At the ITHM Tech Accelerator Day 2026 on October 13, 2026 at Werk1, it was not just about startups presenting their technologies to potential clients and partners. With reverse pitches, the organizers flipped the conventional format on its head: representatives of established corporations presented their own challenges, inviting innovative solution approaches from the startup scene. Munich Startup was also present with its own booth.
For Estefanía Rodríguez Migliarini, Innovation Programme & Startup Relations Manager at InsurTech Hub Munich (ITHM), this shift in perspective was one of the event’s most key successes. She noted that it enables companies to better put themselves in founders’ shoes.
“It’s the first time they experience how nervous you can be and how difficult it is to get your message across in three, four, or five minutes,”
explains Rodríguez Migliarini. She added that companies speaking openly about their challenges was a win-win for both sides.
AI in the Insurance Industry: Faster Processes and Better Customer Experiences
Alongside collaboration between startups and established companies, artificial intelligence played a central role. Rodríguez Migliarini sees great potential particularly in digitizing customer processes and automating internal workflows.
While many everyday services have long been conveniently accessible via smartphones, communicating with insurers is often still comparatively cumbersome. AI could help bridge this gap and improve interactions between customers, brokers, and insurance companies.
The technology also opens up new possibilities in claims processing and the creation of customized offers. By combining AI, image and video data, and drone technology, information could be analyzed more quickly, potential fraud detected, and quotes personalized more effectively.
Rodríguez Migliarini sees significant potential for efficiency gains especially in insurance sales. In her assessment, AI could accelerate individual broker workflows many times over.
BaFin and Regulation: Direct Dialogue with Startups
Technological innovation alone is not enough in the insurance industry. For young companies in particular, regulatory requirements can represent a significant barrier to entry.
All the more important at the Tech Accelerator Day was the opportunity to speak directly with representatives of the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). For Rodríguez Migliarini, this personal exchange was a tangible success of the event.
While regulatory information is publicly available, it is often difficult for startups to navigate. The opportunity to clarify individual questions directly with contact persons makes complex requirements more tangible.
In her assessment, regulation has now become one of the central challenges in collaborations between startups and insurance companies. While technology and customer understanding used to be the main focus, the question of regulatory feasibility is becoming increasingly important.
Munich Startup Featured with Its Own Booth at Werk1
In addition to the program sessions, Tech Accelerator Day offered the opportunity to establish contacts between founders, companies, investors, and other players in the innovation ecosystem. Munich Startup was also on site with its own booth and took part in the exchange with the startup community.
For Rodríguez Migliarini, this stronger networking with the Munich ecosystem was a particular personal highlight. The InsurTech Hub Munich is increasingly being perceived as an active part of the regional innovation landscape.
The Tech Accelerator Day thus also demonstrated how the insurance industry is connecting with the local startup scene beyond its traditional corporate boundaries. For young technology companies, this exchange opens up the opportunity to gain insights into the specific challenges of potential clients and establish contacts with relevant points of contact early on.
