EPISODE · May 11, 2022 · 47 MIN
Sam Evans: InsurTech, Sustainability and ESG
from Scouting for Growth · host Sabine VdL
On this episode, Sabine VdL interviews Sam Evans, Partner at EOS Venture Partners, a Strategic Venture Capital fund and an InsurTech investment specialist with offices in London and Philadelphia. This is their 2nd interview as Sam appeared in episode 6 of Scouting for Growth. Here, the pair discusses sustainability and ESG, the impact of urbanization, climate risk, and supply chain risk. Topics that have become increasingly important for many sectors of the economy, with over 2.2 trillion searches on Google's search engine for the term ESG (as of May 2022) KEY TAKEAWAYS As a global economy, we’re facing a number of pivotal challenges. These include major weather-related events linked to climate change and other natural catastrophes, significant population dynamics in many parts of the world, including aging populations, as well as the development of the right urban infrastructure to support people. With current urbanization trends, a significant proportion of the population is moving into cities, resulting in challenges with housing and logistics. Insurance and InsurTech have a key role to play in supporting these major macro shifts. Equality of access to healthcare is going to be critical as we face growing populations. Here we’re looking at the ability to leverage different ways of thinking about insurance, making it less about a pure protection-driven product and more about a protection-focused approach to help them live healthier, longer lives. We’re going to see a lot more gig economy workers, and we’re already seeing that traditional insurance solutions aren’t fit for purpose because they’re generic, not usage-based, and don’t align with policyholders' underlying behaviors. Responding to natural catastrophes is an area where the insurance industry as a whole is already doing significant work, and there are many initiatives to reduce the protection gap, but clearly, a large proportion of vulnerable economies and populations still lack insurance. So, closing that protection gap will be important. BEST MOMENTS ‘Clearly there’s a lot that can be done to make healthcare more affordable, easier to access, but also a lot more efficient.’ ‘Close to 50% of the US population score badly from a credit risk perspective and are therefore penalised through the cost of their insurance. The ability to tailor usage-based coverage that switches seamlessly between personal and commercial usage – for example, if you’re using your vehicle for a ride-share scheme, this becomes very relevant for individuals.’ ‘Energy usage and efficiency gains are going to become a lot more important. We have to be much more focused and smart around how we use resources. Technology can play a key role even from a home perspective on energy usage by using IoT, sensors, and smart AI to improve behaviours, enhance efficiency, and lower energy usage.’ ‘Insurance touches every single part of the economy, so it’s a natural enabler for driving these initiatives.’ ABOUT THE GUEST Sam is a partner at EOS Venture Partners, a Strategic Venture Capital fund and an InsurTech investment specialist with offices in London and Philadelphia. EOS invests in Series A and Series B growth ventures with emerging business models and new technologies that will impact and transform the insurance industry. Today, EOS provides financing and advisory services to leading entrepreneurs building innovative insurance businesses. In partnership with RAW Capital Partners, EOS offers a unique solution for growth-stage InsurTech companies. ABOUT THE HOST Sabine VanderLinden is a corporate strategist turned entrepreneur and the CEO of Alchemy Crew Ventures. She leads venture-client labs that help Fortune 500 companies adopt and scale cutting-edge technologies from global tech ventures. A builder of accelerators, investor, and co-editor of the bestseller The INSURTECH Book, Sabine is known for asking the uncomfortable questions—about AI governance, risk, and trust. On Scouting for Growth, she decodes how real growth happens—where capital, collaboration, and courage meet. If this episode sparked your thinking, follow Sabine VanderLinden on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram for more insights. And if you’re interested in sponsoring the podcast, reach out to the team at [email protected]
What this episode covers
Climate change, urbanisation, and ESG are not peripheral risks. They are rewriting the insurance playbook. In this episode of Scouting for Growth, Sabine VanderLinden reconnects with Sam Evans, Partner at EOS Venture Partners, to explore how macroeconomic forces are reshaping the risk landscape — and why insurance sits at the centre of the response. The global economy is facing converging pressures: – Severe weather events linked to climate change – Aging populations and demographic shifts – Rapid urbanisation and strained infrastructure – Supply chain fragility – Expanding gig economy participation Each of these forces amplifies risk complexity. Urbanisation is concentrating populations in cities, intensifying housing, logistics, and infrastructure demands. Climate events are increasing in severity and frequency. Meanwhile, large segments of vulnerable populations remain uninsured — widening the global protection gap. Insurance, Sam argues, is uniquely positioned to enable resilience across these shifts. But only if it evolves. Traditional, static policies are poorly aligned with modern workforce dynamics. Nearly 50% of the US population scores poorly on traditional credit models, which directly impacts insurance affordability. Gig economy workers need seamless, usage-based coverage that adapts in real time — for example, switching between personal and commercial use in ride-share scenarios. This is not a niche use case. It reflects structural labour market change. Healthcare is another critical frontier. As populations grow and age, insurance must move beyond pure financial protection toward enabling healthier, longer lives. Access, affordability, and efficiency become strategic priorities. Technology is a catalyst across all fronts. IoT sensors, AI-driven analytics, and smart infrastructure can reduce energy waste, improve behavioural efficiency, and strengthen resilience at both household and enterprise levels. From venture capital’s perspective, sustainability and ESG are not marketing themes. They represent investable transformation across energy, mobility, health, and supply chains. The opportunity is immense — but so is the responsibility. This episode is essential listening for: Insurance executives navigating ESG strategy Venture leaders evaluating climate and infrastructure innovation Product teams designing usage-based and gig-aligned solutions Policymakers and risk leaders focused on closing the protection gap Because insurance touches every part of the economy. And as macro risks intensify, the sector must shift from absorbing shocks to actively shaping resilience. The question is not whether insurance will evolve. It is whether leaders will move fast enough to match the scale of change.
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Sam Evans: InsurTech, Sustainability and ESG
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