Baobab Insurance
Corporate identity and regulatory footprint
🏢 Legal entity. Baobab Insurance GmbH is a technology-enabled managing general agent (MGA) domiciled in Berlin, Germany.[1][2][3] The company's imprint discloses its register court as Charlottenburg District Court (Berlin) with register number HRB 230973 B and VAT ID DE 344 813 395.[4]
📋 Regulatory status. Baobab is registered as an insurance agent under §34d (1) GewO with registration number D-F7C4-4U8EW-99, supervised by IHK Berlin.[5] Its operating role is characterised as an insurance agent in the form of a managing general agent, performing brokerage and administration of insurance contracts, claims and recourse processing, and collection services under Germany's legal services framework.[4] Remuneration is via commission included in premiums, with potential additional compensation from insurers for services rendered; the company states it holds no direct or indirect participation of more than 10% in any insurer, and no insurer or insurer parent holds more than 10% of Baobab.[3]
🌍 International presence. A branch in Rotterdam, Netherlands, is registered with Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KvK) number 98565028.[6][7][4] Multiple EEA supervisory listings evidence cross-border intermediary status: the Bank of Lithuania lists Baobab Insurance GmbH as an EEA insurance intermediary under registration code D-F7C4-4U8EW-99;[8] Finantsinspektsioon lists the company as a provider of cross-border insurance mediation services with an effective date of 14 January 2025;[9] and the AFM register page for Lloyd's Insurance Company S.A. includes Baobab Insurance GmbH with a date of entrance of 23 December 2025.[10]
🔑 Lloyd's coverholder status. Baobab positions itself as a coverholder acting on behalf of Lloyd's Europe (Lloyd's Insurance Company S.A.), which is authorised by the National Bank of Belgium.[11] German-language trade press independently reports the appointment as an official Lloyd's coverholder for a mid-market proposition.[12] No evidence in reviewed sources indicates that Baobab holds a direct insurer (carrier) authorisation; the company operates as an MGA with risk carried by partner insurers.[13]
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Business model and operating mechanics
⚙️ Operating model. Baobab functions as a technology-enabled MGA (in German market parlance, an "Assekuradeur") focused on digital risks, combining delegated underwriting and distribution with risk mitigation services and continuous monitoring.[3] The core proposition pairs cyber insurance with bundled security measures, including ongoing monitoring, vulnerability notification, and preventive services delivered through broker and customer portals.[14]
🤖 Underwriting approach. Baobab frames its underwriting as "AI-native" and tied to continuous monitoring; investor and sponsor communications characterise it as "data-first," with automated underwriting, dynamic pricing, and continuous portfolio management.[7] A machine-learning risk model R&D effort is co-financed by Investitionsbank Berlin and the European Regional Development Fund.[15]
🏦 Distribution and capacity. Brokers serve as the primary distribution channel, supported by a broker portal, enablement materials, and broker-facing cyber risk visualisation; the CEO has stated that seven of the ten largest German brokers were cooperating with Baobab.[16] The company places partner insurers behind its products as risk carriers, with third-party sources naming multiple carrier partners over time — including Zurich, ERGO, and others — consistent with an MGA rather than balance-sheet underwriting model.[17]
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Leadership, governance, and key-person considerations
👤 Founders. Vincenz Klemm (Co-Founder, CEO / Managing Director) previously co-founded Gabi in San Francisco, building it into a leading online insurance broker in the United States.[11][18] Anton Foth (Co-Founder, CTO / Managing Director) previously served as CTO at Coya AG and leads technical product development at Baobab.[11][19]
