Travel insurance startup Pluto partners with Blink

Zurich-backed travel insurance startup Pluto has teamed up with Blink to provide flight delay cover to its customers.

Pluto targets younger travellers who do not buy travel insurance. The insurtech allows customers to build and manage their own policies, and claim from mobile devices. Zurich provides underwriting expertise and claims management capacity.

Its partnership with Blink, bought by CPP Group in 2017, will see Pluto’s customers get access to a range of services, including airport lounge access or instant financial help, all within seconds of the disruption occurring.

Blink provides flight disruption solutions to insurers across the globe. Earlier this year, it struck a partnership with Blue Cross Canada.

Alex Rainey, co-founder and chief executive officer of Pluto,  commented: “We’re constantly looking for new ways to bring experiences and services to our customers that they wouldn’t expect from a travel insurer. Being able to help them instantly in a time of frustration, like a flight delay, can be such a surprising experience for a customer.”

“When we found Blink, we instantly knew we wanted to partner with them. They’ve proven themselves all over the world as a leading parametric travel insurance tech provider.”

Pluto launched a crowdfunding campaign this month to build on the investment the insurtech has received during previous rounds.

The insurtech wants to replicate the successes of Monzo and other fintechs, which have turned to consumers to raise funds for expansion and growth.

Pluto said it will use the capital raised through the crowdfunding round to invest in paid advertising, integrating third-party services, hiring new staff and covering operational costs.

Mark Dugdale