AUI
AUI is a Managing General Agent and Surplus Lines Broker that provides wholesale commercial excess and surplus lines insurance market access to retail insurance agencies across most US states through binding authority contracts with A-rated carriers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersAustin, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What AUI does
AUI, Inc. is a Managing General Agent (MGA) and Surplus Lines Broker founded in 1985 by Linda Reed and headquartered in Austin, Texas. The company provides wholesale commercial insurance market access to retail insurance agencies and brokers, specializing in the placement of excess and surplus lines accounts and specialty programs that standard admitted markets decline. AUI holds binding authority contracts with a broad panel of top A-rated carriers, including Lloyd's of London, Chubb/Westchester, Beazley, Travelers, Markel, AmTrust, Arch, USLI, Atlantic Casualty, and American Bankers, and operates under a deliberately limited distribution philosophy that prioritizes service depth with select agents over transaction volume.
The company's product portfolio centers on excess and surplus lines placement, specialty admitted and non-admitted programs, and broad commercial coverage for small-to-large scale insureds. Technology infrastructure is lightweight, comprising the USLI Quote online quotation portal for registered brokers and the ePayPolicy online payment platform for premium remittance; the firm has no disclosed proprietary technology platform, AI capabilities, APIs, or integrations. AUI is licensed to operate in most US states and serves a horizontal segment of retail brokers requiring access to harder-to-place risks, unusual hazards, and specialty insurance products.
AUI earns revenue through broker commissions paid by carrier partners on placed business, with commission rates agreed per broker agreement and refundable on return premiums. Pricing is quote-based and determined by individual risk characteristics rather than published tiers, and the firm does not sell directly to end consumers. In November 2025, AUI secured its first identified external funding round of $20 million from venture investors, marking an institutional inflection point after nearly four decades of founder-financed operations. Operational leadership has expanded to include Darrin Howells as President/CEO alongside founder Linda Reed.
AUI firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AUI
- Legal name
- AUI, Inc.
- Website
- https://aui-inc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- AUI is a Managing General Agent and Surplus Lines Broker that provides wholesale commercial excess and surplus lines insurance market access to retail insurance agencies across most US states through binding authority contracts with A-rated carriers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AUI industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wholesale Insurance Brokerage
- NAICS
- Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210)
- SIC
- Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Commercial Umbrella Insurance (FSAJANAB)
Keywords
Where AUI is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Austin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
AUI business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Broker Commissions: AUI earns commissions from insurance carriers for placing surplus lines and specialty program business. The company operates on broker commissions as outlined in their broker agreement, receiving commission at agreed rates and refunding commissions on return premiums.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Quote-based commercial insurance pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
AUI product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AUI, Inc. operates as a Managing General Agent and Surplus Lines Broker providing retail insurance agencies with access to commercial insurance markets through binding authority contracts with A-rated carriers. The company specializes in placing Excess and Surplus Lines accounts and Specialty Programs (both admitted and non-admitted) for harder-to-place risks that standard carriers will not cover. AUI distributes exclusively through licensed retail insurance brokers, earning commissions from carrier partners for business placed.
Product overview
AUI is a Managing General Agent (MGA) and Surplus Lines Broker offering a portfolio of commercial insurance products centered on excess and surplus lines placement and specialty programs. The company operates as a wholesale broker with binding authority contracts with top A-rated carriers, both surplus lines and admitted. Their product ecosystem consists of core insurance products (Excess and Surplus Lines, Specialty Programs, Commercial Insurance) supported by technology-enabled services including the USLI Quote online quotation system and ePayPolicy online payment platform. AUI serves retail insurance agencies by providing market access through their carrier relationships, with binding authority enabling them to underwrite on behalf of carrier partners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Excess and Surplus Lines Insurance Wholesale placement of excess and surplus lines accounts providing retail insurance brokers with access to non-admitted insurance markets for harder-to-place risks that standard carriers may not cover. Targets licensed retail insurance agencies serving insureds with non-standard risks.
- Specialty Programs Specialized insurance programs for specific industries or risk categories offered through both admitted and non-admitted carrier relationships. Designed for retail brokers seeking targeted coverage solutions for niche client needs.
- Commercial Insurance Products A wide range of commercial insurance products covering small to large scale businesses, underwritten through binding authority contracts with A-rated carriers including Travelers, Chubb/Westchester, Lloyd's, Beazley, and Markel. Distributed exclusively through licensed retail insurance brokers.
