Ep. 9 | Why most MGAs fail before they launch...and how to build one that wins. feat. David Gritz, Co-Founder, InsurtechNY

Age of the MGA Podcast

Want to launch a successful MGA in 2025?
Before you pitch a reinsurer or raise a dime, watch this.
In this episode of The Age of the MGA Podcast, we sit down with David Gritz—co-founder of InsurtechNY and the InsurTech Fund. He’s helped launch 80+ InsurTech startups and runs the only accelerator built specifically for digital MGAs.
Inside this conversation, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at:
✅ What actually makes a reinsurer say yes
✅ Why most MGA decks get rejected
✅ The 3 things every founder must prove before launch
✅ What capacity partners and investors are really looking for in 2025
✅ The difference between a lifestyle MGA and a venture-backable one
✅ What the exit landscape looks like today—and how to build for it
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🔗 Stay Connected & Follow the Movement:
🎧 Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube
📲 Follow the Age of the MGA on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/age-of-the-mga/
👉 Connect with the Hosts:
Doug Ver Mulm: https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglasvermulm/
Dylan Brand: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylanbrand/
Peter Tilbrook: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-tilbrook-50832336/
👉 Connect with our special Guest at InsurtechNY and InsurTech Fund:
David Gritz, Co-Founder: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidgritz/
Website: https://www.insurtechny.com/
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00:00 – Pre-show banter and intros
03:30 – Who is David Gritz? His journey from Zero to Everest Re to InsurTech NY
07:50 – Why Zero failed…and what it taught him about MGA risk
10:40 – Founding InsurTech NY: the real origin story
13:20 – Why most accelerators don’t work for MGA founders
16:15 – Inside the Digital MGA Lab: structure, mentors, and success criteria
22:45 – The 3 non-negotiables reinsurers look for in MGA startups
29:30 – Case studies: when NOT to become an MGA
33:20 – What capacity partners are looking for in 2025
36:55 – What MGA ideas are trending and getting funding now?
40:30 – The investor landscape: smart money vs. dumb money
43:50 – Valuations, exits, and how to build for acquisition
49:10 – Should you raise VC or stick with a lifestyle MGA model?
51:30 – David’s legacy and the long game for InsurTech NY
54:00 – Outro, field trips, and closing banter
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