The Zebra

The Zebra was co-founded by Joshua Dziabiak and Adam Lyons.{{cite web |last1=Cronin |first1=Mike |title=The Zebra details finances, plans for 'exponential' growth after another investor windfall |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2020/02/05/the-zebra-details-finances-plans-for.html |website=Bizjournals |publisher=Austin Business Journal |accessdate=26 February 2020}}{{cite news|last1=Lapowsky|first1=Issie|title=How a 26-Year-Old Founder Landed Mark Cuban's Money|url=http://www.inc.com/issie-lapowsky/how-to-get-mark-cubans-money.html|accessdate=2 January 2015|publisher=Inc.|date=10 December 2013}} Originally named Insurance Zebra, the company was initially started in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania while Lyons was living in a friend's basement and collecting unemployment checks.{{cite news|last1=Lalorek|title=Why I Moved My Company To Austin|url=http://www.siliconhillsnews.com/2012/10/10/why-i-moved-my-company-to-austin/|accessdate=5 January 2015|publisher=Silicon Hills News|date=10 October 2012}}{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/22/25-year-old-high-school-dropout-emailed-mark-cuban-and-got-investment.html |title=How a 25-year-old high-school dropout cold-emailed Mark Cuban and got an investment |last=Clifford |first=Catherine |date=March 22, 2017 |website=CNBC |access-date=January 16, 2020}}

The Zebra was part of the Alpha Lab Incubator Program run by the Pittsburgh venture capital firm Innovation Works, where it gained the attention of venture capital fund Silverton Partners.{{cite news|last1=Todd|first1=Deborah M.|title=Austin ascends: High tech transforms Texas capital into a star|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/news/nation/2013/03/10/Austin-ascends-High-tech-transforms-Texas-capital-into-a-star/stories/201303100232|accessdate=2 January 2015|publisher=The Post Gazette|date=10 March 2013}}

During a private beta period, the company showed testers 280,000 quotes.

The company received $1.5 million in seed funding from investors that included Mark Cuban, Silverton Partners, Floodgate, and Birchmere Labs.{{cite news|last1=Spencer|first1=Malia|title=ShowClix CEO departing for Austin to join Insurance Zebra|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/print-edition/2013/01/04/showclix-ceo-departing-for-austin.html?page=all|accessdate=2 January 2015|publisher=Pittsburgh Business Journal|date=4 January 2013}} The funding was used to officially launch the website, with the company relocating to Austin, Texas.

In September 2013, having closed a $3 million extended seed round, the company launched to the public in both Texas and California, the two states with the most drivers.{{cite news|last1=Perez|first1=Sarah|title=Insurance Zebra Launches A Kayak For Auto Insurance|url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/09/05/insurance-zebra-launches-a-kayak-for-auto-insurance/|accessdate=2 January 2015|publisher=Tech Crunch|date=5 September 2013}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.inc.com/issie-lapowsky/how-to-get-mark-cubans-money.html|title=How a 26-Year-Old Founder Landed Mark Cuban's Money|last=Lapowsky|first=Issie|date=2013-12-10|website=Inc.com|access-date=2019-06-06}} It initially offered quotes from 33 different insurers (approximately 90% of the market), requiring only a zip code and vehicle information to obtain a quote, although answering more questions, such as driving history, improved the accuracy of the quote. Companies included State Farm, Geico, and Allstate, as well as specialized insurers. The quotes were provided from a direct relationship that The Zebra had with the insurers, or through a rate manual from companies that it did not have a direct relationship with. The Zebra included real-time updating of quotes as users moved through the Q&A sections, and allowed users to shop anonymously. In addition to providing quotes, the company lets drivers learn about companies’ coverage and evaluate claims satisfaction.

The website allowed a more detailed quote for users who answered additional questions such as driving history. By the end of 2013, The Zebra was available to users in all 50 states, while increasing its platform to 204 companies that included 22 carriers such as Esurance and The General.{{cite news|last1=Perez|first1=Sarah|title=Kayak For Auto Insurance Site The Zebra Grabs Another $3M, Launches Nationwide|url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/12/10/kayak-for-auto-insurance-site-the-zebra-grabs-another-3m-launches-nationwide/|accessdate=5 January 2014|publisher=Tech Crunch|date=10 December 2013}} It also received an additional $3 million of funding from its existing investors,{{cite news|last1=Bedigian|first1=Louis|title=The Zebra, a Car Insurance Statup, Raises $3 Million From High-Profile Investors|url=http://www.benzinga.com/news/13/12/4152066/exclusive-the-zebra-a-car-insurance-startup-raises-3-million-from-high-profile-in|accessdate=5 January 2015|publisher=Benzinga|date=12 December 2013}} adding investor Simon Nixon to the list of new investors.

