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Sproutr Raises Seed Round to Help MGAs/MGUs, Program Administrators, and Carriers Launch Innovative P&C Products and Programs Faster and More Efficiently

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InsurTech Startup Supports Over 35 Customers and has Successfully Launched More Than 60 Innovative Products and Programs in Just Two and a Half Years

SOLEBURY, Pa., May 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Sproutr, a boutique insurance product design and build firm, today announced the close of its seed round led by Altai Ventures, one of the leading specialist fintech venture capital firms.

Built by insurance operators, Sproutr exists to bridge one of the industry’s most pressing challenges: the gap between innovation and execution. By helping MGAs/MGUs, program administrators, and carriers navigate complex regulatory processes and internal structures, Sproutr empowers them to launch new P&C products and programs faster, smarter, and more efficiently — seizing market opportunities before they’re lost.

“Within virtually every entity that sells insurance products lies a team that is often not spoken about – a department responsible for developing policy language, drafting endorsements, and by doing so, one that defines the very promises that insurers make to their policyholders and without which they would not be able to operate,” explained Oleg Ilichev, Managing Partner, Altai Ventures. “Developing effective product language comes from program management experience. Leading with outcome-based insurance insights, Sproutr has built a method that enhances these existing workflows and offerings by combining the best insurance product experts with modern technology to design insurance products and programs in a more efficient and strategic manner,” said Ilichev.

Sproutr addresses a critical industry challenge, which is the gap between insurance innovation and execution. For new and existing MGAs/MGUs and program administrators, translating early-stage ideas into viable, carrier-backed programs involves navigating complex regulatory processes, internal carrier structures, and uncertain timelines. All of these factors can hinder innovation.

On the carrier side, rigid workflows and siloed responsibilities can also slow down decision-making, leading to missed market opportunities by launching products too late or chasing ill-defined business cases.

Sproutr’s mission is to redefine the standards in insurance program and product design by simplifying the process of bringing regulated products to market. Sproutr achieves this through its tech-forward approach, proprietary frameworks & processes, and deep industry expertise, helping new and established MGAs/MGUs, program administrators, and others capitalize on market opportunities and avoid missteps.

Sproutr is comprised of experienced insurance operators who have successfully launched and scaled insurance programs across the P&C spectrum. The firm delivers end-to-end advisory, authoring, and execution support across all stages of development, including:

Market ValidationUnderwriting GuidelinesForm & Rate DevelopmentRegulatory FilingsCarrier Paper StrategyPost Launch Audits and More

“At Accelerant, we pride ourselves on helping our Members move with agility and purpose,” said Mike McAuliffe, President at Accelerant Underwriting Managers. “Sproutr has been instrumental in delivering on this promise, sharing our Member-centric worldview and helping them build products and programs that meet real market needs,” noted McAuliffe.

Sproutr’s team of insurance professionals (CUOs, Product Managers, Compliance Experts, etc.) has over 300 years of combined experience building products and programs. Currently, the firm supports over 35 customers and has successfully launched over 60 products and programs in just 2.5 years. Some of the customers that trust Sproutr include: Accelerant, Blitz Insurance, Boost, District Cover, Everspan, MGT Insurance Company, and Sertis, among others.

“Having built, launched, and managed programs at AIG, Hippo, Hanover, and Attune, I know firsthand how hard it is to bring new insurance products to market even when you have access to the required parts (paper, capacity, & product), ” said JoAnne Artesani, CEO & Founder, Sproutr. “I founded Sproutr to direct my experience towards building a practice dedicated to propelling founders and program writers in executing their visions using smart, cost-effective, and pragmatic approaches. At Sproutr, we call this “Seeing Beyond”. Today, we operate these principles at scale with a technology-driven, customer first approach and a growing team of incredible talent, which drove my decision to bring strategic capital into Sproutr,” explained Artesani.

