What Wister Insurance does

Wister Insurance is a specialized business insurance provider exclusively serving the short-term rental (STR) management industry, offering commercial liability coverage to vacation rental managers and Airbnb co-hosts. The company operates as a coverholder of Lloyd's of London and delivers a unified, STR-tailored policy that consolidates Commercial General Liability, Professional Liability (E&O), and a bundle of specialty coverages — including squatters defense, guest discrimination, non-owned auto, cyber, diminished property value, and contingent liability — into a single program designed to close the CG2270 and other coverage gaps left by standard commercial policies.

The core technology is a niche insurance underwriting platform specialized for the STR management vertical, supplemented by a product suite of add-on modules (Commercial Umbrella, Workers' Compensation, EPLI, Commercial Auto). Revenue is generated through recurring annual insurance premiums, with pricing quote-based and tailored to each manager's portfolio size and risk profile. The go-to-market combines direct sales (toll-free phone numbers and an online quote form) with a partner-led distribution motion across STR communities (Million Dollar Host Mastermind), property management platforms (Hospitable), and complementary service providers (Freewyld Foundry), supplemented by content marketing, case studies, and community engagement through Rent Responsibly.

Wister Insurance LLC is a privately held company headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, founded by Scott Wolf (CEO) and Mike Zimmerman (CFO), who previously co-founded Proper Insurance and Waivo. The company is currently in an active scaling phase, having launched its updated product offering in February 2026 and signed three strategic distribution partnerships between April and June 2026.

Name

Wister Insurance

Legal name

Wister Insurance LLC

Website

https://wister.insure

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wister Insurance is a privately held, Lloyd's of London coverholder providing purpose-built commercial general liability, professional liability, and specialty insurance exclusively to vacation rental property managers and Airbnb co-hosts, distributed via direct sales and STR-channel partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Insurance for Short-Term Rental Managers

NAICS

Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Carriers (524126), Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (52421), Direct Insurance (except Life, Health, and Medical) Carriers (52412)

SIC

Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance (6331), Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Wholesale Insurance Brokerage (Excess & Surplus Lines) (FSAEADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Commercial Umbrella Insurance (FSAJANAB), Commercial Auto & Fleet Liability Insurance (Primary) (TLABANAA)

Keywords

• Vacation rental insurance
• Short-term rental coverage
• Professional liability insurance
• Commercial general liability
• Airbnb co-host insurance

Headquarters

HQ city

Walkersville

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Commercial Insurance Premiums: Recurring insurance premiums charged to vacation rental managers and co-hosts for business liability coverage. Policies provide comprehensive protection including CGL, E&O, and specialty coverages tailored for STR operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Wister Insurance sells a unified, specialty commercial insurance policy purpose-built for vacation rental managers and Airbnb co-hosts. The program is anchored by Commercial General Liability and Professional Liability (E&O) coverage and bundles 14 built-in coverages—including guest discrimination, squatters defense, non-owned auto, commercial cyber, crime & fidelity, and liquor liability—underwritten by Lloyd's of London with an AM Best A+ rating. Optional add-on lines include commercial umbrella, workers' compensation, EPLI, and commercial auto, with annual premium pricing sized to portfolio and risk profile.

Product overview

Wister Insurance is a specialized insurance provider offering a comprehensive, unified business insurance policy built specifically for vacation rental managers and Airbnb co-hosts. The core product is a Commercial General Liability and Professional Liability (E&O) insurance program, underwritten by Lloyd's of London with an AM Best A+ rating. The offering includes 14 built-in coverage types (Commercial General Liability, Professional Liability/E&O, Non-Owned Auto Liability, Guest Discrimination, Squatters Defense, Crime & Fidelity, Commercial Cyber, Diminished Property Value, Liquor Liability, Animal/Pet Liability, Commercial Property, Contingent Liability, Personal & Advertising Injury, and Legal Defense Costs), bundled under 'Bells & Whistles' for specialty protections. Additional add-on services include Commercial Umbrella, Workers' Compensation, EPLI, and Commercial Auto. The product is designed to address coverage gaps that standard business insurance leaves unaddressed for STR management operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial General Liability (CGL) Insurance Primary liability coverage for vacation rental managers and co-hosts protecting against bodily injury, property damage, and personal and advertising injury claims arising from premises, operations, products, and completed operations. Includes legal defense costs from dollar one with no deductible, and is designed to avoid the CG2270 exclusion that typically eliminates property damage liability at managed properties in standard business policies.
• Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Errors and omissions coverage protecting professional vacation rental managers and co-hosts against claims of negligence, mistakes, or failure to deliver professional services that result in financial loss to clients, with up to $1,000,000 per occurrence defense limit. Addresses the professional liability gap not covered by Airbnb AirCover or owner homeowner policies.
• Guest Discrimination Coverage Protection against lawsuits alleging discrimination based on protected classes (race, gender, disability, religion, etc.) during the booking process or guest stay at vacation rental properties managed by the insured.
• Squatters Defense Coverage Coverage providing up to $5,000 in legal fees when guests overstay or refuse to leave a vacation rental property, claim tenant rights, and require eviction proceedings. Tailored to STR manager operations where standard policies do not address this risk.
• Non-Owned Auto Liability Coverage for liability incidents involving vendors', contractors', or employees' personal vehicles used for business purposes while performing work-related tasks at or for managed vacation rental properties.
• Commercial Cyber Insurance Coverage for expenses related to cyberattacks, data breaches, or stolen information affecting the business's guest data, payment information, and owner financials for vacation rental management operations.
• Crime & Fidelity Coverage Protection against losses caused by theft, fraud, or dishonesty—whether by outsiders or the business's own employees and contractors—for vacation rental management companies.
• Commercial Property Insurance Insurance covering physical structures and contents of STR management business operations—such as leased offices, furnishings, and equipment—against risks like fire, theft, and storm damage.
• Commercial Umbrella Policy Additional liability coverage providing protection beyond standard business liability insurance limits for large personal injury or property damage claims faced by vacation rental management businesses.
• Workers' Compensation Insurance providing cash benefits and medical care for workers of vacation rental management businesses who are injured or become ill as a direct result of their job.
• Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) Protection against lawsuits filed by employees of vacation rental management businesses, including discrimination claims, wrongful termination claims, and harassment.
• Commercial Auto Insurance Coverage for vehicles used for work-related purposes by vacation rental management businesses, protecting against losses when a company-owned vehicle is involved in an accident causing bodily injury or property damage.