In January 2016, The Zebra announced that it closed $17 million in Series A funding with investment from Cuban, Mike Maples Jr., Nixon, Silverton, and new investors Daher Capital and Ballast Point Ventures, bringing total funding to over $21 million.{{cite news|last1=Perez|first1=Sarah|title=The Zebra, A "Kayak For Auto Insurance," Grabs $17 Million To Better Educate Drivers About Rates & Coverage|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/01/27/the-zebra-a-kayak-for-auto-insurance-grabs-17-million-to-better-educate-drivers-about-rates-coverage/|accessdate=14 March 2016|publisher=Tech Crunch|date=27 January 2016}} The company planned to use the additional funding to create educational tools that explain to drivers what's behind their rates, and how they can reduce rates while increasing coverage.{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/01/27/the-zebra-a-kayak-for-auto-insurance-grabs-17-million-to-better-educate-drivers-about-rates-coverage/|title=The Zebra, A "Kayak For Auto Insurance," Grabs $17 Million To Better Educate Drivers About Rates & Coverage|website=TechCrunch|date=January 27, 2016 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-11}}

In 2017, The company announced a $40 million series B funding round, led by Accel Partners, bringing their fundraising total to $61.5 million.{{cite news |last1=Gensler |first1=Lauren |title=The Zebra Raises $40 Million, Taps New CEO To Expand Beyond Car Insurance |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurengensler/2017/09/19/the-zebra-raises-40-million-taps-new-ceo-to-expand-beyond-car-insurance/#467b02f97b48 |accessdate=7 July 2018 |work=Forbes |date=19 September 2017}} The company also brought on Keith Melnick as CEO.{{cite news |last1=Wistrom |first1=Brent |title=The Zebra Hires Former Kayak President and Closes $40M Investment |url=https://www.americaninno.com/austin/the-zebra-hires-former-kayak-president-and-closes-40m-investment/ |accessdate=7 July 2018 |publisher=American Inno |date=19 September 2017}} In 2017 the company added an "Insurability Score" which shows consumers to see what impacts their insurance risk, similar to a credit score for credit.{{cite news |last1=Gensler |first1=Lauren |title=There's A New Way To Figure Out Why Your Car Insurance Costs So Much |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurengensler/2017/10/24/credit-score-for-insurance-the-zebra/#7ff7951f72d1 |accessdate=7 July 2018 |work=Forbes |date=24 October 2017}}

In 2018, Lyons left The Zebra and stepped aside from both day-to-day operations and his role as chairman of the board.

The Zebra has received national media attention.{{cite news|last1=Griffith|first1=Erin|title=High School Dropout Raises $17 Million After Cold Emailing Mark Cuban|url=http://fortune.com/2016/01/26/the-zebra-mark-cuban/|accessdate=14 March 2016|publisher=Fortune|date=26 January 2016}} NBC Nightly News recommended The Zebra as a tool to compare car insurance quotes and save on rates.{{cite news|title=U.S. Drivers Struggle under Soaring Car Insurance Premiums|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/u-s-drivers-struggles-under-soaring-car-insurance-premiums-717066307770|accessdate=2 October 2016|publisher=NBC Nightly News|date=1 July 2016}}

The company issued a joke which Time Magazine included in its Best April Fools’ Pranks of 2014,{{cite news|last1=Theis|first1=Michael|title=April Fools: Austin companies crank up the pranks on day of mischief|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2014/04/01/april-fools-austin-companies-crank-up-the-pranks.html?page=all|accessdate=5 January 2015|publisher=Austin Business Journal|date=2 April 2014}}{{cite news|last1=Waxman|first1=Olivia B.|title=The Best April Fools' Pranks of 2014|url=https://time.com/43940/the-best-april-fools-pranks-of-2014/|access-date=5 January 2015|publisher=Time Magazine|date=1 April 2014}} and the company was named a Best Place to Work in Austin for four consecutive years from 2015 through 2019.{{cite news|title=Maid service, 'treat yo' self' perks make The Zebra a Best Place to Work|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/at-the-watercooler/2015/07/maid-service-treat-yo-self-perks-make-the-zebra-a.html|accessdate=14 March 2016|publisher=Austin Business Journal|date=14 March 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Pope|first1=Colin|title=The Best Places to Work in 2016 - the winners, how they rank and what makes them so cool|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2016/06/24/the-best-places-to-work-in-2016-the-winners-how.html|accessdate=2 October 2016|publisher=Austin Business Journals|date=24 June 2016}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.inc.com/profile/the-zebra|title=The Zebra|website=Inc.com|access-date=2019-07-10}}

In September 2017, The Zebra received a $40 million Series B round of funding.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2018/08/03/adam-lyons-leaves-the-zebra-hints-at-something-new.html|title=Adam Lyons Leaves The Zebra|last=|first=|date=|website=Biz Journals|access-date=2020-03-19}} In 2019, revenue grew almost 200% to nearly $37 million.{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/02/05/the-zebra-raises-38-5m-as-the-insurance-marketplace-race-heats-up/amp/?guccounter=1|title=The Zebra raises $38.5M as the insurance marketplace race heats up – TechCrunch|website=techcrunch.com|date=February 5, 2020 |access-date=2020-03-19}} In February 2020, the company announced a $38.5 million Series C funding round. Just like the Series B round, the Series C was led by Accel.{{cite web |last1=Wilhelm |first1=Alex |title=The Zebra raises $38.5M as the insurance marketplace race heats up |url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/02/05/the-zebra-raises-38-5m-as-the-insurance-marketplace-race-heats-up/amp/?guccounter=1 |website=Techcrunch |date=February 5, 2020 |accessdate=31 March 2020}}

The Zebra offers a way for consumers to get real-time quotes from car insurance companies by filling out an online form. As the driver fills out the form, answering more questions about things like their age, driving record, and credit score, the quotes increase in accuracy. Because The Zebra itself is not an insurance agency, it's not biased toward sending customers to one company or another.

