2026 FIRE Accelerator

The FIRE Accelerator is the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership’s flagship entrepreneurship program. The program supports high-growth startups by connecting them with industry mentorship, tailored curriculum, 1:1 support, office space, and access to the Erie business community.

The 2026 FIRE Accelerator is presented by Erie Insurance and ValueMomentum and is focused on startups working at the intersection of insurance, technology, and artificial intelligence.

The 2026 FIRE Accelerator is focused on AI-enabled InsurTech solutions that reduce friction, prevent loss, and improve the insurance experience.

This year’s focus areas are:

1. Optimizing Insurance Agency Operations
2. Reducing Preventable Property Loss
3. Elevating the Customer Experience in Insurance

Startups working in or adjacent to insurance are encouraged to apply, especially those applying AI, data, automation, workflow tools, customer experience technology, risk prevention tools, or other differentiated solutions to one or more of the 2026 focus areas.

Companies do not need to be serving the property and casualty insurance market today, but should be able to explain how their solution could apply to insurance agency operations, property loss prevention, or the customer experience in insurance.

No. Companies working directly in InsurTech are encouraged to apply, but the program is also open to companies with relevant solutions from adjacent industries that may be applicable to insurance.

Applicants should be able to clearly explain how their product, technology, or approach could create value in one or more of the 2026 focus areas.

The 2026 program is especially interested in companies applying AI or differentiated technology to practical insurance challenges. AI is an important part of this year’s focus, but the strongest applicants will be evaluated on the relevance of the problem they solve, the strength of their solution, and how well their work aligns with the program’s focus areas.

Optimizing Insurance Agency Operations

Solutions that help insurance agencies and brokerages reduce administrative burden, improve workflows and data access, strengthen agency-carrier connectivity, and free agents and their teams to focus on advising customers, building relationships, selling, and delivering empathetic service.

Potential areas could include CRM/data activation, agent workflow automation, submission intake, servicing tools, virtual assistants, policy review, customer communication, or agency-carrier connectivity.

Reducing Preventable Property Loss

Solutions that help insurers, agents, and policyholders identify, understand, mitigate, or respond to property risks before losses occur.

Potential areas could include solutions focused on property intelligence, risk monitoring, home resilience, severe weather preparedness, inspection, maintenance, smart devices, data analytics, or customer engagement models that encourage loss prevention.

Elevating the Customer Experience in Insurance

Solutions that reduce friction, build confidence, improve transparency, and strengthen trust across the full customer lifecycle, while helping agents and carriers deliver better experiences at scale.

Potential areas could include AI-powered service tools, customer communication platforms, digital self-service, education and decision support, personalized and proactive guidance, claims and post-loss support, sentiment analysis, journey insights, or tools that help carriers and agents provide more timely, transparent, and empathetic service.

Selected companies will participate in a 10-week accelerator experience that includes:

• A $50,000 investment
• A dedicated mentor team made up of representatives from Erie Insurance and ValueMomentum
• Tailored curriculum and workshops focused on high-value business, insurance, and growth topics
• 1:1 meetings with program staff, mentors, and relevant advisors
• Office space during the program
• Access to the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership’s regional business network
• Curated introductions to potential mentors, partners, customers, investors, and ecosystem leaders
• Opportunities for visibility through Chamber events, program storytelling, and a public-facing Demo Day

The program expects to select a small cohort of companies made up of no more than five companies.

Applications are due July 17, 2026.

First-round conversations may begin during the application window.

Finalist review is expected to take place in late July and early August.

Final cohort selection is targeted for August 14, 2026.

Selected companies may also be invited to participate in a September 10 pre-program Chamber event as an early visibility and ecosystem engagement opportunity.

The formal 10-week program runs September 14 through November 20, 2026.

The FIRE Accelerator is based in Erie, Pennsylvania. Selected companies receive office space during the program and access to the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership’s regional business network.

Additional details about in-person expectations, office space, and program scheduling will be shared with finalists and selected companies.

Companies do not need to permanently relocate to Erie. However, selected companies should be prepared to engage meaningfully with the program, mentors, sponsors, and Erie business community during the accelerator.

Specific expectations for in-person participation will be shared with finalists and selected companies.

Selected companies should expect consistent engagement throughout the 10-week program, including mentor meetings, curriculum sessions, 1:1 meetings, program check-ins, and key in-person opportunities.

The program is designed to be high-touch and practical. Companies should be prepared to actively participate and use the program to refine their insurance use case, receive feedback, build relationships, and explore strategic fit.

No. Participation in the FIRE Accelerator does not guarantee a pilot, proof of concept, customer relationship, procurement opportunity, investment beyond the stated program investment, or commercial relationship with Erie Insurance, ValueMomentum, the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership, or any Chamber member.

Selected companies receive mentorship, feedback, introductions, exposure, and opportunities to explore strategic fit.

Selected companies receive a dedicated mentor team made up of representatives from Erie Insurance and ValueMomentum. These mentors provide industry perspective, feedback, and guidance throughout the program.

The strongest applicants will be able to clearly explain:

• What problem they solve
• Who they solve it for
• How their solution applies to insurance
• Why the timing is right
• What kind of feedback, mentorship, introductions, or industry engagement would help them move faster

Applicants should provide a clear description of the company, the problem being solved, the product or solution, customer or market traction where available, team background, and how the company aligns with one or more of the 2026 focus areas.

Applicants should not include highly confidential or proprietary information in the initial application beyond what they are comfortable sharing as part of the review process.

Applications for the 2026 FIRE Accelerator open June 8, 2026, and are due July 17, 2026.

Interested startups can apply through the program’s F6S page and other official application channels.

Apply here: https://www.f6s.com/fire-accelerator-2026-insurance-tech/about

Questions? Contact: Jordan Fuller – [email protected]