Longtime insurance executive with 40 years in the field to oversee carrier, reinsurer, and IMO partnerships for the AI-focused insurtech
Jim has operated a carrier, evaluated risk, and managed a direct operation. He understands carrier needs because he has been in that position himself.”— David Racich, co-founder and CEO of InstaBrainSCOTTSDALE, AZ, UNITED STATES, October 5, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — InstaBrain, Inc., the AI-native insurtech providing instant, fully digital life insurance through licensed agents, has announced that Jim Harkensee has come aboard as Director of Strategic Relationships. In this role, Harkensee will manage InstaBrain's connections with insurance carriers and reinsurers as well as large independent marketing organizations. His efforts will center on product collaboration, reinsurance backing, and broadening distribution reach through the platform.
Harkensee brings over 40 years of insurance sector expertise, having previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer at Fidelity Life Association, Chief Actuary at Zurich Life, and President of Zurich Direct for eight years. His experience covers actuarial work, product development, carrier operations, and distribution channels.
"Jim has run a carrier, priced the risk and led a direct business. He knows what carriers need because he has run one," said David Racich, co-founder and CEO of InstaBrain. "We turned weeks of waiting into a real decision in minutes. Our goal is to dominate the instant-issue life insurance category. Jim will make sure we work with the carriers, reinsurers and distributors needed to achieve that goal."
InstaBrain anticipates a run rate of 500,000 to 600,000 applications annually as new products and carriers launch in the fourth quarter. Global Radiance Review has named InstaBrain among the Top 5 companies in its 20 Most Innovative Companies to Watch in 2026.
The platform's AI engine, The Brain, performs real-time risk assessment on over 10,000 data points while an application is in progress, delivering the carrier's decision within minutes and without a medical exam. On October 1, 2026, the company introduced InstaBrain iQ, an autonomous communications layer that notifies the writing agent and the policyholder when the carrier flags a payment issue and directs them to the carrier for resolution. InstaBrain's fraud intelligence platform, FraudBrain, continuously evaluates every producer in a monitored book. It interprets the book as a network and orders review queues by evidence and exposure. Scores provide guidance. People make decisions. Monitored organizations display the Monitored by FraudBrain seal.
"I spent four decades on the carrier side of this business, and I have watched InstaBrain deliver what the industry talked about for years: a real decision in minutes with a licensed professional in every sale," said Harkensee. "This platform delivers the growth that carriers, reinsurers and distributors want and can trust. I am glad to help bring those partners together."
About InstaBrain
InstaBrain, Inc. is the AI-native insurtech behind instant, 100 percent digital life insurance. Founded in 2021 and based in Scottsdale, Arizona, the company offers five instant products: term life with living benefits, pure term, guaranteed issue, final expense and accidental death, with no medical exam and decisions in minutes. Policies are issued by licensed, rated insurance carriers and sold by licensed professionals. InstaBrain never sells direct to consumers. Learn more at https://instabrain.io.
About FraudBrain
FraudBrain provides fraud investigation support for organizations that move money through networks of people, starting with life insurance carriers, BGAs and IMOs. Learn more at https://fraudbrain.ai.
Charles Truhlar
InstaBrain
+1 800-806-9714
charles@instabrain.io
