27-Jan · 30th September 2026
The Global Insurance Accelerator (GIA) is a mentor-driven, insurance-only accelerator based in Des Moines, Iowa, backed by a consortium of insurance carriers including Delta Dental of Iowa, EMC Insurance, Shelter Insurance, Principal Financial Group, IMT Insurance, and Sammons Financial Group. Founded in 2014, GIA runs an annual 100-day hybrid program, with in-person weeks in Des Moines at the start and end and remote programming in between, culminating in pitches at the Global Insurance Symposium. Each selected company receives a standard $50,000 investment via a post-money SAFE converting to 5% equity, plus one-on-one time with insurance-industry mentors. GIA partners with the University of Iowa on co-branded curriculum and with Drake University for student interns. Since 2014, 85 startups from five continents have gone through GIA; alumni have raised more than $275 million after the program, and exits include Benjamin, acquired by Clever Health, and UDoTest, acquired by Recuro Health. GIA ranks 13th on the 2026 TIME and Statista list of America’s Best Incubators and Accelerators.
Frequency
1x/year
Duration
100 days (~15 weeks)
Investment
$50K cash via post-money SAFE, non-negotiable
Equity
5% via post-money SAFE, non-negotiable
Program fees
Undisclosed
Where
USA
Sectors
FinTech
Stages
Pre-Seed, Seed
Eligibility
• 1-2 founders willing to commit full-time to the immersive program
• US insurance industry must be a current or planned customer focus, though the company itself can be based anywhere — five continents have been represented across GIA cohorts
• Solution must be insurance-industry focused
Selection process
• Three-stage selection: interviews with GIA staff, then board members, then final selection made by the insurance carrier investors themselves
• Program kicks off each January
Benefits
• 1:1 meetings with an average of 75 insurance-industry mentors during a three-week matching window, plus a smaller ongoing mentor roster for the rest of the program
• Final pitch to a large audience of insurance carriers, investors, and professionals at the Global Insurance Symposium
• Co-branded curriculum and resources through a partnership with the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business, Vaughan Institute of Risk Management, and John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center
• Drake University student interns paired with cohort companies each year
• “Accelerator Plus” post-program support and access to the GIA alumni network after graduation
Notable alumni
Network
Dan Israel, Managing Director; Jess Louis, Program Director; Jenni Gruenisen, Alumni Director; April Schmaltz (Delta Dental of Iowa), Board Chair; Pavan Goteti (EMC Insurance), Board Vice Chair; John Rooney (Shelter Insurance), Programming Committee Chair; Sheldon Ohringer, independent board member and past Board Chair; Ann Dieleman (Affinity Advisor Group), Governance Committee Chair; board members from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance, IMT Insurance, Principal Financial Group, and Sammons Financial Group; Homesteaders Life Company, sponsor since the 2026 fund year; University of Iowa Tippie College of Business, Vaughan Institute of Risk Management, and John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, curriculum partners; Drake University, intern-program partner
Portfolio
85 alumni companies across 12 cohorts since 2014; notable exits include Benjamin, acquired by Clever Health, and UDoTest, acquired by Recuro Health
Funds raised
$275M+ raised by alumni companies after the program
🕐 Sep 2026
Report an issue