In an effort to feature more insurtechs, Digital Insurance has modified the format of our Meet the insurtech series.
Grace Hanson, co-founder and CEO of Elysian, shared the following responses, which have been lightly edited.
What's the origin story of the company?
Elysian emerged from Grace Hanson's expertise and determination to solve the disconnect between claims technology and the needs of skilled claims professionals. Throughout her nearly 25 years in claims leadership, including as chief claims officer (CCO) at multiple major insurers, Hanson grew frustrated watching adjusters spend countless hours wrestling with rigid systems that were not built to effectively support them in their work. Her journey to tackling this problem began during her time at Homesite Insurance, where she pioneered the use of predictive analytics, machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) in claims handling.
After Homesite, Hanson founded a SaaS startup that built AI- and ML-driven decision support systems to assist with insurance contract review, in partnership with Brandeis University. The company was acquired by Hiscox Group, where Hanson went on to serve as global CCO. While the technology was not mature enough then to actualize her vision, the experience validated the core problem that Hanson had seen throughout her career: the industry needed a fundamental reimagining of claims technology.
Now, with recent advances in AI, Hanson recognized the opportunity to build what claims professionals had always needed, but what was never built for them: a system that could actually match the sophistication of their expertise and the complexity of their work.
When was it founded and/or when was the product launched?
The concept was originally conceived in 2023, and the founders worked on building, developing and designing both the technology and the claims operations in 2024. Elysian officially launched on January 1, 2025.
Can you tell me about the founders/founding team?
Grace Hanson, co-founder and CEO: Previously global chief claims officer at Hiscox, Hippo, Homesite and Allied World.
Dinyar Mistry, co-founder and chief operations officer: Founder and managing director of 42Stats, a boutique global operations consultancy.
Kashif Razzaqui, chief technology officer (CTO): Former senior principal AI infrastructure engineer at Meta, uber tech lead and former exited CTO of multiple venture-backed software unicorns.
Any meaning behind the company name?
The name Elysian carries deep personal significance for both founders. For Hanson, it connects to Elysian Fields Avenue in New Orleans where she spent 22 years after attending Tulane University. For Dinyar, it serves as a homage to a dear friend who passed away. Beyond these personal connections, "Elysian" represents something more ambitious–it embodies the concept of transcending conventional limitations to achieve what might seem impossible.
In Greek mythology, the Elysian Fields were a conception of the afterlife that was perfect and complete beyond imagination. Similarly, Elysian aims to revolutionize claims handling in ways that might seem otherworldly by current standards, delivering a claims experience that goes beyond what the industry believes possible. This name perfectly captures our mission to fundamentally reimagine claims processing, creating something that feels almost magical in its ability to empower claims professionals and deliver superior results.
How many employees, and where is the company based?
There are 12 employees, and Elysian is based in Nashville, Tennessee. But our team spans the globe with hubs in New York and London.
What pain points is the technology trying to solve?
The fundamental issue with existing claims technology is that it was not built for claims professionals to do their jobs effectively. Adjusters should be focusing on what they do best: strategic decision-making, negotiating and relationship building. Instead, adjusters are weighed down by administrative burdens and fighting with technology that makes their jobs harder—leading to slower cycle-times, inconsistent decisions and employee burnout.
While consumer technology has evolved dramatically and workplace expectations have shifted accordingly, claims professionals are still struggling with antiquated systems that actively hinder their ability to deliver results. To solve this, Elysian is building technology that conducts claims professionals through their work, offering real-time contextual insights and handling administrative tasks automatically—thereby freeing adjusters to focus on the strategic, human elements of claims handling.
What funding rounds has the company had?
Last year, Elysian received $3 million in pre-seed funding led by American Family Ventures to launch commercial liability claims handling.
What's ahead?
Elysian's roadmap is clear: the first couple of years are about building something that can be trusted, working alongside strategic partners. Elysian will be starting out with commercial auto, trucking and general liability claims handling services, and it is expected to launch commercial property capabilities this year. Beyond the first two years, Elysian expects to scale significantly as computing power and AI capabilities further advance.
