The Iowa Tech Podcast, hosted by Kaylee, features Jim Lewis, the Executive Director of the Vaughan Institute for Risk Management and Insurance at the University of Iowa. The episode explores Jim’s diverse career path, highlighting his transition from a marketing agency owner to an entrepreneur in the insur-tech industry, and eventually into academia. Jim’s journey involved founding an insur-tech company, Predictive Health, which addressed health-related issues such as price transparency and medication management. His work led to the acquisition of his startup by a larger company, Clever Health, and subsequently collaborating with the Global Insurance Accelerator (GIA) as their alumni director.
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Jim emphasizes the challenges and opportunities within the insurance industry, particularly in Iowa, which is a significant player in the insur-tech sector. He discusses the importance of accelerators like GIA in navigating the complex insurance distribution ecosystem. Jim advocates for comprehensive customer discovery and understanding product-market fit as crucial elements for insur-tech founders.
The Vaughan Institute aims to bridge academic excellence with real-world applications, fostering collaboration with industry leaders and providing students with hands-on experience through projects and internships. Under Jim’s leadership, the Institute has seen significant growth, with the number of students increasing from 50 to 320, and it has been recognized as one of the top programs in the U.S.
Jim also highlights the future of the insurance industry, noting the upcoming talent crisis due to a significant portion of leadership retiring soon. He underscores the importance of preparing students to become future leaders in the industry by equipping them with skills in AI, innovation, and complex risk management. The University of Iowa is leveraging its strong ecosystem, including partnerships with various insur-tech organizations, to position itself as a leading institution in insurance education and innovation.