Penwest Pharmaceuticals
Penwest Insurance Services is a privately held, independent California insurance agency founded in 1989 that distributes 40+ personal and commercial insurance products across 25+ carriers to individuals and SMBs in the San Francisco Bay Area, earning carrier commissions plus affiliated mortgage referral fees.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersDanbury, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Penwest Pharmaceuticals does
Penwest Insurance Services is an independent insurance agency founded in 1989 by Rich Atkinson, operating from Danville and Los Altos, California (license #0817992). The company represents over 25 insurance carriers — including Liberty Mutual, Progressive, Safeco, Mercury, Travelers, MetLife, TransAmerica, Pacific Specialty, National General, Kaiser Permanente, Anthem, BCBS, and Lloyds of London — and distributes more than 40 personal and commercial insurance products through its own digital quote portal (secureformsolutions.com), phone-based sales, and a customer support portal for policy changes, claims, ID card requests, and certificates of insurance.
The product portfolio spans personal lines (auto, homeowners, life, health, motorcycle, boat/watercraft, condo, flood, earthquake, renters, long-term care, Medicare supplements, disability, annuities, retirement, SR-22, recreational vehicles, mobile/manufactured home, jewelry floaters) and commercial lines (BOP, general liability, commercial auto, workers compensation, bonds, group health/life, commercial property, commercial umbrella, contractors, builders risk, apartment building owners, agribusiness, farm & ranch, crop, hotel/motel, restaurant, limo, trucking, woodworkers, self-storage, oil & gas, nonprofit, professional liability, E&O, D&O, cyber liability, church, and condo association). The agency is privately held by its founder, with no external funding or parent company.
The business model is commission-based: Penwest earns a percentage of premiums on policies placed across its carrier panel, plus referral fees from an affiliated mortgage channel that routes clients to banking partners (Bank of America, CitiMortgage, US Bank, GMAC/Ally, Suntrust/Truist, Alameda Mortgage) via richatkinson.com. Distribution is multi-channel — direct phone sales, online quote forms, SEO/content marketing, social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn), email/SMS, and a Refer-a-Friend program — targeting individuals and SMBs across the San Francisco Bay Area (Danville, Mountain View, San Jose, San Ramon, Santa Clara). No revenue is publicly disclosed; the agency has been operating from its current two-office footprint since a May 2011 relocation.
Penwest Pharmaceuticals firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Penwest Pharmaceuticals
- Legal name
- PENWEST Insurance Services
- Website
- https://penwest.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Penwest Insurance Services is a privately held, independent California insurance agency founded in 1989 that distributes 40+ personal and commercial insurance products across 25+ carriers to individuals and SMBs in the San Francisco Bay Area, earning carrier commissions plus affiliated mortgage referral fees.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Penwest Pharmaceuticals industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Insurance Agency Services (Personal & Commercial Lines)
- NAICS
- Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210), Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (52421)
- SIC
- Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Medicare Plan Distribution & Brokerage (Captive, Independent, FMOs) (FSAIAGAH)
Keywords
Where Penwest Pharmaceuticals is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Danbury
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Penwest Pharmaceuticals business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Insurance Commissions: Penwest Insurance Services earns commissions from insurance carriers for policies sold. As an independent insurance agency, they represent multiple insurance companies and receive a percentage of premiums paid by customers. This is a recurring commission-based revenue model tied to policy renewals.
- Mortgage Services Referral Fees: The agency also refers customers to mortgage services through their affiliate partner www.richatkinson.com and banking partners including Bank of America, CitiMortgage, GMAC/Ally, US Bank, Suntrust, and Alameda Mortgage, earning referral fees on mortgage transactions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Custom insurance plans tailored to individual and business needs; prices not publicly disclosed. |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Penwest Pharmaceuticals product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Penwest Insurance Services is an independent insurance agency that sells personal and commercial insurance products from more than 25 carriers (including Liberty Mutual, Progressive, Safeco, Mercury, Travelers, MetLife, TransAmerica, Pacific Specialty, National General, Viking, Symetra, Kemper Specialty, AmWINS, American Modern, Kaiser Permanente, Health Net, Anthem, BCBS, Bankers Insurance Group, Bristol West, CSE, Hull & Company, American Collectors, ING/Voya, and Lloyds of London) to California individuals, families, and businesses. The agency provides a self-service quote portal, dedicated service teams per client, bundled-policy discounts on home+auto, and ancillary mortgage referral services through partnered banks.
