Much has changed at Betterview in the last decade. The company started with cameras strapped to painter’s poles, but over time, evolved into the leading source of actionable property intelligence for the P&C insurance industry. With that evolution, our team expanded, and some former employees even returned to the company in new roles. Today we sat down with two of these returning employees, Tyler Preston and Tanner Gruebele, to discuss how the company has changed, what has remained the same, and what the future holds for Betterview.
BV: Welcome Tyler and Tanner! I’d love to start by asking you what your current role is at Betterview, and why you decided to return to the company.
Tyler: My name is Tyler Preston and I am currently a Senior Data Scientist. What really drew me back to Betterview was seeing all the ways our computer vision technology evolved since I left the company. Our models have matured exponentially in the past few years, and I think it is incredible we can tell you all the details about a property just based on external imagery.
Tanner: I’m Tanner Gruebele, and I am a Senior Software Engineer. I would echo what Tyler said. I am really impressed by the lengths that our technology has come. It’s truly groundbreaking stuff. I was also drawn back to Betterview because I really like the intimate startup atmosphere that Dave and David have cultivated. It feels like there’s a lot more humanity at Betterview compared to some of the more massive companies in tech.
BV: How has Betterview changed in the time you were not working here?
Tyler: There has been an overall maturation of both culture and product. Obviously on one level the company has literally expanded – there are a lot more employees now than there used to be. But the product has really matured as well. We can now run a property profile in a matter of seconds, which is head and shoulders above what you used to get in the insurtech space.
Tanner: Thinking about the product, what strikes me the most is how Betterview has gone all in on computer vision. There was a time when that was less a part of our overall strategy, but now it is undeniably one of the central pillars of our platform. That makes sense with the AI explosion over the last few years, and also considering the impressive group of engineers and data scientists that Dave and David have cultivated.
BV: On the other side of that, what are some things that have remained consistent?
Tyler: There’s lots of continuity between what Betterview used to be and what it is today. Even though we have grown into a larger company, we still have that nimble, electrifying energy that is the hallmark of a great startup. Employees are still empowered to take the initiative and try new things, no matter how bold. It’s a very conducive atmosphere to experimentation and growth, which is something I really like in a workplace.
Tanner: I agree with Tyler, it’s really the same Betterview in so many ways – just in an evolved form. One thing that I appreciate is how the company has stuck to its core values over the years. One of those values that I particularly like is “measure twice, code once.” Even though we can move pretty fast here, that doesn’t mean our work is sloppy. When we release a new product, or add a new feature to our platform, we know that it is going to be functional and that it is actually meeting the needs of insurers.
BV: What is unique about the technology at Betterview?
Tyler: The way I see it, our platform combines three core concepts: high-quality aerial imagery, sophisticated computer vision models, and an intuitive user interface that transforms data points into direct policy action for insurers. That level of actionability in my mind is what sets us apart from other companies in the insurtech space. We’re not just another data stream for underwriters; they actually use our platform every day to get their jobs done.
Tanner: The big differentiator in my mind is that we don’t compromise on either speed or accuracy, because we know both of those factors are important for our users. We provide insurers with comprehensive, granular insights on property condition – insights such as roof age, hurricane vulnerability, and defensible space – and we do all of this at remarkably efficient speeds. Insurers can trust that they are making informed decisions based on the best data available, and they can also do so in a way that is more efficient than previously possible.
BV: How do you see the property intelligence industry changing in the years to come? And what role will Betterview play in that?
Tyler: There was a time when nobody knew what “property intelligence” even meant, and we had to educate our customers on that category before we could even talk about our own advantages. That has changed to the point where, for most insurers, it is a foregone conclusion that property intelligence will play a major part in their business strategy. I think Betterview has played a major part in defining that category, and I believe in the next five years we are going to really solidify our reputation as the premium source of property intelligence for P&C insurers.
Tanner: Totally agree, Tyler. I would add that in the next several years, I hope to see the widespread adoption of property intelligence make a tangible difference in the lives of the insured, and not just insurance companies. Underwriters, agents, and policyholders can use our platform to proactively communicate about risk drivers on a property, and even act to mitigate that risk to avoid a future claim. I think we have a real opportunity to positively impact people’s lives, and that is one big reason why I am happy to work at Betterivew.