Samos Insurance

The idea for Samos Insurance originated from a moment of vulnerability. Co-founder Eric Blondeel was on a hospital gurney awaiting surgery when he realized a gap existed in the insurance market. While standard policies often had exclusions for surgical complications, there was no straightforward way to get coverage for the specific, short-term risk of a medical procedure. This personal experience became the foundation for a new venture. Blondeel partnered with insurance industry veteran Leon Punambolam and technologist Matt Eggertson to tackle this problem. Together, they launched Samos Insurance, a company designed to offer what they call the world's first on-demand accidental death insurance for surgical procedures. Their model is simple: provide an affordable, easy-to-access policy that gives patients and their families peace of mind during a stressful time, much like travel insurance covers a specific trip. Based in Waterloo, Canada, a hub for both technology and insurance, Samos developed a proprietary model to underwrite surgical risks. The company quickly gained traction, securing a spot in the prestigious Y Combinator accelerator program. A pivotal moment arrived in July 2022, when Samos announced a $3 million seed funding round led by SiriusPoint, a global specialty insurer and reinsurer. This investment validated their niche focus and provided the capital to expand their unique offering, aiming to fill a crucial protection gap for individuals when they need it most.