Product overview
Penwest Insurance Services is an independent insurance agency offering a comprehensive portfolio of personal and commercial insurance products. The agency provides personal insurance products including Auto Insurance, Homeowners Insurance, Individual Life Insurance, Individual Health Insurance, Motorcycle Insurance, Boat & Watercraft Insurance, Condo Insurance, Flood Insurance, Earthquake Insurance, Renters Insurance, Long Term Care Insurance, Medicare Supplements, Individual Disability Insurance, Individual Annuities, Individual Retirement Plans, SR-22 Insurance, Recreational Vehicle Insurance, and Mobile/Manufactured Home Insurance. For commercial clients, the agency offers Business Owners Policy (BOP), General Liability Insurance, Commercial Auto Insurance, Workers Compensation Insurance, Bonds, Group Health Insurance, Group Life Insurance, Commercial Property Insurance, Commercial Umbrella Insurance, Contractors Insurance, Builders Risk Insurance, Apartment Building Owners Insurance, Agribusiness Insurance, Farm & Ranch Insurance, Crop Insurance, Hotel/Motel Insurance, Restaurant Insurance, Limo Insurance, Truck & Trucking Insurance, Woodworkers Insurance, Self Storage Insurance, Oil & Gas Insurance, Nonprofit Insurance, Professional Liability Insurance, Errors & Omissions (E&O) Insurance, Directors & Officers (D&O) Insurance, Cyber Liability Insurance, Church Insurance, and Condo Association Insurance. The agency acts as a broker representing multiple insurance carriers including Liberty Mutual, Viking, Travelers, TransAmerica, Symetra, Safeco, Progressive, Pacific Specialty, National General, MetLife, Mercury, Lloyds, Kemper Specialty, Kaiser Permanente, ING, Hull & Company, Health Net, CSE, Bristol West, BCBS, Bankers, Anthem, AmWINS, American Modern, and American Collectors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Auto Insurance Vehicle insurance coverage including collision, comprehensive, liability, medical payments, personal injury protection, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage for California drivers.
- Homeowners Insurance Property coverage for damage to home, garage, and buildings; personal property protection for valuables; liability coverage; medical expenses; and living expenses for temporary housing.
- Individual Life Insurance Term and Whole/Permanent life insurance policies including burial, buy/sell funding, final expenses, guarantee issue whole, life settlement, simplified issue whole, universal, and whole life coverage.
- Individual Health Insurance Health insurance plans including Fee-For-Service, HMO, PPO, and POS managed care options covering medical, surgical, hospital expenses, and prescription drugs.
- Motorcycle Insurance Motorcycle coverage similar to auto insurance including bodily injury, property damage liability, medical payments, comprehensive, collision, and uninsured motorist coverage.
- Boat & Watercraft Insurance Coverage for boats, jet skis, and personal watercraft including physical damage, liability, personal liability, medical payments, and property damage protection.
- Condo Insurance Condo owner coverage protecting valuables, appliances, property, and interior of the condo unit.
- Flood Insurance Flood coverage for homes, condos, mobile homes, businesses, and rentals including building, contents, replacement cost, standard and excess flood coverage.
- Earthquake Insurance Earthquake coverage for property including home coverage, living expense, and personal property protection.
- Renters Insurance Rental property coverage including personal property protection, liability coverage, and additional coverage options for fire, theft, and damage.
- Long Term Care Insurance Coverage for nursing home and elderly care expenses to protect assets and maintain financial security.
