as an independent board member.
"With
its unique approach to cyber risk underwriting and continued collaboration with
cybersecurity suppliers, Cowbell Cyber has positioned itself as the leader in
the cyber insurance space for SMEs," said Matthew Jones, managing director at
Anthemis Group. "The company has accomplished stellar results to date and we are thrilled to be a part of their next chapter.
We look forward to the innovation they'll continue to bring to the cyber
insurance market."
Cowbell
has developed the largest cyber insurance distribution network in the U.S. with
more than 14,000 producers and has grown its monitored risk pool to more than
23 million businesses - 70% of the SME U.S. market. During 2021, Cowbell's
gross written premium grew 40 times while loss experience has remained among
the lowest in the industry driven by continued focus on underwriting
discipline. The company will triple its policyholder base in 2022, solidifying
its market position as the leading provider of cyber insurance to SMEs.