Sproutr, a profitable insurtech startup with over 35 customers, plans to use its funding to create more value for its growing customer base by accelerating the firm’s execution of its technology roadmap and scaling its growing team. The firm is a proud partner program member of AAIS and an approved service provider of TMPAA. For more information about Sproutr, visit: https://www.sproutr.com/ 

About Sproutr
Sproutr is an insurance product design & build firm. Moving beyond advisory services, Sproutr exists to support start-up and legacy insurance providers in leading core insurance functions to validate, design, and author new or expanding product launch efforts. Their team has deep experience and credibility in leading underwriting, process, and product design and implementation within Fortune 500 companies and unicorn insurtechs. Choosing Sproutr means gaining the strength and credibility of a multi-disciplinary team that has navigated real industry obstacles. 

About Altai Ventures
Altai Ventures is a specialist venture capital firm with a focus on backing and incubating early-stage startups in financial services. Altai’s mission is to empower extraordinary founders to reinvent financial services by using its operating expertise, deep industry knowledge, and strategic LPs to drive immediate, meaningful value creation.

Media Contact:
JoAnne Artesani
info@sproutr.com
215-867-9277

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SOURCE Sproutr Holdings LLC

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TrendAI™ Adopts Claude Opus 5 to Advance Vulnerability Prioritization, Assessment, and Virtual Patching

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As a participant in Anthropic’s Cyber Verification Program, TrendAI applies frontier reasoning to convert vulnerability intelligence into faster protection across hybrid environments

DALLAS, July 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — TrendAI™, the enterprise AI security leader from Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704), today announced it is adopting Claude Opus 5, Anthropic’s latest and most capable Opus model, to help security teams convert vulnerability intelligence into immediate protection, from prioritization and assessment through to virtual patching. The move builds on TrendAI’s collaboration with Anthropic on Claude Opus 4.8, extending the same defensive focus to a model that delivers step-change gains in advanced reasoning, agentic workflows, and long-horizon analysis. As AI makes finding vulnerabilities easier than ever, the harder problem becomes protecting organizations faster than software can be permanently patched, and that is where TrendAI is putting Opus 5 to work.

As a participant in Anthropic’s Cyber Verification Program, which credentials organizations for the defensive use of frontier AI models, TrendAI is positioned to apply Claude Opus 5 to defensive security as access becomes available. The model is Zero Data Retention compatible, supporting TrendAI’s governance and data-protection requirements as it scales AI across security operations.

Rachel Jin, Chief Platform and Business Officer, Head of TrendAI™:
“With Claude Opus 5, TrendAI can move from vulnerability intelligence to action faster than ever, prioritizing what matters most by exploitability and business impact. Finding the vulnerability was always the hard part. Now the challenge is protecting organizations faster than software can be permanently patched, and frontier reasoning is what changes that equation, extending all the way to virtual patching that protects customers before a vendor fix ships. This is what it means to secure the AI age, fearlessly.”

These capabilities support TrendAI Vision One™ in helping security analysts, AppSec teams, and SOC teams prioritize exposure, map attack paths, and accelerate mitigation, including virtual patching, across hybrid environments, moving vulnerability management from a static scanning process into a faster, context-aware risk mitigation workflow.

About TrendAI™
TrendAI™, the global AI security leader and enterprise business unit of Trend Micro, empowers organizations with full AI visibility and consolidated security that inspires confidence, drives innovation, and eliminates risk. Trusted by the largest enterprises and governments across 185 countries, TrendAI™ secures the entire organization, from identities, to infrastructure, to data. Global Fortune 500 companies rely on TrendAI™ to cut risk and stop threats up to three months earlier, powered by world-leading threat and attack intelligence. Through deep ecosystem partnerships with market leaders like NVIDIA, Anthropic, AWS, Google, and Microsoft, TrendAI™ empowers your organization to securely drive forward at the speed of AI. AI Fearlessly. Learn more: trendaisecurity.com