Companies that use AUI
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
AUI technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AUI partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- American Bankers Insurance Company of FloridacoreInsurance carrier partner providing coverage through AUI's wholesale brokerage distribution.
- AmTrustcoreInsurance carrier partner in AUI's network of admitted and non-admitted markets.
- Arch Specialty Insurance CocoreSurplus lines carrier partner with binding authority relationship.
- Atlantic Casualty Insurance CocoreInsurance carrier partner in AUI's distribution network.
- Beazley Insurance CompanycoreInternational specialty insurer partner providing complex risk coverage.
- Chubb/WestchestercoreMajor commercial insurance carrier partner with extensive product offerings.
- Markel Insurance CocoreSpecialty insurance carrier partner for surplus lines coverage.
- TravelerscoreMajor commercial insurance carrier providing standard and specialty coverage.
- Underwriters at Lloyd's, LondoncoreSyndicate of global insurance underwriters providing capacity for complex risks.
- United States Liability Insurance CocoreSpecialty E&S carrier focused on hard-to-place risks.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
AUI competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- AmWINS Group: Largest US specialty insurance wholesaler and MGA, distributing excess & surplus lines and specialty programs through retail brokers. Direct functional analog to AUI but at national scale with significantly broader carrier access and headcount.
- Brown & Riding: Specialty wholesale insurance broker providing E&S placement and brokerage services to retail agents, with strong carrier relationships across A-rated partners comparable to AUI's panel.
- CRC Group: Wholesale insurance distribution platform (formerly Crump) offering E&S and specialty program placement to retail brokers nationwide. Closest direct competitor in business model and target customer base to AUI.
- RPS (Risk Placement Services): Major wholesale broker and MGA providing E&S placement and specialty programs to retail agents across the US. Operates with binding authority relationships analogous to AUI's, but with a substantially larger underwriting team and broader product portfolio.
- Jencap Group: Specialty wholesale insurance broker offering E&S and excess casualty placement to retail agents across the US, competing with AUI in broker appointments and carrier panels.
- Burns & Wilcox: National wholesale insurance broker specializing in surplus lines and specialty coverage placement for retail agents. Competes head-to-head with AUI in commercial E&S binding authority relationships and broker service positioning.
- LoVullo Insurance Group: Specialty wholesale broker and MGA focused on E&S placement for niche and hard-to-place commercial risks through retail agents — closely comparable to AUI's specialty program positioning.
- Worldwide Facilities Insurance: National wholesale insurance broker and MGA providing commercial E&S and specialty program placement to retail agents — comparable business model and customer base to AUI.
- Imperium Insurance Managers: Managing General Agent and program manager providing specialty commercial insurance products through wholesale and retail distribution, comparable in MGA structure and program business model to AUI.
Emerging players
- RPS Signature Programs: Program administrator arm of RPS focused on niche specialty programs for retail distribution, paralleling AUI's admitted and non-admitted specialty program offering but with broader scale and carrier support.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
AUI social profiles
Digital presenceAUI financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AUI leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
AUI funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AUI M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about AUI
What does AUI do?
AUI, Inc. operates as a Managing General Agent and Surplus Lines Broker providing retail insurance agencies with access to commercial insurance markets through binding authority contracts with A-rated carriers. The company specializes in placing Excess and Surplus Lines accounts and Specialty Programs (both admitted and non-admitted) for harder-to-place risks that standard carriers will not cover. AUI distributes exclusively through licensed retail insurance brokers, earning commissions from carrier partners for business placed.
Is AUI a public or private company?
AUI is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was AUI founded?
AUI was founded in 1985. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is AUI based?
AUI is headquartered in Austin, United States, in the North America region.
How does AUI make money?
One revenue line is on record: broker Commissions.
Who are AUI's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are AmWINS Group, Brown & Riding, CRC Group, RPS (Risk Placement Services), Jencap Group, Burns & Wilcox, LoVullo Insurance Group, Worldwide Facilities Insurance and Imperium Insurance Managers. RPS Signature Programs is listed as an emerging player.
Does AUI have an API?
No public API is recorded for AUI.
What industry is AUI in?
AUI's product category is Wholesale Insurance Brokerage. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAJANAB, Commercial Umbrella Insurance. Its NAICS code is 524210 and its SIC code is 6411.