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Harper

Category: AI in Fintech

AI-native commercial insurance brokerage that automates traditionally manual insurance workflows for small and mid-sized businesses. Harper was founded in 2024. The company is led by Dakotah Rice. Based in San Francisco, USA. Team size: 25. Total funding raised: $54.0M. Latest round: Series A. Key investors include Emergence Capital, Y Combinator, Peak XV Partners, Lobster Capital, Antler, 10X Founders, Fellows Fund, Outset Capital.

Founded
2024
Headquarters
San Francisco, USA
Team size
25
Total funding
$54.0M

Value proposition

Automates insurance workflows with AI to deliver faster quotes (1-2 days vs 5-7 days traditional), access to 160+ carriers, 24/7 customer support, and lower costs without sacrificing coverage quality

Products and solutions

Workers' compensation insurance, General liability insurance, Professional liability insurance, AI-powered quote routing and carrier matching, Automated document processing and management, 24/7 AI-powered customer support, Real-time policy management and compliance tracking

Unique value

Harper is the world's first AI-native commercial insurance brokerage that replaced traditional manual processes with autonomous AI agents. Unlike competitors who build AI tools for existing brokers, Harper IS the broker. The platform handles 1,000+ customers per month versus the industry average of 20-30, reduces processing steps from 50 to 5, and uses voice AI for quote generation. Achieves 98.78% client retention rate by combining AI efficiency with human expertise.

Target customer

Small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) across various industries including trucking, technology, construction, and consulting

Industries served

Commercial Insurance & InsurTech, Financial Technology (Fintech), Enterprise Software & AI, Multiple business sectors (transportation, technology, construction, professional services, logistics, manufacturing)

Technology advantage

Proprietary AI/ML systems process 1M+ datapoints on quote intelligence and analyze 100k+ prior customer interactions in real-time to match businesses with the right carrier. The platform provides access to 160+ carrier relationships (versus typical broker's few dozen), automates submission routing, underwriter follow-ups, document collection, and pipeline management 24/7. Delivers enterprise-grade service at 1/10th the traditional cost while processing policies in 1-2 days instead of 5-7 days.

How they differentiate

World's first AI-native commercial insurance brokerage where autonomous AI agents replace manual workflows, handling 1,000+ customers per month vs industry average of 20-30, processing 1M+ datapoints on quote intelligence, reducing processing steps from 50 to 5, and delivering enterprise-grade service at 1/10th traditional cost with 160+ carrier relationships

Main competitors

Embroker, Next Insurance, CoverWallet

Key partnerships

Emergence Capital (Series A lead investor), Y Combinator (W25 batch), Peak XV Partners, Lobster Capital, Antler, 10X Founders, Fellows Fund, Outset Capital, 160+ insurance carrier network including industry leaders, Leadership team with Goldman Sachs, Carlyle Group, and Coatue Management background

Notable customers

Technology companies, Transportation/Trucking businesses, Construction firms, Professional services/Consulting, Manufacturing companies, Healthcare providers, Hospitality businesses

Major milestones

Y Combinator Winter 2025 graduate, Largest publicly disclosed Series A raised by a Black founder, Reached 5,000+ customers within first year, Achieved 98.78% client retention rate, Processing capacity of 1,000+ customers per month vs industry average 20-30

Growth metrics

$2.3M ARR, 6,000+ clients with 98.78% retention, $6M+ annualized premiums across 35 states, processing 1,000+ customers per month vs industry average of 20-30

Market positioning

AI-native commercial insurance brokerage targeting SMBs with complex insurance needs, bridging gap between traditional slow manual brokerages and simple digital platforms

Geographic focus

United States (35 states)

Patents and IP

No registered patents disclosed as of latest update (February 2026)

About Dakotah Rice

Former investment banker at Goldman Sachs (TMT group, 2012-2015), private equity investor at The Carlyle Group (2015-2018), public equity investor at Coatue Management (2018-2019). Previous founder of Poolit (fintech platform for PE/VC fund investing, scaled to $100M AUM, closed in 2023). Harvard Business School dropout (2019-2021), Brown University graduate (BA Political Science, 2012). Family background in insurance brokerage industry.

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