12. Urban Jungle

Founder: Jimmy Williams
Founded: 2016
Website: myurbanjungle.com

The property industry has undoubtedly been one of the biggest winners of the pandemic, as the stamp duty holiday has sent house prices skyrocketing. Renting, in COVID terms, has become the ‘new normal’ for millennials and Generation Z, and now represents around 40% of UK properties.

Knocking at the door of this market opportunity is home insurance provider and our top 12 startup, Urban Jungle. The business was created by Jimmy Williams following his frustration at the lack of insurance options available to him while he was living in a flat share.

Policies are designed to be clear, and aren’t unfairly priced on traits that the customer can’t help

Urban Jungle seeks to simplify the renter home insurance process, for whom contents and flood risk insurance offers little flexibility. Every one of its insurance plans is purchased and managed online for greater user control.

Policies are designed to be clear, and aren’t unfairly priced on traits that the customer can’t help, such as age, marital or employment status. Plus, the company doesn’t charge fees to amend customer contracts.

Urban Jungle featured on our list last year, but the impact of COVID-19 has brought new opportunities, and impressive financial growth, which has resulted in an impressive jump from 47 in last year’s ranking to 12.

Urban Jungle has delivered 120% year-on-year growth

The numbers speak for themselves. While many prop-tech startups sadly folded during 2020, Urban Jungle has delivered 120% year-on-year growth, as well as ballooning its acquisition by 40% month-on-month, and securing Series A funding to fuel further business development and scale-up.

Building on its success, in 2021 they also recently branched out and created their own-label, Homeowners insurance policy, and are now offering the 60% of owned homes in the UK fast, fair home insurance as well. We think Urban Jungle seems right at home in our top 12 list.