Tangram Insurance Services

What Tangram Insurance Services does

Tangram Insurance Services is a Managing General Agency (MGA) and program manager that designs, underwrites, and administers specialty insurance programs for defined niche markets. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Novato, California, the company operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of holding company Balavant Insurance Group. Tangram distributes exclusively through appointed retail brokers nationwide, requiring brokers to complete a formal appointment process (agency agreement, license, E&O documentation) before accessing its programs.

The company's core offering is a portfolio of roughly 12 vertical-specific insurance programs, including Animal Welfare, Bodega (a member-owned group captive for workers' compensation), Entertainment, Franchised Equipment Dealers, Janitorial and Building Services, Personal Care and Assisted Living, Portable Sanitation, Propane and Fuel Dealers, Security Guards, and Social Services, plus cross-vertical Cyber and Kidnap, Ransom & Extortion (KRE) lines. Programs are backed by exclusive or semi-exclusive capacity from named carrier partners — an AM Best A-IX admitted carrier (Propane/Fuel), Markel (excess liability), Brit Syndicate at Lloyd's and Costero (KRE) — and supported by an in-house risk management platform featuring 500+ on-demand training videos, nurse triage, and dedicated claims handling.

Tangram generates revenue through program management fees and commissions on premiums placed through its broker network. Its stated scale metrics include operating in 45 states for its social services program and serving thousands of social service organizations, with selective endorsements from large brokerage partners such as Arthur J. Gallagher (via its Chapman Insurance division). The company expanded its value-chain position in 2023 by acquiring Preferred Reinsurance Intermediaries, adding reinsurance brokerage capabilities with domestic, Bermudian, and European carrier access, and deepened its entertainment vertical in 2022 via the acquisition of New Empire Entertainment Insurance. No public funding rounds, public listing, or quantitative revenue disclosures are present in available materials.

Name

Tangram Insurance Services

Legal name

Tangram Insurance Services

Website

https://tangramins.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tangram Insurance Services is a Managing General Agency and program manager, founded 1999, that designs and administers specialty insurance programs for niche verticals (social services, propane/fuel, animal welfare, security, entertainment, and others) distributed exclusively through appointed retail brokers nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Insurance Programs

NAICS

Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (52421), Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (5242)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Insurance Program Administration & MGA/MGU Services (FSAEADAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mid-Market Commercial Package (Package Policies) (FSAJAFAB), Premises/Operations Liability Umbrella / Excess (FSAJANAL)

Keywords

• Specialty insurance programs
• Managing general agency
• Program management services
• Niche insurance markets
• Commercial insurance brokerage

Headquarters

HQ city

Petaluma

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Program Management Fees: As an MGA and program manager, Tangram generates revenue by developing and managing specialized insurance programs for defined niche markets, partnering with top carriers and brokers nationwide to bring highly specialized coverage solutions to market.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Tangram Insurance Services is a Managing General Agency (MGA) and program manager that designs, underwrites, and administers specialty insurance programs for niche commercial markets. The company develops industry-specific insurance coverages and distributes them through appointed retail brokers on a national basis. It also provides risk management solutions and captive insurance alternatives.

Product overview

Tangram Insurance Services is a Managing General Agency (MGA) and program manager founded in 1999, operating as a specialty insurance provider that designs bespoke programs for defined niche markets. The company offers a portfolio of specialized insurance programs including Animal Welfare, Bodega Captives (group captive), Entertainment, Franchised Equipment Dealers, Janitorial and Building Services, Personal Care and Assisted Living (PCALIC), Portable Sanitation, Propane and Fuel Dealers, Security Guards, and Social Services. Additional offerings include Cyber Insurance and Kidnap, Ransom & Extortion (KRE) coverage. All programs are backed by risk management solutions featuring a 500+ video training platform. Tangram operates as an MGA/program manager structure rather than a single unified product, with each vertical program designed for specific industries and distributed through appointed retail brokers nationwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Animal Welfare Insurance Program Specialty insurance program for animal welfare organizations and related businesses, providing industry-specific coverages distributed through appointed retail brokers.
• Bodega Insurance Program Specialty captive insurance program for bodega and small convenience store owners, providing property, liability, and workers' compensation coverages structured as a group captive alternative to traditional insurance.
• Entertainment Insurance Program Specialty insurance program for businesses and individuals operating in the entertainment industry, distributed through appointed retail brokers.
• Franchised Equipment Dealers Insurance Program Specialty insurance program for franchised equipment dealers, providing industry-specific coverages through appointed retail brokers.
• Janitorial and Building Services Insurance Program Specialty insurance program focused on workers' compensation for janitorial and building services companies, distributed through appointed retail brokers.
• Personal Care and Assisted Living Insurance Program (PCALIC) Specialty insurance program for personal care homes and assisted living facilities, providing industry-specific coverages through appointed retail brokers.
• Portable Sanitation Insurance Program Specialty insurance program for portable sanitation businesses, providing industry-specific coverages through appointed retail brokers.
• Propane and Fuel Dealers Insurance Program Specialty insurance program for propane and fuel dealers, providing industry-specific coverages through appointed retail brokers.
• Security Guards Insurance Program Specialty insurance program for security guard and protective services companies, providing industry-specific coverages through appointed retail brokers.
• Social Services Insurance Program Specialty insurance program for social services organizations, addressing the roughly $190 billion U.S. social services market and providing industry-specific coverages through appointed retail brokers.
• Cyber Insurance Program
• Kidnap, Ransom and Extortion (KRE) Insurance Program Specialty Kidnap, Ransom and Extortion (KRE) insurance program for businesses and individuals at risk, providing coverage and response services through appointed retail brokers.
• Risk Management Solutions Risk management and loss control services provided to policyholders, including claims reporting support and safety resources offered in conjunction with Tangram's specialty insurance programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving thousands of social service organizations across 45 states
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and parent company.

• MarkelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2020Markel partnered with Tangram to provide excess liability capacity for Tangram's Propane & Fuel Program, enhancing coverage options for fuel dealers and distributors.
• Brit Syndicate at Lloyd'scoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 October 2020Tangram Insurance Services and Costero Brokers Ltd. partnered with Brit Syndicate at Lloyd's for Kidnap & Ransom and Personal Accident cover, providing specialized coverage for executives and high-value employees.
• Costero Brokers Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 October 2020Costero Brokers Ltd. partnered with Tangram and Brit Syndicate at Lloyd's to provide kidnap, ransom and personal accident coverage through the specialized program.
• Balavant Insurance Groupparent companyOthersBalavant Insurance Group is the parent company of Tangram Insurance Services. Tangram operates as a subsidiary within the Balavant group.
• AM Best A IX Rated Admitted CarriercoreTechnology or IntegrationTangram partnered with an AM Best 'A IX' rated admitted carrier to provide the exclusively-designed fuel and propane program, supported by Tangram's in-house underwriting team.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Risk Placement Services (RPS): National wholesale insurance distributor and MGA owned by Arthur J. Gallagher, building and placing specialty programs through retail brokers. Closely comparable as a broker-distributed specialty program manager with similar vertical programs.
• National Western Financial: Specialty wholesale insurance distributor and MGA focused on commercial lines distributed through independent brokers. Directly comparable as a specialty MGA serving difficult-to-place commercial classes.
• Burns & Wilcox: Large U.S. Managing General Agency and wholesale insurance broker operating across specialty commercial and personal lines, distributing through appointed retail brokers similarly to Tangram. Directly comparable MGA model with multi-vertical specialty focus.
• Amwins: One of the largest U.S. specialty insurance distributors and MGAs, distributing through retail brokers and operating its own program underwriting units. Closely comparable as a broker-distributed specialty MGA with similar structure and breadth.
• Socius Insurance Services: Specialty MGA and program manager operating multi-vertical binding authority programs distributed through appointed retail brokers. Directly comparable as a specialty program manager with similar go-to-market model.
• Breckenridge Insurance Group: Specialty wholesale insurance brokerage and program manager operating multiple binding authorities and niche programs distributed via retail brokers. Directly comparable as a specialty MGA serving hard-to-place classes.
• CRC Insurance Services: Wholesale insurance broker and program manager operating a portfolio of specialty programs distributed through appointed retail brokers nationwide. Directly comparable as a multi-vertical specialty MGA serving niche commercial classes.

Broad incumbents

• Markel: Specialty insurance carrier with U.S. and global operations underwriting complex commercial and personal risks. Listed here because Markel is an explicit Tangram partner providing excess capacity for the Propane & Fuel program and operates in overlapping specialty classes.
• Skyward Specialty Insurance Group: U.S. specialty property and casualty insurance company focused on commercial lines distributed through wholesale and retail brokers. Comparable as a specialty insurer/MGA in similar difficult-to-place classes (commercial auto, energy, property).
• Hiscox: Specialty insurer and Lloyd's syndicate with a U.S. MGA arm serving small business and specialty lines including cyber. Broadly comparable as a specialty carrier-MGA operating in many of Tangram's verticals, though primarily underwriting rather than program-managing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tangram-insurance-services
• Xx.com/tangram_ins

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tangram Insurance Services