Episode #157
Mar 20, 2025
The Intrapreneur’s Playbook: Disrupting Insurance from Within
Bobbie Collies from Coterie Insurance
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Bobbie Collies from Coterie Insurance shares her expertise on intrapreneurship and disrupting insurance from within. Discover how to turn innovation into real change, leverage technology and data, and drive meaningful impact in the future of insurance.
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A New Era in Insurance
Insurance has long been viewed as a slow-moving industry weighed down by legacy systems and traditional processes. But Coterie Insurance is proving that things can be different. On this episode of the InsurTech Geek Podcast, Bobbie Collies, Chief Insurance Officer at Coterie Insurance, shares how the company is streamlining small business insurance using data and technology — delivering bindable quotes in under 57 seconds.
Bobbie’s journey from underwriting to leading innovation at Coterie is a testament to the transformative potential of InsurTech. In this post, we’ll explore the key takeaways from the conversation and how Coterie is reshaping small business insurance.
In this episode of the InsurTech Geek Podcast, we geek out on:
🚀 How Coterie makes it possible to bind policies in 57 seconds
🖥 The real power of APIs in insurance distribution
💡 Why independent agents are crucial to the future of InsurTech
📈 How Coterie evolved from a startup to a high-growth, profitable company
Bobbie also shares her personal journey—how she went from underwriting bars and restaurants to leading one of the most innovative insurance startups today.
If you’re in insurance and want to know where the industry is headed, this is the episode for you. Tune in now!
Stay tuned for more insights from industry leaders on The InsurTech Geek Podcast!
Bobbie’s Journey: From Underwriting to InsurTech Leadership
Bobbie Collies didn’t set out to become an InsurTech leader — her career started in commercial underwriting. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she took a job at Society Insurance underwriting commercial lines for bars and restaurants. Over the next 15 years, Bobbie’s expertise in underwriting and commercial insurance deepened as she moved through leadership roles at Secura, Integrity, and Grange.
Her transition to Coterie in 2022 was sparked by a desire to be part of the next wave of insurance innovation. She saw that technology was poised to disrupt how small business insurance was distributed — and Coterie offered the perfect opportunity to be at the forefront of that transformation.
“I knew there was going to be a wave of technology that would change how insurance is distributed — I wanted to be part of it.”
Coterie Insurance: Speed and Simplicity as a Competitive Advantage
Coterie operates as a tech-enabled MGA (Managing General Agent), but Bobbie challenges the need to call it “digital” at all. After all, most carriers now use some form of technology. What sets Coterie apart is the speed and simplicity it offers to agents.
- 57 seconds — The time it takes from login to a bindable quote.
- 2 minutes — The time it takes for an agent to complete the process and receive policy documents.
- 45,000+ producers — The number of agents signed up with Coterie.
- 85,000+ active policies — Small business policies currently in force.
By using data and automation, Coterie eliminates the need for manual underwriting for most small business policies. The company integrates directly with agency management systems and comparative raters, allowing agents to work within their existing tech stack.
“We aren’t trying to pull agents to our platform — we meet them where they are.”
Challenges and Opportunities in the InsurTech Space
While Coterie’s growth has been rapid, Bobbie acknowledges that the transition from startup to established company presents new challenges.
- Scaling Without Losing Speed – Coterie’s early success was built on fast, automated quoting. Maintaining that speed while introducing new products will be key to future growth.
- Maintaining Profitability – Coterie is already cash flow positive — a rare feat in the InsurTech space. As Bobbie points out, profitability is crucial for long-term success.
- Moving Upmarket – Currently, Coterie focuses on businesses with revenue under $10 million. Expanding into larger markets and non-admitted products is part of the future roadmap.
What Makes Coterie Different?
Bobbie emphasized that Coterie’s success comes down to execution and problem-solving, not just innovation for the sake of it.
“Ideas are easy — execution is hard. That’s where we focus.”
Coterie’s focus on micro-commercial policies gives agents a reason to engage. For many agents, writing small business insurance was previously not worth the time and effort. Coterie changes that by making the process fast and simple — allowing agents to serve more clients and increase their earnings.
“We’re helping agents make money on small business insurance — because it’s fast and easy to place.”
Advice for Innovators and Future Leaders
For those considering a move from a traditional carrier to InsurTech, Bobbie offered valuable advice:
- Understand your work style – InsurTech moves fast. If you thrive on innovation and rapid change, it’s the right place for you.
- Be ready to execute – Good ideas are worthless without strong execution and change management.
- Solve a real problem – Innovation must address a true pain point for agents or customers.
“The industry doesn’t need more ideas — it needs better execution.”
The Future of Insurance is Fast and Efficient
Coterie Insurance is proving that insurance doesn’t have to be slow or complex. Through technology and automation, Bobbie Collies and her team have created a streamlined process that benefits both agents and small businesses.
As Bobbie noted, the future lies in balancing efficiency with profitability — and Coterie is already well ahead of the curve.