In this episode of the
Power Producers Podcast, host
David Carothers sits down with
Toby Hung, co-founder and COO of
1Fort, to discuss the practical application of
AI in commercial insurance agencies.
Toby shares his background on both the carrier and tech sides, explaining why he co-founded
1Fort to bridge the gap between insurance and technology. The conversation centers on how
AI can automate the most time-consuming, non-revenue-generating tasks—like the submission-to-bind process—allowing agencies to
10x their revenue without 10x their headcount. They also explore why
AI is the “great equalizer” for small and mid-sized agencies.
Key Highlights:
The All-in-One AI Solution
Toby Hung addresses the frustration agents feel after buying multiple “point solutions” that overpromise and under-deliver. He details
1Fort’s all-in-one approach, which uses
AI to automate the entire
commercial submission process—from extracting data and entering it into carrier portals to generating high-quality, white-labeled client proposals, coverage comparisons, and marketing summaries.
AI as the “Great Equalizer”
The conversation highlights how
AI levels the playing field, enabling small and mid-sized agencies to compete directly with 100-pound gorillas. By using
AI, smaller, hungrier agencies can achieve the same level of output, accuracy, and speed as their largest competitors, who are often backed by massive resources.
Solving Agency Turnover and Burnout
Toby explains that
AI is a powerful tool for employee retention. By automating the manual, repetitive tasks that lead to burnout (like spending nine hours a week on submissions), agencies can empower their staff to do more meaningful, high-value work. It also helps attract younger talent (Gen Z, millennials) who expect modern technology in the workplace.
Bridging the Tech and Insurance Gap
Coming from both the carrier side at
AIA and working in big tech,
Toby explains that insurance people and tech people often “don’t speak the same language.”
1Fort was built with agency feedback to be an accessible tool that integrates directly into existing workflows, rather than being another complex piece of software that requires hours of training.
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