About Anthropic
Anthropic is an AI safety and research company dedicated to building reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems. Its Claude family of models, including Claude Opus 5, enables advanced capabilities across a wide range of applications, including code understanding and security analysis.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trendai-adopts-claude-opus-5-to-advance-vulnerability-prioritization-assessment-and-virtual-patching-302834362.html

SOURCE TrendAI

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Secretary of State Belanger announces expansion of high-speed Internet access in Saskatchewan

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Federal investment of over $141 million will help connect more than 30,000 homes to high–speed Internet

HUMBOLDT, SK, July 24, 2026 /CNW/ — Reliable and affordable high-speed Internet is essential for all Canadians. It enables access to important online resources, connects friends and families, and drives economic growth and innovation. This is why the Government of Canada is helping bring high-speed Internet access to underserved communities–including Indigenous communities–in Saskatchewan.

Today, the Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State for Rural Development, announced over $141 million in federal funding for six projects to bring high-speed Internet access to more than 30,000 households in over 500 rural and remote communities across Saskatchewan.

This funding is provided through the Universal Broadband Fund, a program designed to ensure that Canadians in rural, remote and Indigenous communities have access to reliable high-speed Internet.

The Government of Canada has committed to ensuring that every household in Canada has access to high-speed Internet by 2030, and it is on track to meet this connectivity target. These projects will build toward that goal, and the government will continue to invest in infrastructure that creates new opportunities and makes sure communities can benefit from all of Canada’s potential.

Quotes

“High-speed Internet is no longer just a luxury–it’s essential infrastructure, no matter where you live in Canada. It’s how people access health care virtually, start a business or just stay in touch with their loved ones. That’s why we made a historic commitment to provide 100% of Canadian households with access to high-speed Internet by 2030. The projects announced today are a major milestone for connectivity in Saskatchewan, providing reliable and affordable high-speed Internet to more than 30,000 underserved homes in over 500 rural and remote communities across the province.”
– The Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State for Rural Development

“In many rural and remote areas, connectivity projects like these face a number of financial and structural barriers. Federal tools like the Canada Infrastructure Bank help bridge that gap, ensuring critical infrastructure is built where it otherwise would not be. By supporting initiatives like this, we are advancing economic growth today and helping close the connectivity gap for underserved communities well into the future.”
– The Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada

“Access to dependable high-speed Internet should not be determined by where people live. Thanks to support from the Government of Canada through the Universal Broadband Fund, RFNOW is delivering the infrastructure needed to connect underserved rural and First Nations communities across Saskatchewan. Together, we are building a stronger digital future that will enhance economic development, support essential services and improve quality of life for thousands of Canadians.”
– Chris Kennedy, Chief Executive Officer, RFNOW Inc.

“Every community deserves the opportunity that comes with access to reliable high-speed Internet–and that’s exactly what this investment delivers. In partnership with the Government of Canada’s Universal Broadband Fund, Xplore is bringing high-speed Internet connectivity to nearly 20,000 homes and businesses in Saskatchewan. Better connectivity means more than faster downloads–it means students can learn without interruption, families can access health care from home, and local businesses can compete on a level playing field.”
– Brent Johnston, Chief Executive Officer, Xplore Inc.

“Since our establishment in 2007, we have been committed to providing dependable Internet service and strengthening connections in the communities we serve. With support from the Government of Canada’s Universal Broadband Fund, we’re excited to expand our network and introduce new 6 GHz fixed wireless technology capable of delivering speeds of up to 1 Gbps. This project will help more residents of rural and remote communities access the reliable high-speed connectivity they need for work, education, health care, business and everyday life.”
– Allen Stafford, President, Stafford Communications Inc.

