“Let There Be Tech”: The InsurTech America Innovation Challenge Is Open, and Stacey Brown Has the Details

What happens when an insurance pitch competition becomes a road to the Startup World Cup?Stacey Brown, founder of InsurTech America, joins Salty to talk about the 2026 Innovation Challenge, where startups, innovators and students are competing for $30,000 in awards, carrier exposure, mentorship and, for one winner, the opportunity to represent InsurTech America at the Startup World Cup in San Francisco.Stacey takes us inside what judges are actually looking for, why he expects AI to show up in the vast majority of this year's submissions, and what it takes to stand out when every pitch starts sounding the same. He also explains why the Challenge is making room for students and why building the next generation of insurance talent matters to him.But this is The Salty Adjuster, so naturally the conversation eventually turns to the other thing Stacey (and Producer Brett, and Salty) take extremely seriously: music. The trio compare concert stories, debate the art of the perfect conference walk-up song and discover they may have finally found someone who puts as much thought and time into a playlist as Salty does.Let there be tech. Let there be rock. And let the Innovation Challenge begin.Submit your entry HERE: Insurtech America