Mumbai:
HDFC Life and IvyCamp, an initiative of IvyCap Ventures, today jointly launched the third phase of Futurance – the corporate engagement program to identify startups that are building innovative and next-gen capabilities in the insurance sector.
Last year in June, HDFC Life and IvyCamp announced the first phase of the initiative called Futurance followed by its second phase in December 2019. After a successful conclusion of phase two where three startups across health-tech and AI solutions were shortlisted, phase three of Futurance program is now underway. Phase three of the program will scout for startups across the following use cases:
Blockchain Application: Policy Management from start to end
Virtual Reality for Customers: AR/VR solutions with AI to enhance sales and servicing in Insurance
Non-invasive medical innovation: Alternate solutions to replace medical tests
Insta Agent: AI based sourcing, selection and management of sales agents
The third phase of Futurance is now live at https://ivycamp.in/programs/hdfclife-poc-corporate-startup-program
Speaking on the launch of the third phase, Parvez Mulla, Chief Operating Officer – HDFC Life, said “HDFC Life has focused on leveraging technology to offer value at every stage of the relationship with its customers and partners. Futurance was designed to build a bridge for start-ups to work alongside us. Futurance phase 3 reinforces our commitment to work with the best brains to provide long-lasting technology solutions,”
“The pandemic has given a fillip to technology across industries. COVID-19 has tested us but our investment in digital has given us the techedge. Our agility and tech-readiness has enabled us continue business during the pandemic, in an uninterrupted manner,” he added.
Prasun Gajri, Chief Investment Officer – HDFC Life added, “Every business makes investments with certain long term objectives. We at HDFC Life identify technology as an enabler and have consistently ensured that we invest in avenues that yield rich results. The Futurance program is one such initiative. The launch of Futurance phase 3 is proof that a talent program can deliver great results and also showcases the immense potential of start-ups”.
“Our partnership with HDFC Life has proved to be powerful in the past in strengthening the Startup-Corporate Connection in the ecosystem. Today, we have launched the next phase of Futurance that aims to further empower the fraternity, give a boost to entrepreneurship, and help businesses navigate through current times successfully,” said Anju Gupta, Co-founder and President of IvyCamp.
“We believe that our program will address the current challenges in the insurance sector, particularly in these new post COVID-19 times and help scale startups that have truly created opportunities in these tough times, weathered the difficulties and stayed on the path of innovation and problem solving. We wish good luck to the companies participating in phase three of our Futurance programme,” she added.
The second phase of Futurance had successfully shortlisted three startups – Wealthy Therapeutics, a health-tech startup; Worxogo, an AI sales coach; and Pulse Active Stations Network, a healthcare startup.