👥 Senior leadership. The published leadership roster includes John Braun (Head of Broker Sales; formerly WTW and CyberDirekt), Manuela Solescu (Head of Digital Product; formerly Revolut and wefox), Andrew Saula (Head of Cyber Security; formerly EY and Deputy CISO at TUI), Benedikt Klingenheben (Head of Cyber Underwriting; formerly head of mid-market cyber practice at Chubb), and Simon Bramsche (Head of Strategy and Finance; formerly HPE Growth and GP Bullhound).[11][20]
| Name | Title | Notable prior experience |
|---|---|---|
| Vincenz Klemm | Co-Founder, CEO / Managing Director | Co-founded Gabi (San Francisco) |
| Anton Foth | Co-Founder, CTO / Managing Director | CTO at Coya AG |
| John Braun | Head of Broker Sales | WTW, CyberDirekt |
| Manuela Solescu | Head of Digital Product | Revolut, wefox |
| Andrew Saula | Head of Cyber Security | EY, Deputy CISO at TUI |
| Benedikt Klingenheben | Head of Cyber Underwriting | Head of mid-market cyber at Chubb |
| Simon Bramsche | Head of Strategy and Finance | HPE Growth, GP Bullhound |
🎓 Advisory board. Disclosed advisory board members include Thies Sander (Founding Partner at Project A Ventures), Martyn Holman (Partner at Augmentum Fintech), and Christof Mascher (former board member of Allianz SE).[11][21][7]
⚠️ Key-person risk. Public communications, partner announcements, and capital-raise messaging are heavily centred on the CEO as the primary spokesperson and strategic driver, indicating material key-person concentration.[7]
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Funding, capitalization, and financial signals
💰 Funding overview. Total capital raised stands at €20.1M across pre-seed, seed, and Series A rounds.[6] The June 2025 Series A of €12M was co-led by Viola FinTech and eCAPITAL Entrepreneurial Partners, with participation from existing investors, and was positioned as funding for continued build-out of an active risk mitigation platform, team growth, and expansion to additional EU markets within 12 months.[7]
| Round | Date | Amount raised | Lead investor(s) | Notable co-investors | Cumulative funding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-seed | 2022-01 | €3.5M | Project A Ventures | La Famiglia; Discovery Ventures; angels | — |
| Seed / new investment round | 2023-01-30 | — (Augmentum disclosed €3M investment) | Augmentum Fintech | Existing investors | — |
| Follow-on investment | 2024-07 | — (Augmentum disclosed £0.6M) | — | — | — |
| Series A | 2025-06 | €12M | Viola FinTech; eCAPITAL | Augmentum Fintech; Project A Ventures; advisory board participation | €20.1M |
📝 Seed round nuance. A primary-source announcement from Augmentum states a €3M investment in a new round without specifying total round size.[21] A Baobab-hosted interview post refers to a "€5 million financing round" led by Augmentum, but the post contains internal time inconsistencies (dated 2025 while discussing forward-looking plans for 2023), and the total round size is therefore not reliably confirmed.[16]
📊 Operating scale signals. Around the Series A announcement, Baobab was reported at approximately 30 employees and planning multi-country EU expansion and product range broadening.[6] Investor communications describe loss ratios as "significantly below market average," though no quantitative figures are disclosed.[18]
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Product suite and underwriting appetite
🎯 Customer segments. Baobab markets cyber insurance primarily as a broker-sold product for companies with up to €200M turnover under its "Cyber Safe" terms and conditions.[1] German specialist press reports a mid-market cyber offering for companies with revenue up to €500M and cyber limits up to €15M, associated with Lloyd's coverholder status and cooperation with multiple Lloyd's syndicates and ERGO.[12][11] A reinsurer announcement further extends underwriting capacity for CyberSafe to companies with up to €1B annual revenue in Germany and Austria via the SCOR Syndicate at Lloyd's.[2] These thresholds indicate a deliberate trajectory from SME-focused underwriting toward upper mid-market and industrial clients.
🛡️ Policy form. Baobab markets "Cyber Safe" terms and conditions and identifies a partner risk carrier on its website, though the reviewed materials do not disclose whether the wording is proprietary versus carrier-issued.[1]
| Coverage element | Status | Evidence note |
|---|---|---|
| Business interruption / revenue losses (incl. cloud failure) | Described as covered | Revenue losses including cloud failure listed as an exemplary benefit |
| Data restoration / system recovery | Described as covered | Listed as data and system recovery |
| Hardware damage / bricking | Described as covered | Coverage for property damage of hardware due to cyber attack |
| Cyber extortion / ransomware payments / negotiation | — | Ransomware mentioned as a threat but extortion cost coverage not specified in reviewed benefit lists |
| Reputational harm / crisis PR | Described as covered | Crisis communication and PR support listed |
| Social engineering / funds transfer fraud | Partially described | Cyber fraud coverage referencing fake-president scenarios |
| Security improvement costs | Described as covered | Security improvements listed as an exemplary benefit |
| BYOD-related incidents | Described as covered | BYOD coverage referenced in benefit list |
| Coverage element | Status | Evidence note |
|---|---|---|
| Network security liability | Described | Includes defence and indemnification language for damage caused to third parties |
| Privacy liability (incl. legal counsel / regulatory) | Described | Advice on legal data protection obligations and third-party damage coverage referenced; fines/penalties not clearly specified |
| Media liability | Described | Media liability listed |
| PCI-DSS / card industry assessments | Described | Credit card industry penalties due to e-payment listed |
| IP rights infringement | Described | Violation of intellectual property rights listed |
| Contractual penalties | Described | Coverage for contractual penalties relating to unlawful disclosure, delayed services, and breach of notification obligation |
🚨 Breach response services. Baobab's cyber insurance materials describe embedded services including forensic investigation, notification support, crisis management, crisis communication/PR support, and a 24/7 emergency hotline.[1]
💳 E-crime product. A jointly launched e-crime (fidelity / "Vertrauensschaden") product with Liberty Specialty Markets as capacity provider focuses on CEO fraud and deepfakes, requires only five risk questions, and offers limits up to €5M; it is positioned for mid-sized businesses as a standalone product with planned integration into cyber application flows.[5]
💻 IT liability insurance. Baobab markets an IT pecuniary loss liability cover with sums insured up to €15M in Germany and Austria, with eligibility framed via a short three-question application for companies with up to €200M turnover. Coverage modules span liability and own damage with named extensions such as delay damage and IP infringement, and insured activities include software development, IT consulting, hosting, data centres, and related services.[22]
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Distribution, geographic expansion, and partnerships
📡 Broker distribution. Broker distribution is structurally central to Baobab's go-to-market strategy, supported by a broker portal, broker-facing risk reports, IDD-accredited webinars, cyber experts attending broker meetings, and accelerated onboarding via outside-in scanning and a DIN SPEC 27076 cyber risk check option.[23] Platform capabilities include digital application and quotation flows (including email-based options), customer scanning views for brokers, and a resource centre with customer security status visibility.[23]
🗺️ Geographic expansion. Germany and Austria are repeatedly cited as active markets in investor and partner communications.[2] Trade press reports a Germany launch in September 2022 followed by Austrian expansion.[19] A reinsurer announcement confirms Benelux activity as of November 2025.[2] The company is registered as a German insurance agent/MGA and separately discloses a Netherlands branch while appearing in EEA cross-border intermediary listings, consistent with EU insurance distribution rules for intermediaries.[3]
🏗️ Capacity partners. Baobab's own site identifies Zurich Insurance Europe AG as the risk carrier for its cyber offering.[1][17] Investor and insurer communications attribute additional carrier relationships over time, including ERGO and Liberty Specialty Markets, as well as multiple Lloyd's syndicate participants (Tokio Marine Kiln, Talbot Underwriting, and Argenta Syndicate Management) in mid-market offerings.[7][9][17][20] A reinsurer announcement confirms a partnership via the SCOR Syndicate at Lloyd's extending CyberSafe underwriting capacity.[2]
