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SoftBank-backed insurer Lemonade files for IPO

Dan Primack, author of Pro Rata

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Lemonade, a mobile-first digital insurer for homeowners and renters, filed Monday for an IPO.

The big picture: The IPO market is on fire, despite global business slowdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic.

  • Lemonade has raised around $480 million from firms like SoftBank Group, Sequoia Capital Israel, Aleph, XL Innovate, General Catalyst, and Thrive Capital.
  • The company, which was valued most recently by venture capitalists at $2.1 billion, has both rising revenue and rising losses. Last year, it lost over $108 million on nearly $68 million in revenue, compared to a $53 million loss on $22.5 million in revenue for 2018.
  • Its gross loss ratio, a key insurance metric, moved from 108.5% in 2017 to 67.7% in 2019.

The bottom line: This could prove an interesting test for investors, who generally view $100 million as the revenue threshold for new tech issuers.

Go deeper

Kia Kokalitcheva
Sep 2, 2020 - Economy & Business

Patreon raises $90 million as the pandemic drives artists to it

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Patreon, which lets artists get paid directly by fans for content subscriptions, has raised $90 million in new funding at a valuation of $1.2 billion. The investment round is led by New Enterprise Associates and Wellington, with Lone Pine, Glade Brook Capital, Thrive Capital, DFJ Growth, and Index Venture also participating.

Why it matters: With the pandemic shuttering traditional performance venues, eliminating live events and slowing the broader economy, creative workers of all stripes — musicians, writers, actors and more — are seeking alternative sources of revenue.

Rebecca Falconer
Updated 8 mins ago - Health

U.K. first nation to clear Pfizer coronavirus vaccine for mass rollout

A health care worker during the phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trial by the Pfizer and BioNTech in Ankara, Turkey, in October. Photo: Dogukan Keskinkilic/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The United Kingdom's government announced Wednesday it's approved Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine, which "will be made available across the U.K. from next week."

Why it matters: The U.K. has beaten the U.S. to become the first Western country to give emergency approval for a vaccine against a virus that's killed nearly 1.5 million people globally.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Axios
2 hours ago - World

NYT: Biden won't immediately remove U.S. tariffs on China

President-elect Joe Biden during an event in Wilmington, Delaware, on Tuesday. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

President Trump's 25% tariffs imposed on China under the phase one trade deal will remain in place at the start of the new administration, President-elect Biden said in an interview with the New York Times published early Wednesday.

Details: "I'm not going to make any immediate moves, and the same applies to the tariffs," Biden said. He plans to conduct a full review of the current U.S. policy on China and speak with key allies in Asia and Europe to "develop a coherent strategy," he said.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow