Jihan Abass: Kenyan woman to represent Africa at world InsureTech Connect 2020

Jihan Abass, a 26-year-old Kenyan woman, who set up the country’s first digital car insurance agency, has been picked to represent Africa at the world InsureTech Connect (ITC) 2020.

InsureTech connect is the largest gathering of the leading minds in insurance innovation and transformation.

In a statement issued on Thursday, InsureTech Connect congratulated Ms. Abass for emerging top in the Best Pitch category.

“Congratulations to Jihan Abass, CEO of Lami for winning best #insurtech pitch at the Africa #1 stop of the ITC + DIA World Tour! Be sure to learn more about Lami in the World Tour finals at ITC Global September 21st – 23rd,” tweeted ITC.

Speaking to Citizen TV on Friday, Abass who is founder and CEO of Griffin Insurance, expressed her delight at the win saying: ‘I’m very excited to be one of the people who are going to be representing Africa in this world insuretech pitch. It is really quite a big validation for us since what we are doing is relevant and people are excited about it.”

Taking place September 21st – 23rd, ITC Global will feature three content streams, 1:1 meetings, speed networking, digital expo halls, content specific hangouts, a virtual coffee bar, wine tasting, and much more.

Griffin is Kenya’s first digital-only car insurance agency, which lets customers pay in instalments and pause coverage if they travel abroad.

According to Ms. Abass, Griffin will process claims in a week rather than the industry standard of 30 days.

“It allows you to buy your insurance policy in less than two minutes,” said Abass.

In addition to the app, Abass has another company, Lami, that sells the technology platform used to build Griffin so other businesses can use it to create their own digital insurance products.

According to a report published on Reuters, Lami raised half a million dollars in seed funding and aims to close a further funding round by March.

Abass, who grew up wakeboarding in the Indian Ocean at the weekend, always wanted to work in business. After graduating from university in London in 2015 she became a sugar trader and was one of a handful of women in the business, just as she is now.

Also Read: Jihan Abass sets up Kenya’s first digital car insurance agency