DONNA.ai transforms raw data into actionable insights
The insurance industry is built on trust, data, and relationships—but what if technology could enhance all three? That’s the vision behind DONNA.ai, (formerly Aureus Analytics), an insurtech startup leveraging artificial intelligence to help agencies understand and grow their business.
DONNA.ai was launched in 2020 with the goal of empowering insurance agents with data-driven insights. "We saw an opportunity to bridge the gap between raw data and actionable intelligence, and that’s exactly what we set out to do,” says Anurag Shah, CEO and co-founder.
Leveling the playing field
With decades of data analytics experience and successful entrepreneurship, Shah and his team identified a critical gap in the insurance sector. Agencies were collecting massive amounts of data but lacked the tools to translate it into actionable insights.
"We saw firsthand how agencies were struggling with data overload. That’s when we realized AI could bridge the gap," Shah explains. "The ability to extract meaningful patterns and make predictions is what sets DONNA.ai apart."
The company offers a sophisticated AI platform designed specifically for independent agencies, helping them compete on a level playing field with larger firms.
Since they started doing business, DONNA.ai has almost doubled in volume every year. “We started four years back with zero customers,” says Shah. “Today, we process about $7 billion of premium on the platform.”
Three objectives make up the heart what they do
DONNA.ai was founded with three key objectives aimed at helping independent agents thrive in a competitive insurance landscape:
- Increase revenue through cross-selling. "Agencies are sitting on a lot of data, but they’re not utilizing it to its full potential," says Shah. "Our platform helps them analyze their book of business, identify cross-selling opportunities, find growth opportunities, and pinpoint new revenue streams within their existing customer base."
- Improve retention rates. Retaining clients is as crucial as acquiring them, and DONNA.ai's platform aims to improve retention. Shah explains, "It identifies which customers are at risk of non-renewal, which allows agents to proactively reach out and allocate more resources to those accounts, boosting their chances of retaining them."
- Understand customer sentiment. The most unique feature of DONNA.ai is its AI-driven sentiment analysis. DONNA.ai has built and patented a unique algorithm called SentiMeter.™ It examines the data and creates a sentiment score for each policyholder, without the need for customer satisfaction surveys. It's a powerful technology that allows agents to know exactly which customers are satisfied, who isn't, and where they should focus their resources.
"When you are running an insurance agency with thousands of policyholders, you need to know exactly who's happy and who's unhappy,” says Shah. “That’s how SentiMeter sets us apart. It is a competitive differentiator for us. Plus, we are the only the only platform that integrates with all of the top six agency management systems, which also provides a competitive advantage.”
Proven results: How agencies are winning with DONNA.ai
DONNA.ai isn’t just another software—it’s transforming how insurance agencies operate. By leveraging AI-driven insights, agencies are increasing revenue, improving retention, and strengthening client relationships.
"Agencies are seeing up to a 20% revenue increase simply by leveraging the insights DONNA.ai provides," says Shah. "It pays for itself and delivers measurable ROI."
Real-World success stories
By delivering data-driven insights in a simple, actionable format, DONNA.ai is helping independent agencies compete and thrive in an evolving industry. Insurance agencies using DONNA.ai have seen significant improvements:
- Retention: +4.5 percentage points
- Total Premium Growth: +15.9%
- Average Premium per Customer: +7.76% (when agencies act on DONNA.ai’s recommendations)
- Total In-Force Policy Count: +10.9%
For Rob Bowen, owner of Patriotic Insurance Group, DONNA.ai has fundamentally changed how his agency manages client relationships and cross-selling opportunities. "What DONNA.ai does differently is it highlights missing coverages so we can proactively address gaps," Bowen explains. "We use the SentiMeter score to understand which clients may be dissatisfied, figure out why, and take action. It’s made our renewal process much more strategic."
Bowen’s team also uses the AI-powered assistant to make smarter decisions faster. "I can literally ask DONNA.ai, ‘Give me my lowest commercial clients based on SentiMeter score,’ and get an instant answer. Instead of building and sorting spreadsheets, I have real-time insights at my fingertips. Every agency should be using DONNA.ai. Even if you’re only tapping into 10-15% of its capabilities, it’s a game-changer."
Chris Paradiso, Owner of Paradiso Insurance, sees DONNA.ai as a critical tool for improving both customer retention and overall agency performance. "At the end of the day, it’s about helping us take better care of our clients," Paradiso says. "But it also opens our eyes to new opportunities within our existing book of business."
The BTV Advantage
DONNA.ai’s journey accelerated significantly after joining BrokerTech Ventures (BTV) in 2021. Through BTV, DONNA.ai gained credibility and exposure within the insurance ecosystem. The connections and strategic insights helped the company scale faster than it could have alone.
"It gave us access to industry leaders, mentorship, and, most importantly, a platform to test and refine our product with real-world agency feedback,” says Shah. "BTV didn’t just open doors for us—it helped us build relationships that are now key to our success," Shah emphasizes. "It’s an accelerator in the truest sense, providing startups like ours with the tools and network we need to thrive."
Data is the new currency
Looking ahead, the company plans to expand its capabilities, integrating even more predictive analytics and automation tools. The company is also planning to move deeper into commercial lines of business.
“We work with personal and commercial lines and we are now deepening the predictive capabilities to make it even more specific to various industries,” says Shah.
Shah and his team also have a long-term philosophy called invisible analytics. “Today, customers log into our system to use the platform. Our eventual goal is to take all of these insights and push them into existing systems. So, whatever system an agent is using, whether it be CRM or Excel, we want to integrate into that system,” he says. “So, you’ll never have to leave your current system to get all of these insights, which would streamline the process.”
As the insurance industry continues to evolve, the role of AI will only grow. "Data is the new currency in insurance, and agencies that leverage it effectively will be the ones that thrive," Shah predicts. "Our mission is to ensure that every independent agency, no matter the size, has access to the same cutting-edge technology as the industry giants."
If you are interested in learning more about DONNA.ai, visit goDONNA.ai and schedule a demo.
You can also email:
Anurag Shah at anurag@godonna.ai
Prerana Suvarna at prerana@godonna.ai
Tuesday, March 11, 2025