Helios Re interviewed by FinMag

Interview by Marie-Ange Nodar - FinMag

Can you introduce us to Helios Re?

Helios Re is a Managing General Agent (MGA) and Insurtech specialized in parametric insurance.

As an MGA, we are able to create, optimize, distribute, and manage insurance products. We operate across the entire insurance value chain — from pricing and regulatory compliance (IDD, GDPR…), to distribution and claims management.

Our Insurtech identity is reflected in the use of non-traditional technological concepts, such as satellite imagery. It also shows through our commitment to digital underwriting via API-based solutions.

We are also developing an internal platform that leverages advanced actuarial methods to quantify risk exposure and provide policyholders with premiums that match their specific exposure levels.

Ultimately, Helios Re strives to be agile and technology-driven, thanks to a team of experts combining actuarial science, meteorology, and tech!

Who is your platform (product) for?

Our solutions are for everyone!

The strength of parametric insurance lies in its claims model. The insured knows in advance the compensation amount they will receive as soon as a predefined event is triggered.

This makes the claims process fast, transparent, and automatic.

For instance:

• A solar energy producer can protect their assets against low sunlight,

• A farmer can protect against losses due to extreme heat or heavy snowfall,

• An insurer can cover its home insurance portfolio exposed to storm-prone areas,

• And so on.

As you can see, we innovate by developing insurance products supported by advanced actuarial models.

We also aim to support insurance and reinsurance players in designing or refining their parametric insurance products.
To this end, we are building a pricing platform dedicated to parametric insurance.

What types of insurance do you offer?

We work exclusively on parametric insurance.

Our first developed product is a parametric insurance solution that compensates solar panel owners in case of low solar irradiance. We use satellite data to measure sunlight levels above your installations. If the sunlight falls below a predefined threshold set in the policy, you receive compensation.

Our goal is to build a distribution network for this insurance, embedding it in the sale of solar panels or related services such as maintenance contracts.

We also develop other types of parametric insurance based on market needs — natural disasters like tornadoes, earthquakes, storms, or large-scale wildfires are key examples.

What is parametric insurance?

Unlike traditional insurance, which relies on the evaluation of physical damage, parametric insurance is based on an objective index. Once that index reaches a predefined threshold, a fixed payout is automatically triggered — no need to assess damage or carry out a claim inspection.

Example: if the average summer temperature exceeds 30°C, a predefined payout is issued automatically, with no additional steps required.

Can you tell us more about your first solution?

Our first solution targets the solar energy sector.

Solar electricity production depends directly on sunlight levels. This solution protects solar panel owners from financial losses due to reduced sunlight, which leads to lower production — whether the energy is self-consumed or sold.

Unlike traditional insurance, this coverage is based on a specific index: solar irradiance levels.
If irradiance falls below a defined threshold in the contract, the fixed payout is triggered automatically.

Our parametric insurance thus enables solar energy producers to secure their revenues or energy expenses against weather-related uncertainties.

In short, the advantages of our solution include:

• Protecting your energy production

• Full transparency

• Fast and automatic claims payment

Why choose Helios Re?

One of Helios Re’s core values is being at the forefront of the service it delivers.

From an insurance perspective, as specialists in parametric coverage, we aim to apply the best methodologies to quantify weather risks.

From a policyholder standpoint, the subscription process must be simple and clear — ultimately providing tailored protection based on the customer’s exposure and a fair premium.

To achieve this, Helios Re is fully aligned with changes in the insurance world. The digitization and evolution of insurance distribution underscore the need for a MGA model.
By adopting this model, we position ourselves at the heart of every link in the insurance chain, which compels us to master every aspect of a policy — and to deliver the most cutting-edge solutions.

We’re also adapting to climate change — as the insurability of major risks evolves, Helios Re will be here to help our industry adapt with it.

Future outlook / What’s next?

Helios Re is building its team while finalizing the commercialization of its first solution.

Our team is already working on new parametric insurance products.

In parallel, we are collaborating with an international American brokerage firm to find a high-quality risk carrier — in order to best protect our policyholders and to support the carrier in developing its parametric insurance branch.