Shepherd GTM brain

category

market profile

• text: Construction clients require a mix of casualty, builder's risk and pollution coverage across projects and annual portfolios.
• text: Shepherd's underwriting uses construction technology data and distributes substantially through retail brokers; it expanded into renewable energy.

personas

• title: Retail construction insurance broker
  pains:

  • Slow indications threaten project deadlines and client responsiveness
  • Complex construction risks need reliable capacity and coordinated coverage
• title: Contractor risk manager or CFO
  pains:

  • Insuring major projects and annual casualty exposure is expensive and complex
  • Investments in safer field operations may not be reflected in premiums
• title: Renewable energy developer risk leader
  pains:

  • Must place tailored coverage for construction and operational assets
  • Capacity changes can disrupt an existing excess program

icp

• text: US middle-market to enterprise general contractors, construction managers and specialty trades with significant projects or annual portfolios.
• text: Renewable energy developers and asset owners needing casualty and project cover, including larger power projects; brokers are the primary route to market.

message pillars

• text: Speed up underwriting decisions.
• text: Recognize investments in safer building practices.
• text: Unify multiple commercial coverage products.
• text: Combine underwriter expertise with technology.

objections

• objection: Is this a credible market for a complex project?
  response: Review the issuing insurer, financial rating, appetite, limits and actual policy wording with the broker for the particular risk.
• objection: Does adopting construction technology guarantee lower premiums?
  response: Shepherd Savings rewards qualifying practices, but eligibility and pricing depend on underwriting; ask for a specific indication.

competitors

• name: US Assure
  website: https://usassure.com/products/builders-risk-insurance
  why: Distributes and underwrites builders risk policies for commercial projects.
• name: Zurich
  website: https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/builders
  why: Offers builders risk protection for construction projects, including large projects.
• name: Chubb
  website: https://www.chubb.com/us-en/business-insurance/builders-risk-insurance.html
  why: Underwrites builders risk for contractors, owners and developers.

influencers

• name: Justin Levine
  url: https://www.shepherdinsurance.com/blog/announcing-shepherds-13-5m-series-a
  why: Co-founder and CEO writing about broker distribution and underwriting.

keywords

• construction insurance
• builders risk insurance
• contractors pollution liability
• construction excess casualty
• renewable energy insurance
• data center construction insurance

voice

• Confident and forward-looking
• Practical about speed and risk
• Technology and underwriting expertise

signals

• text: A broker is placing or renewing casualty and builder's risk for a major construction project.
• text: A builder invests in jobsite safety technology and wants risk controls considered in pricing.
• text: An energy operator faces an incumbent excess market disruption or adds renewable capacity.

stack

• Procore

hiring

• Senior Underwriter
• Senior Energy Underwriter
• Software Engineer, AI Product + Agents
• Director of Marketing

pricing

motion

channels

• Retail brokers
• LinkedIn
• customer stories
• SEO

confidence

Founders

• name: Mo Mahallawy
  title: Founder/CTO
  role: CTO
  bio: Cofounder/CTO of Shepherd
• name: Justin Levine
  title: Founder
  role: Founder