🔧 Technology and services partners. Baobab's cyber security page references a partner network including 1Password, Darktrace, and Device42, with partner discounts available for policyholders.[14][11] Multiple security measures are bundled at no additional cost with cyber insurance, including weekly scanning, awareness training, templates, and a DIN SPEC 27076 cyber risk check valued at €2,000; Managed Detection and Response (MDR) is presented as an add-on service.[14]
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Competitive positioning, risks, and outlook
📈 Scale and trajectory. Reported headcount is approximately 30 around the Series A cycle.[6] Public partner announcements and product eligibility thresholds show a clear expansion path from SMEs toward mid-market and upper mid-market/industrial segments, with revenue eligibility moving from €200M to €500M (reported) and to €1B (confirmed via the SCOR partnership).[1][2]
🧩 Competitive moat. Baobab emphasises weekly scanning, continuous monitoring, and an AI/ML risk model R&D project as differentiators; investors and partners repeat the "data-first" and "AI-native" positioning.[14] Product differentiation is further framed through bundled prevention: templates, phishing simulation training, awareness trainings, risk checks per DIN SPEC 27076, and vulnerability notification workflows.[14] Broker portal tooling and broker-facing risk visualisation are highlighted as distribution enablers, and the partner set appears to broaden over time, potentially reducing single-carrier dependency.[23][17]
🏁 Peer positioning. Within the cyber MGA ecosystem, Baobab most closely resembles a European "integrated cyber MGA" cluster combining broker-led distribution and embedded cyber services. The closest analogs by operating pattern are Coalition and At-Bay as full-stack cyber platform comparators in the US context and Stoïk and Eye Security as European challengers blending cyber services and insurance placement.[6][13][19][1] Baobab's distinct signal is its disclosed progression to higher revenue bands via Lloyd's-related authority and the SCOR partnership, marking a clear upmarket trajectory.[2]
🔴 Risk factors. Capacity dependency remains material: while multiple carrier relationships are cited over time, the premium share placed on each paper and the tenure of each binder are undisclosed, leaving residual concentration risk.[7] The move into larger revenue bands (up to €1B eligibility) may increase tail risk and aggregation exposure if portfolio controls, sublimits, and event management are not tightly governed.[2] As a registered insurance agent/MGA with claims-handling responsibilities, operational execution and complaint handling become material in cross-border contexts.[3] The cyber MGA segment remains crowded, with well-capitalized competitors and incumbent carriers upgrading in-house cyber capabilities, meaning differentiation depends on sustained broker adoption and demonstrable loss performance. Post-Series A expansion plans also depend on effective scaling of underwriting, claims, security services, and cross-border regulatory operations.[7]
🔭 Strategy and outlook. Public announcements tie recent funding to expansion into additional EU markets, strengthening positions in Germany and Austria, and broadening the product range for commercial customers.[7] The SCOR partnership is positioned as a milestone enabling entry into upper industrial client segments, implying a deliberate upmarket strategy likely requiring heavier underwriting governance, claims sophistication, and more bespoke placements.[2]
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Company founded by Vincenz Klemm and Anton Foth[11] |
| 2022-01 | Pre-seed financing (€3.5M) led by Project A Ventures[20] |
| 2022-09 | Launch in Germany[19] |
| 2023-01-30 | Augmentum announces €3M investment in a new round[21] |
| 2023-03 | Expansion to Austria[19] |
| 2024-07 | Augmentum follow-on investment (£0.6M disclosed)[18] |
| 2024-08 | IT liability insurance launch[18] |
| 2024-10 | Lloyd's coverholder appointment for mid-market cyber; cooperation with Lloyd's syndicates and ERGO[12] |
| 2025-01-14 | Cross-border rights date shown on Estonian regulator listing[9] |
| 2025-03 | E-crime product launch with Liberty Specialty Markets[5] |
| 2025-06-04 | €12M Series A; total raised €20.1M; EU expansion plans announced[7] |
| 2025-11 | Benelux active per reinsurer statement[2] |
| 2025-12-23 | AFM register lists Baobab Insurance GmbH (Lloyd's Insurance Company S.A. page)[10] |
| 2026-01-30 | SCOR partnership extends CyberSafe underwriting capacity to companies up to €1B revenue[2] |
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References
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