DataHaven on What Truly Defines a Real Insurance Technology Partner

Yandy Plasencia, DataHaven discusses truly defines a technology partner in insurance and why it goes far beyond building or selling software. From Plasencia’s perspective, the technology itself is only a small piece of the puzzle and what really matters is a deep, behind-the-scenes understanding of how insurance actually works.

Plasencia talks about the importance of knowing what happens “behind the curtains”: how insurance policies are analysed, which variables come together to define risk, and how different types of risk are viewed by external stakeholders. DataHaven points out that insurance doesn’t operate in isolation, there are layers of relationships, treaties, and dependencies between multiple parties, all of which shape how risk is priced, shared, and managed. Without understanding those relationships, it’s impossible to build technology that genuinely fits the industry.

This is where Plasencia draws a clear line between a vendor and a true partner as a real technology partner doesn’t just deliver a solution; DataHaven builds something that’s deliberately designed for insurance, grounded in the realities of the industry and tailored to very specific needs. That level of focus only comes from taking the time to understand the full ecosystem insurers operate within.

Plasencia also reflects on conversations he regularly has with founders building new companies. He acknowledges that many startups bring strong ideas and a compelling value proposition, often rooted in their understanding of a specific vertical. However, Plasencia notes that in insurtech especially, many new entrants underestimate the complexity of insurance. Too often, they see it simply as a problem to be fixed, rather than a deeply interconnected system that affects many different groups.

According to DataHaven, the real shift happens when insurance technology providers take the time to understand not just the core problem, but its impact across the entire insurance chain, from policyholders and producers to carriers themselves. When its understood how all of that ultimately ties back to risk and financial outcomes, insurers are able to form a much closer, more trusted relationship with carriers.