EPISODE · Jul 20, 2026 · 41 MIN
We Talk Too Much About Tech and Not Enough About People | Jonathan Crystal, Crystal Venture Partners
from InsurTechTalk · host Gilad Shai
Jonathan Crystal opened Crystal Venture Partners on November 1, 2022. ChatGPT launched 30 days later. That timing tells you everything about where this conversation goes.In Episode 163 of InsurTechTalk, the third-generation insurance operator, former CFO of Crystal & Company, and Founder of Crystal Venture Partners joins me for a wide-ranging conversation on what he actually looks for in a founder, why he does not believe in InsurTech anymore, and what the industry is completely missing in its obsession with AI.In this episode:- Why Crystal Venture Partners is not an InsurTech fund — and why that distinction matters- The three things that make a business durable in an AI world: regulatory navigation, capital efficiency, and trusted relationships- How he backed Will Johnson at Gyde after eight to nine months of conversations before ever seeing a pitch deck- Why he skips the first six slides of every founder's deck — and what he actually wants to know instead- The death of pure SaaS: why outcome-based and gain-share models are replacing seat-based licensing- What venture capital actually means for a founder — and why it is the most expensive capital imaginable- How $150M+ in follow-on capital across 11 portfolio companies in six months validates the thesis- His answer to the closing question: the industry is talking too much about technology and not enough about people🔗 Learn more: https://www.crystalventurepartners.com/🔗 Connect with Jonathan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathancrystal/InsurTechTalk is the podcast for insurance professionals, InsurTech founders, and anyone who wants a no-BS look at where the industry is headed.🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every week.
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We Talk Too Much About Tech and Not Enough About People | Jonathan Crystal, Crystal Venture Partners
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