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

Kalepa, a NY-based insurance startup providing an AI-powered decision support platform for commercial insurance underwriters, has formed a new MGA. Kalepa Insurance Services, which is led by Connie Germano, will focus on small and midmarket policyholders, with policies distributed through wholesale broker partnerships. The MGA will underwrite excess casualty risks using Everspan paper, a susbsidiary of Ambac Financial Group