Share

Fintech Impact
Zensurance with Danish Yusuf (CEO) | EP29
In this 29th episode of Fintech Impact, Jason Pereira interviews Danish Yusef, the CEO and Co-Founder of Zensurance, a Canadian organization that manages the insurance needs of startups and small businesses.
● 01:09: – Zensurance helps small business manage and curate their insurance affairs.
● 01:40: – Danish is a software engineer by trade, and worked as a developer at IBM.
● 03:50: – Most people in the insurance industry have grown up in the industry— change is slow.
● 05:15: – These days you can’t buy stock in insurance companies.
● 07:30: – Zensurance is building internal risk models to assess the risk of a business type based on factors like industry, location, and size.
● 10:40: – Zensurance started with technology companies, then they added construction, health care, consultants, cannabis, and sports—general liability and cyber insurance are popular policies.
● 13:26: – Auto insurance could phase out in the next 10-15 years.
● 21:10: – Zensurance currently works with about 25 insurance companies.
● 26:03: – The Ryerson DMZ growth accelerator program was beneficial to Zensurance, and November 2016 was when the first round of funding came through.
● 30:57: – The Zensurance team is about 17 people, only in Ontario and Alberta at the moment, and have helped over 5,000 businesses.
● 32:15: – Danish is excited about the possibility of being able to automate advice.
3 Key Points:
1. A small $500 insurance policy could be touched by eight different people before its
issued.
2. Two-thirds of Zensurance customers by their services after hours.
3. Zensurance started with technology companies, then they added
construction, health care, consultants, cannabis, and sports.
Tweetable Quotes:
- “Zensurance helps small business manage their insurance.” – Danish Yusef.
- “We (Zensurance) work in the property and casualty insurance space, not the life, and health and benefits.” – Danish Yusef.
- “Auto insurance is probably going to go away in 10 or 15 years. So the industry is betting on cyber security taking the place of auto insurance, because half of all premiums are on the auto side.” – Danish Yusef.
Resources Mentioned:
- Facebook – Jason Pereira’s Facebook
- LinkedIn – Jason Pereira’s LinkedIn
- https://www.finally.technology/ – Website for Finally Technology
- Danish Yusef – LinkedIn for Danish Yusef
- Twitter – Twitter for Danish Yusef
- Zensurance – Website for Zensurance
More episodes
View all episodes

410. Policy Stream with Philip Setter | E410
25:53||Ep. 410In this episode of FinTech Impact, Jason Pereira interviews Philip Sutter, CEO of Policy Stream, an innovative platform aimed at revolutionizing the life insurance application process for Canadian advisors. Philip discusses his journey in the insurance industry since 2014 and how the challenges faced during COVID-19 led to the creation of Policy Stream. They dive into the current inefficiencies in the insurance sales process and how Policy Stream aims to streamline needs analysis, quoting, application, and compliance for term life insurance. Key topics also include the development hurdles, the cautious engagement with insurance carriers, and the long-term vision for expanding the platform. Tune in to hear Philip's insights on improving productivity for advisors and enhancing the client experience in the insurance sector.Facebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPolicy StreamLinkedIn - Philip Setter’s LinkedIn
409. Finny with Eden Ovadia | E409
23:38||Ep. 409In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira talks with Eden Ovadia, CEO of Finny, a platform designed to help financial advisors grow their businesses organically. Eden shares the origin story of Finny, highlighting how his background in tech and private equity led to the creation of a data-driven solution for prospecting growth. The discussion explores how Finny leverages big data and machine learning to identify potential prospects and detect client intent signals, enabling advisors to effectively match with their ideal clients. Eden also discusses the company's roadmap and the importance of helping advisors articulate their value propositions. This episode is a must-listen for financial advisors seeking to enhance client acquisition, share of wallet, and retention through advanced, data-driven strategies.
