Suncorp launches start-up insurance app into Aussie market

Suncorp has partnered with US start-up Trov to allow Australians to send on-the-go information about their possessions for insurance quotes direct to Suncorp from a mobile app.

The Trov app

Trov officially launched its iPhone app last July. The privately-funded start-up closed its most recent financing round of US$6.5 million in February this year, bringing its total funding to US$13.3 million.

The app aims to make it easier for people to collect and record information about the value of their possessions and new purchases for insurance purposes.

Trov claims over US$3.5 billion worth of items have been added to its app globally since launch, with US$13 million in new items being added each day.

It's been available in the US since last year on iPhone and Android, and has now come to Australia as part of the partnership with Suncorp.

The deal with Suncorp makes the company the exclusive insurance provider within the app across Australia and New Zealand.

"With Trov, you can always see the total value of the things you own and have stored on Trov and track their value over time.  You will even get notified of changes in value for selected items, such as your home and car," Suncorp said.

Under phase one of the partnership, users will be able to send information about their possessions (including value, details and photos of the items) direct to a Suncorp representative through the Trov app.

"They can then connect by email or phone and have a more informed conversation about insurance options for those items, since the information is readily available for both parties," Trov head of marketing Jeff Berezny told iTnews.

Suncorp does not have direct access to any user data contained within the Trov app unless the user makes an insurance request and sends it directly to Suncorp, Berezny said.