- Medicare Supplements Medigap supplemental insurance plans designed to help with deductibles, co-payments, and coinsurance costs not covered by Medicare.
- Individual Disability Insurance Income replacement coverage for disability or inability to work due to injury or illness, available as long-term or short-term policies.
- Individual Annuities Retirement products including immediate, income, deferred, fixed, and variable annuities providing lifetime payments and tax-deferred earnings.
- Individual Retirement Plans Retirement planning services including 401(k) plans, college funding, mutual funds, and tax-free bonds.
- SR-22 Insurance SR-22 filing certification for high-risk drivers required by courts for DUI, accidents without insurance, or license suspension situations.
- Recreational Vehicle Insurance Coverage for motorcycles, ATVs, boats, RVs, campers, trailers, golf carts, jet skis, and snowmobiles.
- Mobile / Manufactured Home Insurance Coverage for mobile and manufactured homes including structures, personal property, flood, weather, accidental damage, and loss of use protection.
- Jewelry Floaters Specialized coverage for valuable jewelry and precious items.
- Business Owners Policy (BOP) Package policy combining property coverage, liability protection, business interruption, and optional equipment breakdown, crime, and signage coverage for small to medium businesses.
- General Liability Insurance Business liability coverage protecting against claims of personal injury or property damage occurring on business premises or from goods/services sold.
- Commercial Auto Insurance Vehicle coverage for commercial purposes including bodily injury, property damage, combined single limits, medical payments, comprehensive, and collision coverage.
- Workers Compensation Insurance Coverage for workplace injuries providing medical expenses and income replacement for workers injured on the job.
- Bonds Surety bonds including contract bonds, subdivision bonds, commercial surety bonds, license & permit bonds, and court bonds.
- Group Health Insurance Employee benefit plans including PPO, HMO, and CDHP options with health, dental, vision coverage and health savings accounts.
- Group Life Insurance Term and whole life insurance coverage for employees provided as part of employer benefit packages.
- Commercial Property Insurance Building and property coverage for owned or rented commercial spaces including equipment, computers, tools, and furniture.
- Commercial Umbrella Insurance Excess liability coverage that picks up where general liability, commercial auto, or employer's liability policies leave off.
- Contractors Insurance General liability, builders risk, commercial auto, and tools/equipment coverage tailored for contractors.
- Builders Risk Insurance Course of construction coverage protecting property under construction from physical damage.
- Apartment Building Owners Insurance Income property coverage including property insurance, business contents, general liability, equipment breakdown, and umbrella coverage.
- Agribusiness Insurance Farm and ranch coverage for all sizes including warehouses, agriculture processors, vineyards, wineries, orchards, and cattle/dairy operations.
- Farm & Ranch Insurance Farm and ranch coverage including home protection, belongings, liability, livestock, and structure coverage.
- Crop Insurance Crop protection including crop-hail, multi-peril crop insurance, catastrophic coverage, group risk plan, crop revenue coverage, and specialized peril coverage.
- Hotel / Motel Insurance Hospitality business coverage including property, liability, errors and omission, personal grooming liability, guest property, equipment breakdown, and employment practices liability.
- Restaurant Insurance Restaurant coverage including property, equipment breakdown, food contamination spoilage, sewer backup, crime, employee dishonesty, and liquor liability.
- Limo Insurance Livery and taxi coverage including commercial auto, property, general liability, umbrella, workers compensation, and employment practices liability.
- Truck & Trucking Insurance Commercial truck coverage including primary liability, comprehensive physical damage, collision, motor truck cargo, general liability, and non-trucking/bobtail coverage.
- Woodworkers Insurance Coverage for woodworking professionals including cabinet makers, sawmills, fence manufacturers, flooring/window/door manufacturers, and lumber yards.
- Self Storage Insurance Self storage facility coverage including building and property, debris removal, collapse, business income, extra expense, and liability coverages.
