RuralNet

RuralNet was founded in 2018, headquartered in Cebu, to build API-driven digital insurance distribution and claims infrastructure specifically for rural banks, cooperatives, and pawnshops — financial channels that reach far more of the Philippines’ rural population than urban insurance agents or bancassurance networks typically do.

The platform lets these rural financial institutions offer microinsurance products to their existing customer base through a digital distribution and claims-processing layer, rather than each institution having to build its own insurance-technology integration from scratch.

In 2023, RuralNet closed a $2.15 million seed round led by Kickstart Ventures, with participation from Gentree Fund, Foxmont Capital Partners, and Kaya Founders. The company reports serving more than 6 million Filipinos and processing more than ₱400 million in insurance payouts across over 33,000 claims.

Millions of Filipinos in rural areas have limited access to formal insurance products, while rural banks, cooperatives, and pawnshops — the financial channels that do reach these communities — have historically lacked the technology to distribute and administer microinsurance products efficiently.

Rural banks, cooperatives, and pawnshops distributing microinsurance to their existing customer base, and the more than 6 million Filipinos reported to be reached through that network.

RuralNet built its distribution model specifically around rural banks, cooperatives, and pawnshops rather than urban insurance agents or bancassurance channels, reaching a rural population segment that most Philippine insurtech platforms don't directly serve, and has processed a real, disclosed claims volume (33,000+ claims, ₱400 million+ in payouts) rather than only distribution volume.