What Fortified does

Fortified is a member-owned alliance of independent insurance agencies, launched in January 2023 by ATM, LLC and headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee. The alliance comprises 87 independent insurance agencies operating from over 320 locations across 13-14 states in the Southeast and Midwest US. Its member agencies collectively write over $4 billion in insurance premiums for approximately 225,000-400,000 clients, offering personal and commercial lines through relationships with 40+ insurance carriers including Auto-Owners, Cincinnati, EMC, Liberty Mutual, and a newly announced strategic partnership with GEICO. Fortified's core offering is the alliance network itself — providing member agencies with enhanced carrier access, exclusive market lines, collective negotiating leverage, shared operational resources, a member portal, bi-annual meetings, and peer community engagement, while preserving each agency's independent ownership and local identity.

The alliance's technology is a network infrastructure comprising a member portal, carrier relationship management, and an ecosystem of third-party vendor integrations (agency management systems like Applied Systems and Vertafore, rating platforms like EzLynx, analytics tools like Verisk and Zywave, and marketing automation providers). No proprietary AI/ML capabilities are disclosed; the technology positioning is operational enablement rather than differentiation. Fortified's revenue model is based on two streams: recurring membership fees from member agencies and carrier commissions/profit-sharing arrangements negotiated on behalf of the network. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and engagement is quote-based.

Fortified employs a lean central team of 1-10 staff led by CEO Joe Craven (previously with Travelers and Grange Insurance) and VP Tiffany Overlease (appointed January 2026, formerly AVP at National Big I). The go-to-market combines community-led member referrals, enterprise-level carrier relationships, and bi-annual in-person meetings, supplemented by content marketing, social media presence, and industry publications coverage. The alliance has earned three consecutive IBA 5-Star Network designations (2023-2025), two IBA All-Star awards, and a #10 ranking on Insurance Journal's 2025 Top Agency Partnerships list, establishing credibility within the independent agency system.

Name

Fortified

Legal name

ATM, LLC

Website

https://fortifiedagencies.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Insurance Agency Network Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Captive Insurance Advisory & Management (FSAEADAF)

Keywords

• Independent insurance agency alliance
• Insurance network membership
• Carrier partnership program
• Insurance agency collaboration
• Risk management solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Knoxville

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Network Membership Fees: Member agencies pay membership fees to join the Fortified alliance, gaining access to enhanced carrier relationships, exclusive markets, shared resources, and collective negotiating power. The model is recurring in nature as agencies maintain annual membership.
2. Carrier Commissions and Profit Sharing: Fortified negotiates enhanced commission structures and profit-sharing arrangements with insurance carriers on behalf of member agencies. Revenue flows through carrier relationships established and maintained by the network.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Fortified is a member-owned alliance of independent insurance agencies that unites 87 independent agencies with 320+ locations across 13-14 U.S. states. The alliance provides member agencies with access to exclusive carrier relationships (40+ carrier partners including GEICO), shared operational resources, collective negotiating leverage for commissions, and a community of independent agents, while member agencies retain their independence and continue to serve personal and commercial insurance clients directly.

Product overview

Fortified operates as a unified alliance network of independent insurance agencies, not a modular software platform. The core offering is the Fortified Alliance Network itself, which provides member agencies with access to exclusive carrier partnerships (Carrier Partnership Program), a member portal for resources and carrier information, industry-specific training and professional development, bi-annual meetings for collaboration, and collective market access. Member agencies maintain their independence while gaining the scale and negotiating power of a larger network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fortified Alliance Network Core member-owned alliance of independent insurance agencies providing member agencies with access to carrier relationships, shared resources, operational tools, and a collaborative community to maintain competitiveness in the insurance marketplace while preserving agency independence.
• Carrier Partnership Program Exclusive access to insurance carrier options and lines through relationships with 40+ insurance carrier partners (national and regional carriers including Auto-Owners, Cincinnati, EMC, Liberty Mutual, National General, Foremost, and Auctora, plus GEICO), giving member agencies enhanced carrier relationships and expanded market access via the network's collective scale.
• Member Portal Online member portal providing access to carrier information, insurance coverage resources, and tools for member agencies of the Fortified alliance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $4 billion in combined insurance premiums written by member agencies
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration25 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• GEICOcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 28 April 2026Strategic partnership with GEICO adds a premier national carrier to Fortified's portfolio. GEICO brings brand recognition, sophisticated rating platforms for rapid quoting, and diverse risk appetite. The partnership allows member agencies to leverage GEICO's scale while maintaining independence and local identity. GEICO represents a significant expansion of the network's personal lines capabilities.
• 40+ Insurance CarrierscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFortified maintains relationships with over 40 insurance carriers including national and regional carriers such as Auto-Owners Insurance, Auctora, Cincinnati Insurance, EMC Insurance, Foremost, Liberty Mutual, National General, and many others. These partnerships provide members with exclusive carrier options and lines.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ISU Insurance Services Agency: ISU is an insurance agency network serving independent agencies with carrier access, marketing resources, and operational support. Highly comparable to Fortified in target market (independent insurance agencies), revenue model (membership fees + carrier commissions), and product offering (carrier partnership program, member portal, regional meetings).
• SIAA (Strategic Insurance Agency Alliance): SIAA is one of the largest insurance agency alliances/clusters in the U.S., providing independent agents with carrier access, profit sharing, and back-office resources. It is the most direct comparable to Fortified given similar member-owned alliance model and shared value proposition of strengthening independent agencies through collective scale.
• Keystone Insurers Group: Keystone is a multi-state insurance cluster/alliance providing independent agencies with carrier access, profit sharing, and growth resources. Directly comparable to Fortified as a competing regional insurance network targeting independent agencies in overlapping Southeast/Midwest geographies.
• Smart Choice Agents Insurance Program: Smart Choice is a national insurance agency network connecting independent agents with multiple carriers and providing back-office support. Comparable to Fortified in serving independent insurance agencies through carrier partnerships, though typically operates more as a franchise-like model with defined program standards.
• Brokerage Networks / Countrywide Insurance Networks: Brokerage Networks is an insurance agency cluster serving independent agencies with carrier access and profit sharing across multiple states. Comparable to Fortified as a smaller-scale alliance network with similar membership-based model.

Broad incumbents

• Hub International: Hub International is a large global insurance brokerage that has acquired many independent agencies. Competes with Fortified for member agency acquisition and represents the consolidated-incumbent alternative that Fortified's "keeping independents independent" value proposition is positioned against.
• PCF Insurance Services: PCF is one of the largest U.S. insurance brokerage aggregators, acquiring and partnering with independent agencies at scale across many states. Comparable to Fortified as a competitor for member agency recruitment, though operates as a PE-backed aggregator acquiring ownership rather than Fortified's alliance model.
• Alera Group: Alera Group is a national insurance and wealth management firm formed through acquisition of numerous regional agencies and clusters. Competes with Fortified for member agency recruitment and provides similar scale benefits, though operates as a fully consolidated acquirer rather than alliance.
• AssurePartners (formerly SmartCo): AssurePartners is a national insurance brokerage aggregator built through acquisition of independent agencies and clusters. Directly comparable to Fortified in serving independent insurance agencies but operates under full acquisition model rather than alliance/cluster model.

Others

• National Association of Insurance Commissioners (Big I / Independent Insurance Agents): Big I is the national trade association for independent insurance agents, providing advocacy, education, and E&O coverage. Adjacent peer — Tiffany Overlease, Fortified's VP, previously led the Alliance Gold Program at Big I — though Big I is a membership association rather than an agency alliance.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FortifiedAgencies
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fortifiedagencies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Fortified