Quantifiable outcome

• $1,000,000 per occurrence liability limit available for Commercial General Liability
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HospitablecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2026Partnership with leading property management platform for short-term rental operators. Wister provides insurance protection for Hospitable users while the platform helps operators run efficient, scalable businesses. Focus on serving operators who treat their business professionally as the industry raises standards.
• Freewyld FoundrycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 May 2026Strategic partnership combining specialized business insurance and revenue management services for short-term rental operators. The partnership includes joint podcast episodes highlighting critical insurance coverage gaps in the STR industry, including the CG2270 exclusion. Wister provides liability protection while Freewyld Foundry drives revenue performance for $1M+ STR operators.
• Million Dollar Host MastermindcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 April 2026Strategic partnership making Wister the Exclusive Business & Professional Liability Insurance Partner for the global community of short-term rental operators. Collaboration provides members with specialized insurance solutions, education, and resources designed to help professional hosts and property managers scale and protect their businesses.
• Proper InsurancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProper Insurance provides comprehensive, commercial-grade insurance built specifically for short-term rental property owners, replacing traditional homeowners policies. Wister and Proper serve complementary needs - Proper protects the property owner's asset while Wister protects the manager's business operations. Both were founded by the same team.
• WaivocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWaivo provides damage protection for short-term rentals, replacing traditional security deposits with flexible damage protection programs. Works alongside Wister to provide comprehensive coverage - Waivo covers guest-caused damage while Wister covers business liability exposures.
• R2R CollaborativeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerR2R Collaborative is a partner organization in the vacation rental industry. Wister is recognized as an R2R Partner, indicating membership in the industry sustainability and responsibility community.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Hiscox: Established specialty insurer focused on small business and professional liability. Competes with Wister in commercial general liability and professional E&O for small professional services firms, though Hiscox lacks Wister's STR-specific productization.
• Markel: Specialty insurer with deep expertise in niche commercial and hospitality lines. Markel writes hospitality-related liability and E&O coverage that overlaps with Wister's target customer base at the upper end of the market.
• CBIZ: Professional services and insurance brokerage firm where Wister's founders previously held senior roles (Scott Wolf as EVP, Christy Wolf as Program Manager). Provides traditional commercial insurance brokerage services to hospitality businesses and represents the legacy channel Wister is disrupting.

Direct peers

• Safely: Provider of guest screening, damage protection, and insurance products for short-term rental hosts and property managers. Overlaps with Wister's guest discrimination and liability coverage while extending into guest verification.
• Superhog: Guest screening and insurance solutions for short-term rental operators globally. Targets the same property manager and host customer base as Wister, with complementary rather than fully overlapping insurance products.
• RentalGuardian: Insurance and damage protection plans distributed to short-term rental property managers and guests. Competes directly with Wister in the STR-specialized insurance category, particularly around guest-related liability and property damage.
• Proper Insurance: Specialty STR property insurance provider co-founded by the same team behind Wister. Proper protects the property owner's asset while Wister protects the manager's business operations, making them complementary offerings to the same customer ecosystem.
• Waivo: Damage protection provider for short-term rentals that replaces traditional security deposits. Also co-founded by the same Wister team, Waivo addresses guest-caused damage while Wister covers business liability, creating a tightly integrated STR risk stack.

Emerging players

• Slice Labs: On-demand insurance cloud platform that powers digital insurance products for niche verticals. Comparable to Wister in approach to digital, verticalized specialty insurance, though Slice operates as a tech platform rather than a direct underwriter.
• Boost Insurance: Embedded insurance infrastructure platform that enables digital brands to launch and distribute insurance products. Provides the technology stack that competing digital-native insurers use, making it an adjacent enabler to Wister's distribution model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WisterInsurance
• Facebookfacebook.com/insurancepolicymakers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wister-insurance

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Wister Insurance