Ask Kodiak

Commercial lines appetite and eligibility platform connecting P&C carriers with independent agents

Distribution & Sales Established Acquired

Overview

Ask Kodiak is a distribution technology platform for property and casualty carriers and independent agents, focused on commercial lines appetite and eligibility management. The platform enables P&C carriers to define, maintain, and publish their underwriting appetite in a centralized, searchable format that agents can access in real time. Founded in 2015 by Michael Albert and Allan Egbert, both veterans of Agencyport Software, Ask Kodiak was bootstrapped to profitability before being acquired by IVANS in August 2021.

The platform operates as a SaaS solution with two primary interfaces: a carrier-facing tool for configuring and publishing appetite data, and an agent-facing search interface that allows independent agents and brokers to query carrier markets by risk type, industry classification, and geography. The carrier product includes a Risk Appetite API that enables integrations with agency management systems, comparative raters, and other distribution technology. Pre-built connectors support over ten systems including Applied Epic, EZLynx, Zywave, and Vertafore ReferenceConnect.

Ask Kodiak operates today as a featured product within the IVANS family of brands, which is part of Applied Systems. The product continues to serve P&C carriers seeking to improve submission quality and reduce manual appetite communication, as well as independent agencies seeking transparent access to carrier markets for commercial and specialty lines risks.

Products & Services

Ask Kodiak for Carriers

A self-service platform for P&C carriers to centralize and publish commercial lines appetite and eligibility data across the independent agency distribution channel.

Key Features

Self-service appetite configuration by NAICS and SIC code, state, and risk class
Real-time publication of appetite changes to the agent-facing search interface
Risk Appetite API for integration into websites, agent portals, and internal tools
Pre-built integrations with Applied Epic, EZLynx, Zywave, Vertafore ReferenceConnect, Tarmika, and Epic Quotes
Analytics dashboards tracking appetite views, top-ranking profiles, and agency demand signals

Target Users: P&C carriers and MGAs managing commercial lines appetite communication

Ask Kodiak for Agents

A free search interface allowing independent agents and brokers to identify carrier appetite for commercial and specialty risks without manual phone or email inquiries.

Key Features

Google-like search by industry, risk class, state, and product type
Coverage of multiple carriers in a single interface
Integration with agency management system workflows
Access to carrier product highlights, underwriting guidelines, and collateral

Target Users: Independent agents and brokers placing commercial lines business

At a Glance

Founded: 2015
Headquarters: Arlington, Massachusetts
Employees: 1-10
Funding: Acquired

Category & Focus

Category: Distribution & Sales
Subcategories: Appetite Management Commercial Lines Distribution Agent-Carrier Connectivity
Insurance Verticals: P&C Commercial Specialty/E&S
Target Customers: Carriers, Agents/Agencies, MGAs/MGUs