Targeted at startups from the MVP stage to scale-up, the program offers innovators the chance to test and validate their products within AXA’s live business ecosystem.

Participants will also benefit from mentorship, access to industry experts, and hands-on learning through masterclasses, office hours, and co-creation sessions. In some cases, AXA may even engage as an early paying client for standout solutions.

‎This year’s edition will focus on three key innovation areas:

‎1. New Insurance Models and Products – including parametric or index-based covers, usage-based offerings, and IoT-driven solutions.

‎2. Distribution – solutions expanding insurance access to underserved segments such as SMEs, the creative industry, and gig workers, while improving intermediary recruitment and retention.

‎3. Underwriting and Process Efficiency – AI-powered predictive underwriting, prescriptive risk assessments, and tools that drive operational efficiency.

‎Applications are open until August 25, 2025. From the submissions, five startups will be selected to join the accelerator, which will culminate in a Demo Day scheduled for November 6–7, 2025, where founders will present their solutions to AXA leaders, investors, and industry stakeholders.

‎Speaking on the initiative, Ngozi Ola-Israel, Chief Financial Officer of AXA Mansard, said:

“The Innovation Exchange Program demonstrates AXA Mansard’s commitment to building a thriving insurance ecosystem in Nigeria. By collaborating with startups, we are not only solving real market challenges but also redefining the future of insurance. The program creates a platform for innovations that enhance customer value and drive industry-wide growth.”

The program builds on the success of previous cohorts that have supported startups such as Curacel, GeroCare, Clafiya, Chekker, LegitCar, MyItura, and Inocul8, helping them refine their business models and scale across the industry.

Interested innovators can apply through the AXA Mansard Innovation Exchange portal and submit their pitch decks to innovation@axamansard.com before the August 25 deadline.

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The startup companies are Bunce – a customer engagement and management platform, Debbo Africa – a healthtech company, Drug Store – a pharmacy technology innovator; Legacy – an insuretech  company and Xchange Box – a fintech company.

The Innovation Exchange is a 15-week programme designed by AXA to enable technology innovators looking to solve challenges within the insurance space.

The program provides a platform for these startups to access industry experts, mentors, and experience-based learning through a series of masterclasses, office hours and co-creation sessions. Successful startups from the programme can also have AXA as one of their early paying customers.

Speaking on the development, the Chief Financial Officer, AXA Mansard Insurance Plc, Ngozi Ola-Israel, the application process which began in July 2024 attracted over 50 entries from different innovators.

“These entries were exposed to different levels of rigorous reviews from experts across our company before we arrived at the final five”, she noted.

“As a leader in unlocking technology to accelerate the growth of insurance in Nigeria, the interests and entries in this programme are further conviction that our industry is advancing in the right direction.

The sheer number of innovations that we have seen convinces us of the possibilities and opportunities that the insurance industry can bring to our national development.

What this tells us is that there are innovators who have seen the challenges that we face as an industry; and they are creating different types and levels of opportunities by solving the problems. So in the end, the innovators win, the customers win, the industry wins and ultimately our economy wins from being able to fully harness the benefits of insurance”.

“So, we congratulate the newly admitted cohort members selected from all those who applied. Our aim is to be able to expand the programme as we go and get more innovators on board to help them accelerate”.

This cohort members were selected based on their ability to demonstrate solutions for New Insurance Models & Products and provide Value-Added Services such as gamification solutions for enhancing digital customer interactions, retention and emergency assistance services.

The innovation exchange programme was launched in 2022 and has since accelerated 10 startups. Some of them include, Curacel, GeroCare, Clafiya, Chekker, LegitCar, MyItura & Inocul8.