Dialogue Drives Innovation
Q&A with Andrew Reutter, CFO and COO, Higginbotham
In this interview, Reutter discusses his first experience at the annual BTV Mania, which was held April 14–15, 2026, in Des Moines, Iowa.
Each year, insurtech accelerator BrokerTech Ventures brings its annual cohort of startups together for an opportunity to meet with owner and partner companies, carriers, and others. Reutter lays out the value of talking to both BTV cohort members and broker peers all in one place and why Higginbotham, now a BTV broker partner, saw the accelerator as a good collaborator to help the brokerage take its service to the next level.
Q
BTV Mania happened a couple weeks ago. How was your experience there? Do you have any high-level takeaways?
A
“Mania” is the right title. It was a few very efficient and intense days. As a new participant, we were able to go in on Day One and meet with the BTV alumni, several of which are currently our vendor partners. It was great to see them on the list and see them in person.
The format I really like. The cohort group this year was selected in advance, and they came well prepared, ready to discuss in-depth their product offering, where they can help with pain points in all of our organizations. They were very open to giving us the road map of where they’re at today and where they’re going. If you went out and met with each one of those firms individually, it would probably take several meetings, several engagements—versus going in for three days and really getting to see what’s going on.
I think the last and maybe even the most important thing is just the peer broker dialogue. Everyone comparing notes, giving us insight, giving feedback on what’s working, what isn’t, and where things are evolving.
Q
What was the most valuable aspect of the conference?
A
The peer dialogue. Not only on the technology side, but how firms are handling change management, how firms are handling workflow assessment and reevaluation. How do you confront people regarding AI and technology and really let them know that it’s for support, not to replace the employee? We’re spending a lot of time making sure that this industry continues to be a people-driven business. And now, how do we overlay technology, overlay AI to allow us really to work smarter, not harder?
It’s great to get peer feedback, and I think that was most valuable. Second would just be getting to know these [startup] founders. We view vendors as trusted partners: it’s not just about the technology, there needs to be a real cultural fit with alignment and trust. To be able to meet in person with these entrepreneurial leaders, hear their road map, their thesis, where they’re at, where they’re going, and spend real time with them before you engage in even a test run is quite valuable.
Q
How did BTV Mania emphasize the importance of broker-led collaboration?
A
Several of the firms that have been part of BTV for many years spend a lot of time and resources every year vetting the new firms that are becoming part of the BTV network. These firms are very welcoming and are open to sharing their views, experiences, and what they have learned during the initial screening phases. The openness of the group and their commitment to positive change in the industry is amazing to see.
People like [BTV co-founder and co-CEO and Holmes Murphy CEO] Dan Keough, who had the original vision, continue to spend time and effort with all these firms to test and make sure that they’re going to be a good partner. That just reduces the wasted time. History has shown the team at BTV has done a good job of selecting the right partners.
Q
Have you or Higginbotham worked with other insurtech accelerators before?
A
We have not.
Q
What distinguishes BTV?
A
What distinguishes BTV is the alignment of interests it creates. The firms in the space are investing capital in technology they intend to use, and that lets you have real dialogue throughout the life cycle—building the product, building the company—while wearing multiple hats as investor and client. Having peers in the room to share what has worked (and what hasn’t) makes that feedback loop even more valuable.
Another indicator of BTV’s impact is longevity. I believe the number of startups that remain active is greater than 90%. Valuations after being in the program have more than doubled, and collectively these cohort companies have raised an impressive amount of capital since participating.
Credit goes to the visionaries behind it—the entire BTV team. While BTV Mania may be their Super Bowl, the monthly check-ins, or “labs,” are just as valuable. The dialogue is very helpful, opening up dialogue on all important topics. We’re excited about the partnership and the value still to come.
