Metromile

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Metromile, Inc.
Company typeSubsidiary
Nasdaq: MILE
IndustryTechnology
Founded2011; 13 years ago (2011) in Redwood City, California
Founders
Headquarters425 Market Street, ,
U.S.
Areas served
California, Illinois, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, Arizona, Oregon
Key people
Dan Preston CEO
ProductsPay-per-mile insurance, driving app
RevenueIncrease US$104.9 million (2021)[1]
Decrease US$−197.7 million (2021)[1]
Decrease US$−216.4 million (2021)[1]
Total assetsIncrease US$313.4 million (2021)[1]
Total equityIncrease US$186.4 million (2021)[1]
Number of employees
384 (2021)[1]
ParentLemonade, Inc.
Websitemetromile.com

Metromile, Inc. is a San Francisco-based technology startup that offers pay-per-mile car insurance, licenses a digital insurance platform to insurance companies around the world, and provides a digitally native offering featuring smart driving features, automated claims, and vehicle information. In July 2022, Lemonade, Inc. acquired the company.

Pay-per-mile insurance[edit]

Pay-per-mile insurance is a type of usage-based insurance where the user pays a base rate along with a fixed rate per mile. The billing model is intended to benefit low-mileage drivers and does not take driving style or behavior into account (for determining rates or discounts).[2] To measure mileage, the Metromile Pulse device is plugged into the onboard diagnostic (OBD-II) port of the car. The OBD-II port is the same port that mechanics use to diagnose issues that trigger a car’s “check engine” light. The device then transmits mileage data to servers.[3] Metromile provides a full customer service team and 24/7 claims team.[4] Metromile began underwriting its own policies in September 2016.[5]

Per-mile insurance through Metromile is currently available in Arizona, California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington.[6][7][8][9] Drivers in other states can add themselves to a waitlist to be notified as additional states become available. Metromile is only offering personal car insurance policies at this time.

Driving app[edit]

The Pulse device provided to per-mile insurance customers also collects data about trips and car health. Metromile visualizes this information in an app to give drivers insights that can simplify car ownership. Features include street sweeping alerts, where the driver is notified if their car is parked in a street sweeping zone,[10] and a car health monitor.[11] The car locator feature shows where a car is parked, and some users have recovered their stolen vehicles by knowing their car’s location.[12] The app is currently available for both Apple iOS and Google Android phones.[13]

In June 2015, the Metromile Tag was introduced to give non-insurance customers a way to also use the driving app.[14] The Tag wirelessly connects to smartphones via Apple iBeacon technology.

History[edit]

Metromile was founded in Redwood City, California, in 2011 by David Friedberg and Steve Pretre.[15] David Friedberg currently sits as the chairman of the board, and the company is led by CEO Dan Preston. In 2013, the company moved its headquarters to San Francisco and in April 2015 added a second office space.[16] A new location was opened in Boston in April 2015 and in Tempe in May 2015.[17][18] In September 2016 they announced a new round of $192 million in funding and acquired a carrier which enabled them to start underwriting their own policies.[19] The company became publicly-listed in February 2021 in a reverse merger deal,[20] supported by Betsy Z. Cohen who also joined the company’s board of directors.[21][22]

On 8 November 2021, Lemonade, Inc. announced that it would fully acquire Metromile in an all-stock transaction which implies a fully diluted equity value of approximately $500 million, or around $200 million net of cash.[23] The acquisition completed on 28 July 2022. Following the acquisition, Lemonade laid off 20% of Metromile's staff.[24]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Metromile, Inc. 2021 Annual Report (Form 10-K)". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. 28 February 2022.
  2. ^ Constine, Josh (July 16, 2014). "Metromile Launches Per-Mile Car Insurance That Could Save Californians 40%". TechCrunch.
  3. ^ "Metromile Launches Pay-Per-Mile Car Insurance and Updated Connected Driving Platform in California". MarketWatch. July 16, 2014.
  4. ^ "Metromile Customer Service".
  5. ^ Lunden, Ingrid (21 September 2016). "Pay-per-mile insurance startup Metromile raises $191.5M, acquires Mosaic Insurance". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2017-02-17.
  6. ^ Truong, Alice. "A New Take on Auto Insurance: Pay by the Mile". Fast Company.
  7. ^ Vaughan, Steve. "Pay by the mile car insurance?". The Virginia Gazette. Archived from the original on 2015-07-11. Retrieved 2015-06-24.
  8. ^ Weissman, David. "Pay-per-mile car insurance coming to disrupt traditional model in Pennsylvania". York Dispatch. Archived from the original on 2015-09-03.
  9. ^ "Metromile Launches New Form of Car Insurance in New Jersey". Future of Transport.
  10. ^ Balise, Julia (March 19, 2014). "MetroMile app aims to help drivers avoid street-sweeping violations". SFGate.
  11. ^ Buhayar, Noah (August 21, 2014). "Metromile Pitches Pay-as-You-Drive Auto Insurance". Bloomberg.
  12. ^ Vacar, Tom. "Car insurance app helps San Francisco police nab car thieves". Fox KTVU.
  13. ^ Dennis, Justin (November 3, 2014). "Track Your Mileage, Fuel Costs And More With A Free OBD2 Device". MakeUseOf.
  14. ^ "Metromile's Tag uses Apple iBeacon tech to track your driving". Engadget. Retrieved 2015-06-24.
  15. ^ Nieva, Richard. "Really progressive insurance: MetroMile wants drivers to pay per mile". PandoDaily.
  16. ^ "S.F. Startup Revs Up Expansion". Bisnow Commercial Real Estate News.
  17. ^ Castellanos, Sara (April 2, 2015). "San Francisco insurance company expands in Boston". San Francisco Business Times.
  18. ^ "San Francisco insurance company, Metromile, to open office in Tempe, hire 130 - Phoenix Business Journal". Retrieved 2015-06-24.
  19. ^ "Metromile Raises $192 Million to Take on Car Insurance Business". Bloomberg.com. 2016-09-21. Retrieved 2017-02-17.
  20. ^ "Metromile to Begin New Life as Public Company as Reverse Merger Closes". Insurance Journal. February 9, 2021.
  21. ^ "Betsy Cohen joins Metromile Board of Directors". THE ORG. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
  22. ^ "The Bancorp Founder Betsy Cohen Joins Metromile, Inc. Board of Directors". finance.yahoo.com. 10 February 2021. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
  23. ^ "Lemonade To Acquire Metromile". Yahoo Finance.
  24. ^ Mary Ann Azevedo (29 July 2022). "Lemonade closes on acquisition of insurtech Metromile, promptly lays off about 20% of its staff". TechCrunch.

External links[edit]