ZestyAI, the leading provider of AI-powered property and climate risk analytics, today announced a strategic partnership with NEXT Insurance, a top commercial insurer specializing in small to medium-sized businesses.
Under this agreement, NEXT will adopt ZestyAI’s Z-PROPERTY™ and Z-FIRE™ models to enhance its underwriting processes with precise, property-level risk insights. Z-PROPERTY uses high-resolution aerial imagery and AI-powered analytics to assess roof condition, structural risks, and environmental hazards, helping insurers make more informed underwriting decisions.
Z-FIRE, adopted by over one-third of California’s insurance market, delivers highly accurate wildfire risk assessments based on 2,000+ historical wildfires, satellite imagery, and topographic data, ensuring that premiums reflect true wildfire exposure.
“ZestyAI’s peril-based risk models stood out for their ability to provide precise, actionable insights at scale, perfectly complementing our mission to help entrepreneurs thrive,” said Lance Poole, Head of AI Underwriting at NEXT Insurance.
This partnership strengthens our underwriting capabilities by delivering advanced data analytics that allows us to offer a faster, fully digital purchasing experience while maintaining best-in-class underwriting.
"By streamlining workflows and enhancing decision-making, we’re able to create innovative, tailored insurance solutions that meet the unique needs of small business owners, all while staying true to our commitment to simplicity and excellence."
Attila Toth, CEO of ZestyAI said "At ZestyAI, we are committed to bringing the power of AI-driven risk intelligence to the insurance industry. NEXT Insurance is redefining small business insurance with a fully digital experience, and we are proud to support that vision by providing precise, property-specific risk insights. With Z-PROPERTY and Z-FIRE, NEXT can enhance underwriting efficiency, optimize risk selection, and ultimately deliver smarter, more tailored coverage to small business owners across the country."
About NEXT Insurance
NEXT Insurance is transforming small business insurance with simple, digital, and affordable coverage tailored to the self-employed. Trusted by over 500,000 business owners, NEXT offers policies that are easy to buy and manage by providing 24/7 access to Certificates of Insurance, additional insured, and more, with no extra fees. Supporting more than 1300 NAICS-defined businesses with customized coverage, NEXT is revolutionizing a historically complicated insurance industry and provides time-saving tools for both small business owners and P&C agents. NEXT utilizes AI and machine learning to simplify the purchasing process and provide more affordable coverage. Founded in 2016, the company is headquartered in Palo Alto, has received a total of $1.1 billion in venture capital funding, is rated 4.7 on Google by thousands of customers and has been recognized by CNBC Disruptor 50, Forbes Fintech 50, Inc.'s Best-Led Companies, and Forbes Best StartUp Employers.
About ZestyAI
ZestyAI is the leading risk platform trusted by Property and Casualty insurers and regulators across the United States. Combining advanced AI models with robust data sources, ZestyAI delivers property-level risk insights for perils such as wildfires, severe convective storms, and non-weather-related hazards. Validated by climate science and historical loss data, these insights enable smarter underwriting, precise rating, and improved reinsurance outcomes.
ZestyAI fosters a healthier insurance market for all by helping carriers align premiums with true risk, increase accessibility and prioritize mitigation to make insurance more affordable.