Vivere Partners is a specialty insurance company (Managing General Agency) that’s reimagining how the insurance underwriting model works. Founded in 2025 and based in Laguna Beach, California, Vivere focuses on building tailored insurance solutions for niche markets, with an emphasis on aligning underwriting discipline, technology, and long-term profitability. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Vivere Partners CEO Chris McKechnie to gain a deeper understanding of the company.
Chris McKechnie’s Background
Could you tell me more about your background? McKechnie said:
“With over 25 years in the insurance industry as both an operator and investor, I’ve cultivated a deep understanding of the market through diverse experiences spanning retail to reinsurance, and from the dynamism of startups to the scale of large corporations. This journey has yielded invaluable insights and a deep network.”
Formation Of The Company
How did the idea for the company come together? McKechnie shared:
“I got my start in the insurance world with an internship in the London market—and I’ve been lucky to gain a wide range of experience since then. Over the years, I’ve seen the MGA and Program Administration space go through its fair share of ups and downs. More recently, though, it’s been exciting to watch the space grow and evolve at a rapid pace.”
“That said, there are still some big challenges holding it back—especially around alignment and transparency—which continue to put real pressure on the sustainability and robustness of the market.”
“That’s why meeting Sachith Gullapalli was such a pivotal moment. He brings deep AI and tech expertise, along with a natural tendency to keep asking “why.” We quickly realized that the combination of his tech background and my insurance experience put us in a unique position to tackle some of these persistent issues head-on.”
“Together, we’re building an insurance-first, tech-enabled platform designed to solve the structural challenges in the MGA space—and help move the industry forward.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for the company so far? McKechnie reflected:
“One of my favorite moments has been the shift from working alone in the early days to building a real team. Startups can feel isolating at first—long hours, lots of uncertainty—but assembling a group of smart, driven people who genuinely care about the mission has been a turning point. Seeing that shared energy take shape, and pairing it with strong partnerships we’ve secured along the way, has made it all feel real. That sense of momentum and camaraderie is something I’ll never forget and I will look forward to continuing to experience as we grow.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? McKechnie explained:
“Our initial offerings include a SME-focused Management Liability program, led by Mike Levins, CUO of Management Liability, and a targeted Specialty Property program, developed by Rachael Dougherty, CUO of Specialty Property. Both programs strongly reflect our core values: exceptional underwriting strength and precision in targeted distribution.”
“Rachael and Mike bring a forward-thinking mindset, embracing technology to enhance efficiency. Complementing their efforts, our partner and CTO, Sachith Gullapalli, is spearheading a robust AI and technology strategy designed to deliver end-to-end operational efficiency across the organization.”
Challenges Faced
Have you faced any challenges in your sector of work recently? McKechnie acknowledged:
“Absolutely. Over the past 25 years, I’ve seen the MGA space grow rapidly—but that growth has exposed serious challenges: outdated reporting, misaligned incentives, and a reluctance to embrace automation or data. Solving these challenges was the driver for the formation of Vivere and requires building smarter infrastructure, pushing for real-time transparency, and rethinking how MGAs and capacity partners work together. It’s not easy, but it’s necessary—and we’re making real progress.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? McKechnie noted:
“Different from most of the so-called insuretech companies, we are insurance driven, tech enabled! We are hugely confident that a foundation of superb underwriting with AI/technology will provide efficiencies from front end submissions through renewal. This will deliver enhanced underwriting results as well as a stronger and more transparent service model.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? McKechnie cited:
“Securing our Series A with exceptional, supportive partners marks a significant milestone. Our focus has now shifted to intelligent business growth, leveraging AI and technology to further enhance our model.”
Funding
When asking McKechnie about the company’s funding details, he revealed:
“We successfully raised $7.5 million in our Series A round, led by General Catalyst, Pathlight Ventures, and Greenlight Re. We are on track to begin incepting business for our Management Liability program in October with a very strong carrier partner and are seeking to launch our Specialty Property Program in November. Additionally, we are actively recruiting additional underwriting leaders across all specialty and niche markets to build out our diverse lines of business.”
Total Addressable Market
What total addressable market (TAM) size is the company pursuing? McKechnie assessed:
“The US surplus lines market alone, with direct premiums exceeding $125 billion, represents a significant market opportunity and material growth potential. Our international ambitions further amplify this substantial potential.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? McKechnie affirmed:
“We believe our unique blend of insurance acumen and AI/technology prowess will create a distinct and superior business model. Additionally, our inherent startup agility allows us to build with greater flexibility and speed compared to our competitors, who will need to undergo significant transformation.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future company goals? McKechnie concluded:
“Our immediate priority is recruiting accomplished underwriting leaders and teams to spearhead the development of our product suite.” “Our goal is to empower these individuals to create significant value across the insurance value-chain.”
