Built to Strengthen Mutual Insurers’ Independence and Operating Capacity

[Columbus, OH] — January 15, 2026 — As mutual insurance carriers across the country grapple with unprecedented challenges — from catastrophic weather losses to rising reinsurance costs and operational constraints — Branch and Innovated Holdings today announced the formation of Ember, a specialized partnership platform designed to provide comprehensive support services that help legacy mutual carriers modernize operations, strengthen balance sheets, and sustain growth while maintaining their independence and community focus.

Ember is built to enable participating mutuals to retain their own charter, board, officers, surplus, and brand, while tapping into the vast resources needed to manage through the challenges posed by today’s market. Existing boards and officer teams continue to set strategy, oversee risk, and act in the best interests of their policyholders. Ember’s role is to support that direction, not to replace or lessen it.

Through Ember, member mutuals can selectively access a configurable suite of capabilities, including:

  • Modern agent and staff technology (agent portal and mutual console)
  • Claims and back-office support
  • Accounting, reporting, and filing assistance
  • Compliance and regulatory support
  • Underwriting, claim, and operational expertise
  • Access to reinsurance options and market relationships
  • Key people talent with industry experience

By sharing demand for these capabilities, Ember helps mutuals control and stabilize operating costs while avoiding the need to build every function, team, or system on their own. Ember also creates access to sustained, specialized talent — in technology, operations, and all insurance functions — that can be difficult for individual mutuals to recruit and retain on a standalone basis.

“Mutuals have an incredibly rich history of protecting communities all across the country and we’re truly dedicated to their ongoing success. Mutual insurers want scale where it helps, and independence where it matters,” said Steve Lekas, CEO at Branch. “Ember is designed to deliver that balance — leveraging shared infrastructure and talent to manage cost and complexity, while preserving each mutual’s governance, brand, and community focus. The cutting-edge technology and operational efficiencies brought to our partners in Ember is simply unmatched in the industry.”

“Ember is built to help mutuals stay mutual,” said Jake Black, CEO at Innovated Holdings. Local boards and management teams remain firmly in charge of their companies. Ember simply gives them modern tools, shared services, and access to expertise so they can continue serving policyholders efficiently for decades to come. For centuries, mutuals have adapted countless times to stay viable and successful in an ever-changing world. This is the next step in that continuing evolution.”

For reinsurers and other risk partners, Ember is intended to bring greater consistency and transparency to member mutuals’ operations through efficient tooling, data workflows, and shared best practices — while leaving all underwriting, strategic direction, and governance issues with the individual mutuals that write the business.

About Ember

Ember is a platform formed through a partnership between Branch and Innovated Holdings to support mutual insurance companies. Ember helps mutuals modernize operations, access specialized talent, and control costs while preserving local governance, independence, and policyholder focus. Ember does not issue insurance policies or assume insurance risk.

About Branch

Branch was founded in 2018 by insurance veteran Steve Lekas and tech entrepreneur Joe Emison with a mission to make insurance more accessible so more people can be covered. Branch brings deep data and technology expertise to bear to improve the entire insurance experience for consumers, agencies, and carriers. For consumers and agencies, Branch operates the Branch Insurance Exchange, a modern-day insurance cooperative powered by a revolutionary instant-bind capability that removes all of the friction associated with getting covered so consumers can bundle their home and auto insurance with ease and save money faster than ever before. For mutual insurance carriers specifically, Branch offers services spanning the entire insurance value chain through Ember (embermutuals.com).

Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Branch is a Public Benefit Corporation and Certified B Corporation committed to meeting high standards of social and environmental performance, and accountability.

About Innovated Holdings

Innovated Holdings partners with mutual insurance companies to provide operational support, strategic guidance, and access to specialized services. Innovated Holdings is dedicated to supporting mutual carriers in maintaining their strength, independence, and community-centered nature in an evolving insurance landscape.