MINNEAPOLIS and HOUSTON – October 27, 2026 -- Skyward Group has become the primary carrier partner of AI-native insurer Slingshot Insurance. The deal gives Slingshot customers access to an AM Best A-rated carrier in all 50 U.S. states.

Skyward co-led Slingshot's $27 million seed round

The partnership follows Slingshot's emergence from stealth with a $27 million seed round co-led by Skyward Group. Skyward's operating businesses include Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc. and Apollo Group Holdings Ltd. The group trades on Nasdaq under the ticker SKWD.

Slingshot targets amateur sports, travel and gig-economy risks

Slingshot is aimed at niche embedded opportunities in amateur sports, travel and the gig and independent-work economy. It describes embedded insurance as one of the fastest-growing segments of the P&C market. These products involve high transaction volumes and lower premiums, which Slingshot CEO and co-founder Ethan Genteman says traditional carrier models have struggled to serve.

Slingshot says its platform cuts the time and cost of building, launching and scaling insurance products. It automates data-heavy workflows and keeps every decision auditable, reconcilable and explainable.

Skyward uses Slingshot to enter a market it does not serve today

Skyward Group Chairman and CEO Andrew Robinson said the company weighs a build-versus-partner choice on every business opportunity. It chose to partner with Slingshot for embedded insurance. He said Skyward's strategic support will help Slingshot "more rapidly scale its embedded insurance model" and extend Skyward's specialty business into a market it does not serve today.

Skyward will contribute underwriting, product and technical expertise, along with its experience in emerging risks across the digital economy. Slingshot targets managing general agents (MGAs) and other distributors seeking to replace fragmented legacy tools in higher-frequency, lower-severity insurance lines.