Fifteen startups presented their solutions during the live pitch competition at BrokerTech Connect: Chicago, with Flora ultimately taking the top prize.

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Blog

September 3, 2026

ManchesterStory and BrokerTech Fund Return as Innovation Challenge Sponsors

Fifteen startups presented their solutions during the live pitch competition at BrokerTech Connect: Chicago, with Flora ultimately taking the top prize.

August 5, 2026

Open-Weight Models Are Driving Down the Cost of AI

The last few weeks have brought a lot of major developments in AI. Anthropic’s Claude Opus 5, released on July 24, now narrowly tops the independent Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index with a score of 61, ahead of its own Fable 5 at 60 and OpenAI’s GPT-5.6 Sol at 59. Notably, Opus 5 reaches Fable-level intelligence at roughly half the blended token price. More interesting to us is how quickly the open-weight models are closing the performance gap, and how much cheaper they are.

June 9, 2026

ManchesterStory Launches Quarterly Newsletter: Know the Story

The first issue of Know the Story will be sent on June 23. We invite founders, investors, insurance leaders, brokers, partners, and anyone interested in the future of insurance innovation to subscribe and follow along.

News

September 24, 2019

Cyber Insurance Firm Cowbell Emerges From Stealth With $3.3 Million Seed Funding

Pleasanton, California-based cyber insurance firm Cowbell Cyber has emerged from stealth, announcing its Cowbell Factor product with $3.3 million seed funding from leading insurance, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence venture funds, including ManchesterStory Group, Holmes Murphy & Associates, Tri-Valley Ventures and the Global Insurance Accelerator.

August 8, 2019

FinMkt Closes $5 Million Series B

August 08, 2019 (FinExtra.com) – FinMkt, a leading New York-based B2B fintech solutions provider, announced today the close of its $5 million Series B preferred equity round led by FINTOP Capital with participation from existing investors including ManchesterStory Group and West Loop Ventures.

June 23, 2019

HealthBridge Raises $8.2M to Continue Scaling Operations

GRAND RAPIDS — As more employers shift to high-deductible health plans, hospitals and doctors have wrestled with collecting the portion of the bill from patients who have not yet met their deductibles. That’s where Greg VandenBosch wants to carve out a role in the health care system with HealthBridge Inc.