Scout InsurTech Interview with ClientCircle

ClientCircle is a software company. They build software that helps insurance agents grow their business. Michael Fiedel sat with Co-founder and CEO, Torey Maerz, to learn more about how ClientCircle is impacting the industry.

Who are your clients?

Our platform is built for insurance agencies, providing powerful tools to boost customer retention and engagement. We also work with insurance carriers, networks and large agency groups, enabling them to offer these tools to their agencies—helping drive sales, improve retention and automate key processes. 

What does your product do?

ClientCircle is an all-in-one platform that helps insurance businesses manage customer relationships, collect and analyze feedback, improve retention and reputation, collect reviews and testimonials, grow referrals, automate cross-selling, build websites and send communications spanning multiple channels.

How much capital have you raised?

ClientCircle has been entirely bootstrapped, growing purely through revenue generation rather than external funding. This approach has allowed us to remain profitable and focus on innovation without investor pressures.

What growth metrics have you accomplished over the last 12 months?

We have expanded our platform’s features significantly and have maintained strong financial health without external funding.

Within your domain, what is the current challenge that the industry is facing?

One of the biggest challenges in the insurance industry is distribution—getting products from carriers and brokers into the hands of the right end consumers.

• Many direct carriers are shifting to independent models, while independent agencies face challenges in retaining customers.

• The industry is evolving faster than ever, requiring stronger client relationships and better engagement strategies to maintain retention.

• There’s a growing need for data-driven insights on retention rates and customer engagement, which ClientCircle facilitates for carriers and agencies.

  
  

How does ClientCircle take a unique approach to providing value?

We differentiate ourselves by focusing exclusively on client relationships and engagement rather than generic marketing. Key differentiators include:

• Proprietary software: We develop our own tools rather than using off-the-shelf solutions, ensuring innovation and exclusivity.

• Unique automation: Features like “Client Connect” replace ineffective marketing tactics (e.g., generic newsletters) with strategically timed personalized communications.

• Emphasis on relationships: Our tools ensure agencies look good to clients, reinforcing trust and retention.

• Carrier and broker value: We provide scalable tools and valuable insights to carriers.

  
  

What inspired the team to start this company?

I co-founded the company with my brother, Carl Maerz. Carl was in the Army, and I was a CIO at a cloud computing firm. Frustrated by the limitations of our roles, we decided to build a company where we had full control over decision-making and innovation. It just so happened that I had prior experience in insurance and finance, so that’s where we decided to start. But instead of starting with an idea, we researched agent and customer pain points first and then built solutions tailored to those needs.

Can you share any goal(s) for the next 12 months?

We are focused on continuing to innovate and leapfrog competitors rather than simply matching industry trends. The next 6-9 months will bring significant product enhancements, reinforcing our position as a leader in client engagement and marketing automation for insurance agencies.

Scout InsurTech Thanks Its Presenting Partner

And Our Scout InsurTech Partners