Inclined Technologies Secures $8 Million in Series B Funding
Inclined Technologies, a pioneering fintech startup, specializes in lending against whole life insurance policies and has successfully raised $8 million in its Series B financing round, as revealed exclusively by Crunchbase News.
Funding Details
The financing was led by HSCM Ventures and included participation from Northwestern Mutual and several other new and existing investors. With this latest round, Inclined’s total funding has reached $31 million, although the company has chosen not to disclose its valuation. They indicated that the Series B round was a significant boost beyond their previous Series A of $16.5 million.
The Founders and Their Vision
Inclined was co-founded in 2020 by Mark Shaw, alongside Josh Wyss and Graham Gerlach. Mark Shaw, a notable figure who previously co-founded Strava and founded Guidewire Software, aims to revolutionize the loan process associated with whole life insurance policies through digital innovation.
Transforming Insurance Borrowing
Shaw recognizes that while insurance may not seem appealing, Inclined is committed to democratizing access to loans against whole life insurance policies, making it available to a wider audience than traditionally affluent clientele. Unlike term life insurance, whole life policies accumulate cash value, allowing policyholders to borrow against this value instead of withdrawing funds, which can be less efficient.
Innovative Financing Solutions
The company’s flagship product, known as “iLOC,” is a guaranteed renewable credit line secured against the cash value of whole life insurance policies. This product is offered through a network of insurance advisors partnered with Inclined, including Northwestern Mutual, MassMutual, and Guardian Life. Notably, there are no recurring interest payments or late fees charged to borrowers, according to CEO Wyss.
Market Trends in Insurtech
The recent funding comes during a time of fluctuating investments in the insurtech sector, which had seen declining venture capital investments but is currently rebounding. In 2023, insurtech startups secured approximately $4.5 billion, a notable rebound when compared to prior years.
Rapid Growth and Future Plans
Since its inception, Inclined has generated over a billion dollars in credit on its platform, boasting a remarkable 318% annual growth rate since its last funding round. With over 2,000 insurance professionals advocating for the iLOC product, and approximately 3,500 life policy owners utilizing it, Inclined is focused on expanding its sales efforts and enhancing its engineering team using the newly acquired capital.
Conclusion
As Inclined Technologies continues to carve its niche in the fintech landscape, it aims to support policyholders in maximizing the value of their whole life insurance policies. With the combination of innovative offerings and strategic partnerships, Inclined is well-positioned for continued growth and success in the evolving financial services sector.