(Image source: MetLife.)

MetLife has announced the inaugural class of MetLife Digital Accelerator powered by Techstars, which connects startups with MetLife leaders and Techstars mentors for an intensive 13-week program focused on fast-tracking technologies with the potential to disrupt the industry. Below, a selection of representatives of the chosen companies comment on their association with the Accelerator.

Aligned Business (Singapore)

“We are an insurance technology and solutions provider. We see high relevance and huge business opportunity to participate in the MetLife Digital Accelerator powered by Techstars. At this critical moment when we just launched our product to market, this program not only presents a huge opportunity to get our product seen, critiqued and ultimately used by MetLife, but also a great privilege to be mentored and exposed for potential investor interests in front of the insurance technology community.” —Susan He, CEO

Buddy (Richmond, Va.)

“We wanted an accelerator to help us go farther, faster. Techstars’ track record shaping early companies coupled with MetLife’s expertise in insurance is exactly the right mix to supercharge our company. ” —Charles Merritt, CEO

Enroll Hero  (Santa Monica, California)

“We are thrilled to be joining the MetLife Digital Accelerator powered by Techstars because of its unique focus on InsurTech. We couldn’t ask for a better scenario to grow our business than partnering with a top insurance company and a top startup accelerator.” – Mark Lee, CEO

FIX (Atlanta)

“MetLife touches more lives than almost any other company in the world, and it has the power and reach to be a positive force for health change. When combined with Techstars, who has established themselves as the platinum tier for company transformation and acceleration, this opportunity is a no brainer. We’re humbled to have met the standard and been accepted into the program.” —Mike Tinney, CEO

Halos Insurance (Washington, D.C.)

“Through this accelerator, MetLife and Techstars are on a mission to move the insurance industry forward, and they are making their rich insurance resources and expertise available for all participating start-ups. This unique accelerator will give us a solid foundation for the years to come and de-risk our journey as we start executing on the bold vision of Halos Insurance.” —Satadru Sengupta, CEO, Halos Insurance

Portabl (London)

“The choice for Portabl to join the MetLife Digital Accelerator powered by Techstars was driven by three things. First, there is perfect alignment between our mission and the goals of the accelerator to focus on better serving the gig and freelance economies. Second, as an early stage business to be able to partner with the combined global firepower of both the Techstars and MetLife organisations and the opportunity for us to learn from their undoubted experience across the markets we are looking to develop was immense. And third, our mutual belief in the power of positive ecosystems to accelerate growth – especially when coupled with unrivalled access to the subject matter expertise that this accelerator brings – could only make our business better, faster and stronger.” —Mike Minett, CEO

Safely (Atlanta)

“We chose the MetLife Digital Accelerator powered by Techstars to be surrounded by the most innovative InsurTech business models in the world. This industry is ready for massive disruption, and we want to be with the leaders. We are also ready to scale, and the MetLife and TechStars mentorship will turbocharge our growth.” —Andrew Bates, CEO

MetLife Digital Accelerator Picks 10 Startup for Inaugural Class