What if the biggest breakthrough in insurance underwriting and claims isn’t happening on the ground—but hundreds of kilometres above it? In this episode of Scouting for Growth, Sabine VdL sits down with Stephen Lathrope, Insurance Practice Lead at ICEYE, to explore how geospatial data and satellite intelligence are redefining how insurers understand risk, respond to catastrophe, and serve customers when it matters most. This is not a futuristic discussion—it’s about capabilities already reshaping decision-making in real time. Stephen brings a rare blend of perspectives to the conversation. With decades of experience spanning private equity–backed businesses, executive leadership, and large-scale consulting, he now operates at the intersection of insurance, technology, and space. At ICEYE, that intersection is literal. The company builds and operates its own constellation of radar-enabled satellites—miniaturised synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology that can see through cloud, smoke, and darkness, day or night. ICEYE’s origins were pragmatic. Founded in 2014, its initial mission was to monitor ice flows in northern seas to support freight planning. Today, that same technology underpins some of the most advanced applications of geospatial intelligence in insurance—particularly around natural catastrophe response. The conversation dives deep into what this means in practice. When flooding occurs, insurers no longer have to wait days—or weeks—for clarity. ICEYE can identify where water is, where it has been, and how deep it is within hours of an event. That data is then overlaid with building footprints, enabling insurers to pinpoint which policyholders are most affected, estimate damage severity, and prioritise resources with precision. One of the most striking insights Stephen shares is deceptively simple: many insurers don’t actually know, with confidence, where all the properties they insure are located. When catastrophe data is expressed as latitude and longitude, the real challenge becomes mapping that intelligence accurately to portfolios and customers. Geospatial analytics closes that gap—turning abstract coordinates into actionable insight. Beyond floods, the discussion expands to wildfire. ICEYE’s radar technology can see through smoke and cloud, capturing data while fires are still burning. That capability allows insurers to assess exposure, estimate damage, and plan responses while events are unfolding—not after the fact. As climate volatility increases, that speed becomes a strategic advantage. Stephen is clear that this isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about empathy and outcomes. Faster, more accurate data enables insurers to reach customers sooner, allocate claims resources more intelligently, and move from reactive processing to proactive support. For governments, the same insights inform disaster response and near-term preparedness. Throughout the episode, one theme stands out: geospatial data changes the insurance value chain. Underwriting becomes more precise. Claims become more responsive. Risk management shifts from retrospective analysis to near-real-time understanding. This episode is essential listening for insurance executives, catastrophe modelers, claims leaders, and innovation teams navigating a world of more frequent and more severe events. It’s a reminder that the future of insurance won’t be built on assumptions—but on observation, accuracy, and speed. Because when you can see risk clearly, you can act decisively—and serve customers better. And that’s exactly what Scouting for Growth is here to surface.