“Beaver River Broadband has secured federal Universal Broadband Fund support to deliver fibre-to-the-home infrastructure directly to Peepeekisis Cree Nation. This critical investment guarantees gigabit-capable Internet access that will transform local opportunities in digital education, remote health care and community-led economic development. Crucially, the project underscores the importance of partnering with smaller, regional Internet providers that bring deep community roots, agile deployment and a dedicated focus on serving areas that larger national carriers often overlook. As an Indigenous-led regional provider working closely with First Nations, Beaver River Broadband understands the unique needs of the area and delivers tailored, reliable customer support on the ground. Empowering local providers through initiatives like the Universal Broadband Fund ensures that underserved First Nations are not just connected but also supported by partners invested in their long-term digital sovereignty.”
– John DeGraauw, CEO, Beaver River Broadband

“MCSnet’s fibre-to-the-tower expansion in Saskatchewan will deliver fast, highly reliable Internet access to underserved homes in rural Saskatchewan, courtesy of a dedicated, community-invested provider. As a family-owned company based in the Prairies, we have been serving rural communities with our innovative technology and exceptional customer service for over 30 years.”
– Jerome VanBrabant, Chief Projects Officer, MCSnet

Quick facts

Canada’s Connectivity Strategy aims to provide all Canadians with access to Internet speeds of at least 50 megabits per second (Mbps) download / 10 Mbps upload.The Universal Broadband Fund is a $3.225 billion investment by the Government of Canada designed to help provide high-speed Internet access to 98% of Canadian households by the end of 2026 and achieve the national target of 100% access by 2030.Today, 97.4% of Canadian households have access to high-speed Internet, compared to just 79% in 2014.In Saskatchewan, 89.2% of households currently have access to high-speed internet.Since 2015, the Government of Canada has invested $242 million in connectivity projects in Saskatchewan.The Canada Infrastructure Bank has committed more than $2 billion toward digital (broadband) infrastructure, closing last-mile connectivity gaps across Canada.Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit individuals and gender diverse people are more likely to go missing or be murdered than non-Indigenous women. Better connectivity means more tools in moments of danger, enabling victims of violence to access critical online resources and get help when they need it most.Building on the Building a Green Prairie Economy Act, the Government of Canada launched the Prairie Partnership Initiative to build a dynamic, sustainable and inclusive economy in the Prairie provinces.

Associated links

Rural economic developmentHigh-Speed Internet Access DashboardUniversal Broadband FundBackgrounder: Universal Broadband Fund and Telesat low Earth orbit capacity agreementCanada Infrastructure Bank: Digital Infrastructure and AIHigh-Speed Access for All: Canada’s Connectivity StrategyNational Broadband MapFederal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ PeoplePrairie Partnership Initiative

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For easy access to government programs for businesses, download the Canada Business app.

SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

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Fragmented Web Strategies Leave Organizations Exposed as Digital Expectations Rise, Warns Info-Tech Research Group

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Organizations are increasingly focused on modernizing their digital presence to meet rising user expectations, yet many still rely on decentralized content models, inconsistent governance, and legacy platforms. New findings from Info-Tech Research Group show that without a structured web experience management (WEM) strategy, web initiatives often fail to align with business goals and user needs. The firm’s blueprint Develop Your Web Experience Management Strategy provides a five-phase framework and tools to help IT leaders strengthen governance and align web priorities with organizational objectives.

ARLINGTON, Va., July 24, 2026 /CNW/ — Organizations continue to invest in digital platforms and web modernization efforts, but progress is often limited by unclear priorities, inconsistent ownership, and a lack of shared performance measures. New insights from Info-Tech Research Group indicate that without a clear understanding of web experience maturity and readiness, digital investments fail to translate into consistent and measurable outcomes. The global research and advisory firm’s recently published blueprint, Develop Your Web Experience Management Strategy, provides a structured five-phase methodology to assess current-state capabilities, define priority audiences and journeys, and build a practical roadmap for evolving the web ecosystem in alignment with organizational objectives.

