EP 243 – Can Luxury Goods Insurance Go Completely Digital? – Stephan Kaiser – Founder and CEO of KoverNow

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Michael Waitze worked in Global Finance for more than 20 years, employed by firms like Citigroup, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, primarily in Tokyo.  Michael lived and worked in Tokyo from February 1990 until December 2011.  Michael always maintained a particular focus on how technology could be used to make businesses more efficient and to drive P/L growth. Michael is a leader in the digital media space, building one of the biggest and fastest-growing podcast listener bases in the region.  His AsiaTechPodcast.com show has listeners in more than 170 countries and his company, Michael Waitze Media produces some of Asia’s most popular podcasts.

Stephan has spent 20+ years between London and Asia in investment banking, focusing on the financial services sector. His passion for improving the consumer experience in insurance is driven by the gap between existing insurance technology and the UX experienced with all other financial service sectors. He decided to base KoverNow in Asia because of the demographics of the region, driving one the biggest consumer cohort of digital natives, bundeled with regions significant contribution to global luxury demand.

While banking and investment platforms rapidly moved to mobile apps over a decade ago, the insurance industry’s transition has been slower. This delay has made it more difficult for the industry to adapt to newer technologies like AI and seamless digital integration. The result is a significant gap—especially visible in areas like personal insurance for high-value items—where consumers are left without quick, flexible, options. 

In this episode of the Asia InsurTech Podcast, we talk to Stephan Kaiser, the CEO and Founder of KoverNow, about why the insurance industry has fallen behind in the digital race

This delay has made it difficult for the industry to adapt to newer technologies like AI and seamless digital integration. The result is a significant gap—especially visible in areas like personal insurance for high-value items—where consumers are left without quick, flexible, or transparent options.

At the same time, luxury goods markets are booming and increasingly shifting online, with younger, digital-native consumers leading the charge. These consumers expect instant, app-based experiences—including when it comes to insuring their expensive purchases. Traditional insurance, designed for static home contents, doesn’t match these expectations.

A new approach is needed—one that blends mobile-first tech, standardized pricing for branded goods, and embedded insurance offered at the point of sale. The path forward also depends on updated regulatory frameworks and greater willingness from insurers to rethink distribution and customer engagement in the digital age.

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