AI-powered insurance brokerage startup raises $46.8 million

Harper, an AI-based insurance brokerage startup, has raised $46.8 million in a combined Series A and seed funding round, the company recently announced.

According to a report by TechCrunch on the matter, the round was led by Emergence Capital, with participation from Y Combinator, Lobster Capital, and Peak XV Partners. Harper participated in the YC Winter 2025 batch.

The company was founded by CEO Dakotah Rice and former Poolit CTO Tushar Nair. Rice previously founded investment company Poolit, which closed in 2023, as per TechCrunch.

Launched in 2024, Harper describes itself as an AI-native commercial insurance agency. The platform matches small to mid-sized businesses with more than 160 insurance carriers for coverage, including workers' compensation, general liability, and professional liability. According to Rice, the company now serves more than 5,000 customers.

The startup aims to automate traditionally manual processes, including submission routing, underwriter follow-ups, document collection, and pipeline management, Rice shared with TechCrunch in an interview. It targets businesses across middle America, including daycares, manufacturers, car dealerships, and local restaurants.

As per the report, the funding will be used to expand the engineering team and grow the brand, with plans to eventually expand beyond insurance into broader risk, compliance, and back-office services for entrepreneurs.