- Oil & Gas Insurance Oil and gas industry coverage including logging/perforating, slick line, dirt contractors, cementing, tool rental, pumpers, drilling, pipeline, and electrical contractors.
- Nonprofit Insurance Nonprofit organization coverage including general liability, property insurance, cyber liability, comprehensive auto, special events, E&O, and D&O coverage.
- Professional Liability Insurance PLI coverage for service/consultant businesses including crime, fidelity, foreign liability, intellectual property, and professional liability protection.
- Errors & Omissions (E&O) Insurance Professional negligence protection for financial advisors, architects, real estate appraisers, brokers, and attorneys.
- Directors & Officers (D&O) Insurance Board and executive protection from lawsuits including legal defense costs, civil fines, damages, judgments, and bail bond costs.
- Cyber Liability Insurance Data breach and cyber risk coverage including prior acts, reputation damage, forensic expenses, paper/electronic data, liability, loss control, business interruption, and PCI coverage.
- Church Insurance Religious organization coverage including property, crime, inland marine, general liability, medical, hired/non-owned auto, D&O, employment practices, and sexual misconduct liability.
- Condo Association Insurance Condo and homeowners association coverage including building replacement costs, unit owners coverage, contents, and loss of fees.
Companies that use Penwest Pharmaceuticals
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Penwest Pharmaceuticals technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Penwest Pharmaceuticals partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Liberty MutualcoreMajor insurance carrier represented by Penwest Insurance Services. Offers auto, home, and commercial insurance products. Provides payments, claims, and policy management through Penwest's customer portal.
- ProgressivecoreMajor auto and commercial insurance carrier represented by Penwest. Customers can access Progressive policies through Penwest's agency.
- SafecocoreInsurance carrier represented by Penwest offering personal and commercial insurance products through the agency.
- Mercury InsurancecoreCalifornia-focused insurance carrier represented by Penwest for auto and other personal lines coverage.
- TravelerscoreLarge commercial and personal lines insurance carrier represented by Penwest Services.
- MetLifecoreGlobal insurance carrier represented by Penwest for various personal and commercial insurance products.
- TransAmericacoreLife insurance and annuities carrier represented by Penwest for individual life insurance and retirement products.
- Pacific SpecialtycoreInsurance carrier represented by Penwest for various personal and commercial insurance products.
- National GeneralcoreInsurance carrier represented by Penwest for auto and commercial insurance coverage.
- Viking InsuranceminorInsurance carrier represented by Penwest, particularly for auto insurance products.
- SymetraminorInsurance carrier represented by Penwest for annuity and supplemental insurance products.
- Kemper SpecialtyminorSpecialty insurance carrier represented by Penwest for niche insurance products.
- AmWINSminorInsurance broker and wholesale distributor represented by Penwest for specialty and excess insurance products.
- American ModernminorSpecialty insurance carrier represented by Penwest for manufactured home and collector vehicle insurance.
- Kaiser PermanenteminorHealth insurance carrier represented by Penwest for group health insurance and employee benefits.
- Health NetminorCalifornia health insurance carrier represented by Penwest for group health insurance products.
- AnthemminorMajor health insurance carrier represented by Penwest for group health insurance coverage.
- BCBS (Blue Cross Blue Shield)minorBlue Cross Blue Shield health insurance carrier represented by Penwest for group health insurance.
- Bankers Insurance GroupminorProperty and casualty insurance carrier represented by Penwest for various commercial and personal lines.
- Bristol WestminorAuto insurance carrier represented by Penwest, specializing in non-standard auto coverage.
- CSE Insurance GroupminorInsurance carrier represented by Penwest for personal and commercial insurance products.
- Hull & CompanyminorWholesale insurance broker represented by Penwest for specialty coverage options.
- American CollectorsminorInsurance carrier represented by Penwest for collector/classic vehicle insurance.
- ING (Voya)minorRetirement and insurance carrier (now Voya) represented by Penwest for annuity products.