407. Solutions by Text with Nick Babinsky | E407
35:03||Ep. 407In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Nick Babinsky, Chief Product Officer at Solutions by Text (SBT). They discuss how SBT empowers financial services companies to engage with consumers through SMS and other messaging protocols. The conversation covers SBT's history, the benefits of text-based communications, regulatory challenges, and the future of text messaging in the financial industry. Nick shares insights on high engagement metrics, compliance complexities, and the evolving technology landscape. Tune in to learn how text messaging is transforming consumer interactions in the financial sector.
406. Hakkoda with Anand Pandya | E406
32:30||Ep. 406Join host Jason Pereira on 'FinTech Impact' as he discusses the foundational elements of AI, specifically data, with Anand Pandya, head of Financial Services for Hakkoda, an IBM company. In this episode, they dive deep into the evolution of data management, the challenges organizations face in maintaining high-quality data, and the importance of clean data for successful AI implementation. Learn about the history of data waves, the pivotal role of cloud platforms like Snowflake, and how big companies can avoid common pitfalls in the AI landscape. Don't miss this insightful conversation packed with expert insights and practical advice for the future of data in financial services.
405. Knapsack with Mark Heynen | E405
39:27||Ep. 405In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Mark Heynen, co-founder of Knapsack, an AI-powered platform designed to enhance financial advisory workflows. Mark shares insights on how Knapsack automates administrative tasks by integrating with various data sources and employing natural language agents. He discusses the platform's evolution from a private note-taking tool to a comprehensive agent-based system, capable of handling everything from simple email scheduling to complex tax planning. Mark also touches on the challenges faced in data compliance and the future of AI in financial services. Don't miss this deep dive into how AI is transforming the financial advisory landscape.
404. Flextract with Rajesh Jayaraman | E404
22:17||Ep. 404In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Rajesh Jayaraman, founder and CEO of Flextract. Flextract is an innovative onboarding tool designed to help financial advisors streamline the client onboarding process by leveraging AI-powered data extraction. Rajesh discusses the origins of the company, the technology behind their product, and how it enhances both advisor efficiency and client experience. They delve into the challenges of managing disparate client data and the future roadmap for Flextract, including dynamic checklists and advanced report generation. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of financial technology and client management.
403. ElektraFi with Antonio Zivanovic | E403
30:38||Ep. 403In today's episode of FinTech Impact, Jason interviews Antonio Zivanovic, the Founder and CEO of ElektraFi - an online platform that democratizes access to independent financial guidance for employees. Antonio shares the origin story of ElektraFi, its mission to provide cohesive financial insights and advice, and the innovative ways it supports individuals in managing their finances. Listen in as they discuss the importance of financial well-being, AI integration, and future plans for the platform. Ideal for business owners and employers interested in enhancing employee financial health.
402. FinMate AI with Daniel Yoo | E402
23:59||Ep. 402In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Daniel Yoo, the founder of FinMate AI, an AI-driven advisor meeting notation software. Daniel explains the origins of FinMate AI, stemming from his frustrations as a financial advisor with the note-taking process. He delves into the various challenges the company has faced, the hyper-competitive market, and how they plan to differentiate themselves by providing a custom, service-oriented approach rather than a purely scalable software solution. Daniel also shares his insights on the evolving landscape of AI in financial services and emphasizes the importance of realistic, honest conversations within the industry. Tune in to learn more about the future of AI in financial advising and how FinMate AI aims to stand out in a crowded field.
401. KayOs with David Weinstein | E401
30:46||Ep. 401In this episode of FinTech Impact, host Jason Pereira talks with David Weinstein, CEO, and co-founder of KayOs, a company helping businesses become AI-native by structuring their data and operations. David shares how KayOs organizes both structured and unstructured data into contextual graphs to enhance AI and agent capabilities within organizations. They discuss the origins of KayOs, the challenges businesses face with data management, and the various tools and models used to make data actionable. The conversation also delves into the future of AI, its ethical implications, and how companies can adopt AI technologies without losing the human touch. Tune in to learn about the innovative approaches KayOs employs to turn business data chaos into order.