DXC names three winners of 2026 insurance invitational

DXC Technology has named Kanopi, truuth and LeapForward.ai as the winners of its 2026 DXC Invitational, a competition for insurance technology startups and scaleups in Australia and New Zealand.

The three businesses were recognised for products focused on customer communication, fraud detection and workplace injury recovery. The winners will have the opportunity to work with DXC globally and explore ways to deploy their products in additional markets.

Now in its ninth year, the DXC Invitational targets later-stage companies with products ready for use in the insurance sector. The programme is designed to identify tools that address issues across the insurance process, from prevention and policy administration to claims management.

Kanopi won the category focused on improving the insurance value chain. It offers a customer communication and engagement platform designed to help insurers deliver clearer, more personalised interactions across policy and claims processes.

Judges selected truuth in the category centred on API integration into the DXC insurance software suite. Its product is a digital identity and fraud detection platform that aims to help organisations verify identity and detect fraud involving AI-generated images, documents and other synthetic content.

LeapForward.ai took the category covering workers compensation, self-insurance and public liability. The company has developed an AI recovery coaching platform with clinical governance intended to support recovery outcomes and return-to-work pathways for injured workers.

DXC worked with Insurtech Australia and UTS Startups on the competition. The initiative brought together insurers, brokers, technology suppliers and startups, reflecting the industry's growing focus on practical uses for newer software tools.

Michael Neary, Regional General Manager, Insurance, Asia Pacific, DXC Technology, said the judging focused on products that could address operational and customer challenges in the sector. “The 2026 winners demonstrated not only strong innovation, but also practical, scalable solutions that have the potential to deliver meaningful value across the insurance ecosystem. We look forward to exploring opportunities to collaborate with these organisations and help bring their innovations to customers across Australia, New Zealand and beyond.”

The competition comes as insurers face pressure to improve customer service while dealing with new forms of fraud and the cost of managing claims. The rise of generative AI has added to concerns for carriers and financial services groups that must assess whether digital documents and images are genuine.

That issue formed part of truuth's pitch to the judges. “Participating in the DXC Invitational was both inspiring and energising. The event created a unique environment where innovation, collaboration and practical problem-solving came together. We're particularly excited about the opportunity to engage with DXC and its customers to address one of the fastest-growing challenges in insurance: the use of AI-generated images, documents and other synthetic content to commit fraud. This recognition validates our vision and opens the door to partnerships that can help insurers build greater trust, strengthen fraud controls and protect customers from increasingly sophisticated attacks. We're excited about the prospect of working alongside DXC to turn innovative thinking into tangible business outcomes,” said Simpson.

Kanopi's selection reflects a separate pressure point for insurers: keeping policyholders informed during underwriting and claims without adding administrative friction. Better communication tools have become a priority as carriers seek to reduce complaints and improve customer retention.

Nigel Fellowes-Freeman, Founder and CEO, Kanopi, said, “The DXC Invitational was an exceptional experience, bringing together innovators, industry leaders and organisations that are genuinely committed to solving real business challenges. What excites us most is the opportunity to move beyond ideas and create meaningful outcomes for customers. We see DXC as a strategic partner with the scale, expertise and industry knowledge to help amplify innovation and accelerate impact. We're looking forward to exploring how we can work together to bring transformative solutions to market and create lasting value for customers across the industry.”

In workers compensation and public liability, insurers and employers continue to look for tools that can support injured workers and shorten the time taken to return to work. LeapForward.ai's product was recognised in that context.

“The DXC Invitational showcased the power of bringing diverse ideas together to solve meaningful challenges. We were honoured to share our vision and be recognised alongside such an impressive group of innovators. Looking ahead, we're excited about the opportunity to collaborate with DXC to accelerate the responsible adoption of AI and create solutions that empower people, enhance customer experiences and drive measurable business outcomes. We believe this is just the beginning of a very exciting journey and look forward to exploring what's possible together,” said Roberts.

Simone Dossetor, CEO, Insurtech Australia, pointed to the breadth of ideas emerging from the regional market. “The quality of this year's finalists demonstrates the strength of innovation emerging from across Australia and New Zealand. We are proud to partner with DXC in providing a platform for startups and scaleups to connect directly with industry leaders and showcase solutions that have the potential to transform customer outcomes and industry performance.”

Industry judges included claims, underwriting, workers compensation and actuarial executives from WorkSafe Victoria, Southern Cross Travel Insurance, Inghams Group and Taylor Fry.