As of 2019, The Zebra provided over 1,800 car insurance products from more than 200 national insurers.

The Zebra analyzes more than 83 million car insurance rates to compile its annual State of Insurance report.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/tripping/wp/2018/02/07/auto-insurance-rates-have-skyrocketed-and-in-ways-that-are-wildly-unfair/|title=Auto insurance rates have skyrocketed — and in ways that are wildly unfair|last=Kunkle|first=Fredrick|newspaper=Washington Post}} The report covers topics including how much the average American is paying for their coverage, the states where rates are rising or falling, the most and least expensive cars to insure, how much a ticket raises drivers’ insurance rates, and other variables that affect insurance rates such as marital status, age, credit score and education.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/drive-a-little-or-a-lot-car-insurers-charge-the-same/|title=Drive a little or a lot, car insurers charge the same|website=www.cbsnews.com|date=February 27, 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-08}}

The Zebra has published additional reports on topics that impact the insurance industry, such as:

• Distracted Driving Report: This report reveals car insurance companies raise penalty for distracted driving 10,000%, proving that getting caught using a cell phone while driving is getting exponentially more expensive as car insurance companies are just beginning to penalize drivers for distracted driving.{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/insurance-rates-for-distracted-driving-rise-10000-percent/|title=The car insurance penalty for distracted driving rose nearly 10,000% this decade|website=www.digitaltrends.com|date=April 29, 2019 |access-date=2019-05-15}}
• Gender-Based Pricing Report: This report uncovered that women now pay more than men for car insurance in 25 states (even though men are riskier drivers).{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/car-insurance-rates-men-vs-women-2019-4|title=Car insurance rates are going up for women across the US — here's where they pay more than men|last=Loudenback|first=Shayanne Gal, Tanza|website=Business Insider|access-date=2019-05-23}}{{Cite web|url=https://jalopnik.com/women-pay-more-for-car-insurance-than-men-in-half-of-th-1833614105|title=Here's Where Women Pay More for Car Insurance Than Men: Study|last=Lee|first=Kristen|website=Jalopnik|date=March 27, 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-23}}
• Car Technology Report: In this report, The Zebra looked into why tech that makes your car safer won't lower your insurance rates and revealed that despite proven safety and security benefits, new in-car safety and anti-theft technology features save drivers less than 1% on car insurance.{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jensen/2016/11/10/which-of-nine-safety-technologies-will-save-you-money-on-car-insurance-and-how-much/|title=Which Of Nine Safety Technologies Will Save You Money On Car Insurance? And How Much?|last=Jensen|first=Cheryl and Christopher|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=2019-05-29}}
• Marijuana Report: The Zebra presented a survey of drivers in the U.S. who have access to recreational marijuana and found that 60% of drivers who use marijuana in legal states drive under the influence.{{Cite web|url=https://politi.co/2DiZHec|title=DOT keeps Elon Musk in the Loop|last=Mintz|first=Sam|website=POLITICO|date=April 18, 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-06-04}}

Joshua Dziabiak joined after the financing in 2013 as COO/CMO.{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/print-edition/2013/01/04/showclix-ceo-departing-for-austin.html|title=ShowClix CEO departing for Austin to join Insurance Zebra|access-date=February 6, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.envzone.com/financial-services/insurtech-clearcover-takes-flight-with-50m-raise-in-series-c/|title=Insurtech: Clearcover Takes Flight With $50M Raise In Series C|date=2020-01-15|website=EnvZone|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-02}} Keith Melnick, previously President at Kayak, was named CEO of The Zebra in 2017.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/kayak-boss-takes-flight-to-insurance-1505793601|title=Kayak Boss Takes Flight to Insurance|last=Chernova|first=Yuliya|date=2017-09-19|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=2019-04-22|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660}}

The company's CTO is Meetesh Karia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/people/meeteshkaria/|title=Forbes Technology Council|last1=Karia|first1=Meetesh|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=2019-07-15}}

After leading the company as CEO for 6 years, Lyons served as chairman of the board. He left in 2018, now serving on the board of CASA and as EIR at Bill Wood Ventures.{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2018/08/03/adam-lyons-leaves-the-zebra-hints-at-something-new.html|title=Adam Lyons leaves The Zebra, hints at something new up his sleeve|accessdate=16 January 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2019/03/10/how-adam-lyons-a-former-ceo-is-prepping-for-a.html|title=How Adam Lyons, a former CEO, is prepping for a career in TV; Coaching entrepreneurs is the goal|accessdate=16 January 2020}}

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Category:2012 establishments in Pennsylvania

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