The Zebra operates a real-time insurance comparison site that began with auto quotes and partners with the top 10 U.S. auto carriers. It has expanded into homeowners insurance and recently launched a dedicated home-and-auto bundled product, with plans to branch into renters and life insurance. The company plans to become an insurance advisor by adding tools, creating more personalized experiences via machine learning, and launching a national advertising campaign to build its brand and deeper user connections. The Zebra doubled net revenue in 2020 to $79 million (from $37 million in 2019), reported March revenue of $12.5 million and was on track for a $150 million annual run rate; revenue per applicant grew about 100% year-over-year. Headcount increased to over 325 from about 200 in early 2020, and the company was briefly profitable for a couple of months last year. Management says the new capital will be used to accelerate growth, hiring and product plans rather than to fund basic operations. The Zebra operates an online insurance marketplace that helps consumers compare policies and pricing. The company reported strong user and revenue growth, citing 1.3 million monthly website visitors and revenue of nearly $37 million in 2019. Its annual run rate is now above $60 million, and it expects to grow well over 100% in 2020. The Zebra says it is improving customer acquisition costs while increasing revenue per unit, suggesting more efficient growth. Management is focused on execution rather than a specific exit strategy. The Zebra is an Austin, Texas-based auto insurance comparison marketplace that helps consumers search, understand, and purchase coverage. The company has partnered with 80% of the top 25 auto insurance companies and offers educational resources to simplify insurance decisions. Leadership includes Joshua Dziabiak (COO), Keith Melnick (CEO), and Adam Lyons (Founder & Chairman). The Zebra raised $40m in a Series B to expand product functionality and add new lines of insurance. It will also use the funds to grow staff and partnerships and invest in brand-building and other marketing efforts. The round brought the company's total funding to $61.5m. The Zebra runs an online marketplace that lets drivers obtain real-time auto-insurance quotes by completing a progressive online form and compare side-by-side offers from over 200 insurers across all 50 states. The site uses public state filing data, insurer data and machine learning to estimate quotes and educate drivers on how underwriting factors affect rates. The Zebra is not an insurance agency and also provides coverage explanations, customer reviews, claims satisfaction data, and facilitates transactions on its website. The company delivered 3.5 million quotes last year, saved drivers an average of $368 annually, and was growing 35% month-over-month in 2015. Founded in 2012 and based in Austin, The Zebra plans to use new funding to accelerate customer acquisition and business development, expand its licensed agent call center, and build more direct integrations with brand-name insurers. Product plans include new educational tools and adding newer insurance products such as usage-based (pay-per-mile) offerings. To date the company has raised over $21 million in outside investment, including a new $17 million Series A. The Zebra operates an online, Kayak-style marketplace that lets drivers compare auto insurance quotes from over 200 companies and 1,751 insurance products across all U.S. states. It generates quotes using a combination of public rate filings and data supplied directly by insurers, with users guided through a short questionnaire to refine pricing in about a minute. The company launched publicly in September, initially targeting California and Texas, and has since expanded nationwide. Since launch it has delivered over 1 million quotes and reports 120% month-over-month revenue growth; revenue today comes from policies sold primarily over the phone. The Zebra covers roughly 85% of the auto insurance market and is working on direct integrations to allow drivers to buy policies online. Founder and CEO Adam Lyons says the product aims to streamline shopping for auto insurance by providing real-time, anonymous comparisons.

Total raised

$250M

Funding rounds

6

Latest round

Series D

Latest activity

Apr 2021