“Web experience management has moved beyond basic websites to become a core driver of growth and engagement,” says Hriday Gulrajani, senior research analyst at Info-Tech Research Group. “CIOs and IT leaders need to align marketing, data, and technology teams under clear governance and a structured roadmap to deliver consistent, scalable digital experiences.”

Info-Tech’s blueprint shows that many organizations treat web modernization as a technology upgrade rather than a coordinated experience strategy. As a result, content operations remain decentralized, integration between core systems such as CMS, CRM, and analytics platforms is inconsistent, and governance responsibilities are not clearly defined. While capabilities such as personalization, automation, and advanced analytics offer opportunities to improve engagement and operational efficiency, organizations often lack a structured framework for prioritizing initiatives and measuring progress across the web ecosystem.

Key Challenges IT Leaders Face in Web Experience Management
Despite ongoing investment in digital platforms and experience initiatives, many organizations encounter structural and operational barriers that limit progress. Info-Tech’s research highlights several persistent challenges:

Content decisions are often made in silos, resulting in inconsistent messaging, fragmented governance, and unclear ownership across teams.Limited integration between CMS, CRM, analytics, and other core systems restricts visibility into user behavior and makes it difficult to measure and improve web experience performance.Legacy platforms and constrained architectures limit personalization, automation, accessibility, and multichannel delivery capabilities.Misalignment between marketing, IT, and data teams slows decision-making and weakens the organization’s ability to evolve its web ecosystem strategically.

Info-Tech’s Practical Framework for Web Experience Management
To address these challenges, Info-Tech recommends a structured five-phase approach that connects organizational strategy, customer experience priorities, and web execution. The Develop Your Web Experience Management Strategy blueprint outlines the following priorities for CIOs and IT leaders:

Phase 1: Define Vision & Success Criteria – Align WEM objectives to organizational strategy, define strategic outcomes, and establish experience KPIs to measure performance across digital touchpoints.

Phase 2: Assess Current State & Readiness – Use a web experience maturity model to evaluate capabilities across people, process, technology, and performance, and identify integration gaps and readiness risks.

Phase 3: Understand Audiences & Experience Priorities – Define priority personas, map end-to-end journeys, and translate organizational goals into structured web experience use cases prioritized by value and feasibility.

Phase 4: Architect & Govern the Ecosystem – Establish architecture principles, design the target-state WEM ecosystem, and define governance structures and operating models that clarify roles, ownership, and decision rights.

Phase 5: Launch, Communicate, & Measure – Develop a phased roadmap aligned to key value drivers, implement performance measurement frameworks, and enable continuous optimization across the web ecosystem.

Info-Tech’s Develop Your Web Experience Management Strategy blueprint is supported by a Web Experience Management Business Case Template and a Web Experience Initiatives Prioritization and Roadmap Planning Tool. These resources are designed to help CIOs and IT leaders build a clear case for modernization, prioritize initiatives based on value and feasibility, and develop phased roadmaps aligned to organizational objectives. By applying this framework and its supporting tools, organizations can strengthen governance, improve cross-functional alignment, and evolve their web ecosystem in a measurable and scalable way.

For exclusive and timely commentary from Info-Tech’s experts, including Hriday Gulrajani, and access to the complete Develop Your Web Experience Management Strategy blueprint, please contact pr@infotech.com.

About Info-Tech Research Group
Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world’s leading and fastest-growing research and advisory firms, serving over 30,000 IT, HR, and marketing professionals around the globe. As a trusted product and service leader, the company delivers unbiased, highly relevant research and industry-leading advisory support to help leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For nearly 30 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with teams to provide everything they need, from actionable tools to expert guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations. 

To learn more about Info-Tech’s HR research and advisory services, visit McLean & Company, and for data-driven software buying insights and vendor evaluations, visit the firm’s SoftwareReviews platform. 

Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software, as well as hundreds of industry analysts through the firm’s Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact pr@infotech.com

For information about Info-Tech Research Group or to access the latest research, visit infotech.com and connect via LinkedIn and X

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SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group

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