- Lloyds of LondonminorInternational insurance market (Lloyds) represented by Penwest for specialty and surplus lines coverage.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Penwest Pharmaceuticals competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Brown & Brown: Large national insurance brokerage distributing multiple carrier products across personal and commercial lines; comparable to Penwest in brokerage model but operates at materially greater scale across many U.S. states.
- Allstate: Major U.S. personal lines carrier with a captive agent force; comparable as a direct competitor for personal lines customers in the California Bay Area.
- Marsh McLennan: Global professional services firm with Marsh brokerage; comparable in its role as an insurance intermediary placing commercial and specialty risks with carriers, though it serves enterprise rather than SMB clients.
- Farmers Insurance: Major U.S. personal and commercial lines carrier with a strong California captive agent footprint; comparable as a key competitor in the California personal and SMB insurance market where Penwest operates.
- Aon: Global insurance brokerage placing commercial and specialty risks with carriers; comparable in business model of intermediating between clients and carriers, though at much larger enterprise scale.
- Arthur J. Gallagher: Global insurance brokerage and risk management firm; comparable in its multi-carrier distribution model and commercial lines specialization, though it operates at a much larger scale and with broader geographies.
- State Farm: Largest U.S. personal lines carrier with a captive agent model; comparable as the dominant competitor in personal auto and home insurance distribution that Penwest competes against in California.
Regional players
- Mercury Insurance: California-focused personal auto and home insurer that Penwest represents; comparable as a California market peer and one of the carriers the agency actively distributes, illustrating the regional competitive landscape.
- AAA Insurance: Membership-based auto and home insurance distributor with strong California presence; comparable as a competing distribution channel for California personal lines customers.
Emerging players
- Lemonade: Direct-to-consumer insurtech using a mobile-first, AI-driven platform; comparable as a competitor in California personal lines (especially renters and home) that bypasses independent agents and pressures their lead flow.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Penwest Pharmaceuticals social profiles
Digital presencePenwest Pharmaceuticals financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Penwest Pharmaceuticals leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Penwest Pharmaceuticals funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Penwest Pharmaceuticals 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 Penwest Pharmaceuticals
What does Penwest Pharmaceuticals do?
Penwest Insurance Services is an independent insurance agency that sells personal and commercial insurance products from more than 25 carriers (including Liberty Mutual, Progressive, Safeco, Mercury, Travelers, MetLife, TransAmerica, Pacific Specialty, National General, Viking, Symetra, Kemper Specialty, AmWINS, American Modern, Kaiser Permanente, Health Net, Anthem, BCBS, Bankers Insurance Group, Bristol West, CSE, Hull & Company, American Collectors, ING/Voya, and Lloyds of London) to California individuals, families, and businesses. The agency provides a self-service quote portal, dedicated service teams per client, bundled-policy discounts on home+auto, and ancillary mortgage referral services through partnered banks.
Is Penwest Pharmaceuticals a public or private company?
Penwest Pharmaceuticals is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Penwest Pharmaceuticals founded?
Penwest Pharmaceuticals was founded in 1989. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Penwest Pharmaceuticals based?
Penwest Pharmaceuticals is headquartered in Danbury, United States, in the North America region.
How does Penwest Pharmaceuticals make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Insurance Commissions are the primary driver. The others are mortgage Services Referral Fees.
Who are Penwest Pharmaceuticals's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Brown & Brown, Allstate, Marsh McLennan, Farmers Insurance, Aon, Arthur J. Gallagher and State Farm. Regional players are Mercury Insurance and AAA Insurance. Lemonade is listed as an emerging player.
Does Penwest Pharmaceuticals have an API?
No public API is recorded for Penwest Pharmaceuticals.
What industry is Penwest Pharmaceuticals in?
Penwest Pharmaceuticals's product category is Independent Insurance Agency Services (Personal & Commercial Lines). Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAIAGAH, Medicare Plan Distribution & Brokerage (Captive, Independent, FMOs). Its NAICS code is 524210 and its SIC code is 6411.