London, UK – January 26th, 2026 – Apollo, a Skyward Group Company (Nasdaq: SKWD), today announced its partnership with ZenHedge, a U.S.-focused insurtech start-up, to launch a first-of-its-kind parametric insurance product Freight Expense Insurance™ designed to protect U.S. shippers against increased freight costs caused by trucking carrier tender rejections, underscoring Apollo’s commitment to supporting innovative underwriting propositions that respond to real-world commercial challenges.
ZenHedge’s proprietary platform analyses data from shippers’ Transport Management System (TMS) data to model trucking lane risks and tender rejection events enabling efficient, data-driven risk transfer. The product launches in the U.S. market, where trucking accounts for more than 70% of national freight movement and where this risk remains largely uninsured.
Apollo sponsored ZenHedge as a Lloyd’s approved coverholder, bringing its underwriting expertise, innovative leadership and market access to support the development and scale of this new solution with ZenHedge’s technology-led approach, supported by Aon across its Reinsurance, Digital Economy Broking and Delegated Authority teams in the US and London.
Hayley Budd, Class Leader, Innovation, Apollo, said:
“We are delighted to partner with ZenHedge and Aon to bring a truly innovative solution to one of the challenges in U.S. supply chains. Tender rejections create costly uncertainty for shippers of goods, and ZenHedge offers a practical, data-driven way to protect clients’ operations from such tender rejection events. This partnership reflects our commitment to supporting forward-thinking MGAs who are reshaping how risk is understood and insured, especially in global supply chains. We are excited about the scale and future potential this product and partnership represent.”
Krishnan Kandasamy, Founder and CEO of ZenHedge, added:
“ZenHedge is proud to partner with Apollo and Aon, leaders in the insurance innovation space, to bring Freight Expense Insurance™ product to the U.S. market. For far too long, shippers have relied on a patchwork of digital freight technologies and trucking carrier relationships to manage freight transportation risks. Our product addresses an unmitigated insurance gap in the vital supply chain ecosystem.
Apollo’s innovation team has had a successful track record of partnering with insurtech startups in bringing breakthrough technologies, risk models, and underwriting capabilities to the insurance industry. Aon’s Reinsurance, broking, and delegated authority teams provide a seamless end-to-end platform for insurance startups like ZenHedge to succeed. We are grateful for the mentorship and support offered by Apollo and Aon and look forward to the immense potential of this breakthrough product and the opportunities it presents.”
ENDS
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Haggie Partners
Peter Rigby, Caroline Klein, Bec Seaton, Cressida Tarver
Email: Apollo@haggiepartners.com
Tel: + 44 20 7562 4444
About Apollo
Apollo, a Skyward Group Company, is an innovation-inspired insurance platform operating at Lloyd’s of London, offering data-driven and creative solutions to a wide variety of risks. Apollo provides high quality products and services to clients, brokers, and capital partners, enabling a resilient and sustainable world. Apollo offers products across Property, Casualty, Marine, Energy & Transportation, Specialty, Reinsurance, as well as Smart Follow and digital & embedded risk programs. Apollo’s experience and unique ecosystem give Platform Partners the best chance of success through the Lloyd’s new entrant process to the delivery of their long-term strategy. For more information about Apollo, please visit apollounderwriting.com
About Skyward Group
Skyward Group is the holding company name for its US and Lloyds businesses, Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc.® and Apollo, respectively, delivering a comprehensive suite of specialized insurance solutions across global specialty property and casualty markets. Focused on the specialty industry’s most niche, complex risks of today and the emerging challenges of tomorrow, Skyward Group leverages the forward-looking insight and disciplined execution of each organization to drive sustainable growth and long-term value for its shareholders, distribution partners and other stakeholders.
SKWD is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, which represents the top fourth of all Nasdaq listed companies. For more information, please visit skywardgroup.com.
About ZenHedge
ZenHedge is an insurtech startup with a mission to solve the risks of our complex world by delivering solutions that are of enduring value, easy to use, and trustworthy. ZenHedge develops innovative risk management programs for previously uninsured business risks using the power of data, AI enabled technology, financial instruments, and insurance products. ZenHedge’s dedicated team spans commodity risk professionals, transportation and energy specialists, and insurance industry leaders.
The Freight Expense Insurance™ program was developed by ZenHedge Insurance Group LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of ZenHedge Inc., a registered Delaware corporation with headquarters in Ann Arbor, MI. For more information, please visit zenhedge.com