Johannesburg – iTOO Special Risks marks its 11th birthday this month; the milestone offers more than a moment of celebration.
The company says the milestone is an opportunity to reflect on how far the business – and the broader insurance industry has come, and to reaffirm the power of partnerships and collaboration in shaping a more resilient, trusted and future-ready sector.
From its inception, iTOO has been built on the belief that specialty insurance thrives when expertise is shared, when relationships are nurtured and when collective action is prioritised.
This founding philosophy remains central to the company’s identity today, as Tovè Sithole, Head of Talent and Brand at iTOO explained: “Our purpose is simple: ‘Together we conquer risk to unleash potential’. As we turn 11, we believe that one plus one equals 11. Collaboration is and has always been part of our DNA.”
A changing risk landscape
Over the past decade, South African businesses have navigated an increasingly complex risk environment, from climate-related shocks and infrastructure failures to the rapid evolution of cyber threats and the transition to green energy.
These shifts have underscored the critical role of specialty insurance in enabling economic stability and unlocking new opportunities.
Sithole noted that the industry has not always communicated its value clearly enough.
“Insurance is a critical part of the economy,” she said on Wednesday, 5 August 2026.
“Without it, renewable energy projects wouldn’t be financed, businesses wouldn’t recover from shocks, and entrepreneurs wouldn’t be able to take risks that drive growth.
“We need to educate the market better and rebuild trust in the industry.”
Trust is the foundation of every successful partnership, whether between insurers and clients, insurers and brokers, or across the wider ecosystem of reinsurers, regulators, service providers and industry bodies.
The power of partnerships
iTOO’s 11‑year journey has demonstrated that meaningful collaboration is not merely a strategic advantage; it is essential for building a sustainable, future‑fit insurance industry. Sithole believes the timing is right for a renewed focus on partnership.
“As an industry collective, we face many challenges,” she said.
“But if we use all the assets, we have our data, and our experience and democratise them responsibly, we can have shared value and rebuild confidence in the insurance industry.”
This commitment to shared progress has been evident in iTOO’s convening power.
Through CEO roundtables, industry unconferences and partnerships with organisations such as the Insurance Institute of Gauteng, iTOO has helped bring leaders together to discuss resilience, trust and the future of insurance.
But, as Sithole points out, dialogue is only the beginning.
“The success of these conversations will not only be about the conversations themselves, but about what we do next as an industry. Collaboration must lead to measurable impact,” she said.
What meaningful collaboration looks like
“At iTOO, we believe our people are not a resource but a source. If we take care of our people, they will take care of our customers,” Sithole shared.
“Partnerships start internally, within our culture, before they extend to industry bodies or competitors.”
For iTOO, successful partnership is defined by aligned values, shared vision and a commitment to measurable outcomes.
It requires understanding entire ecosystems, whether insuring the ultimate human race as an insurance partner or providing solutions for emerging entrepreneurs, and designing solutions that strengthen resilience rather than simply restoring the status quo.
A culture that enables collaboration
iTOO’s values have been instrumental in its growth over the past 11 years.
Care, expert achievement, progress‑driven curiosity and honesty form the backbone of the organisation’s culture and guide its relationships with brokers, clients and partners.
These values have also shaped iTOO’s role as a home for UMA’s and entrepreneurs seeking to partner with a specialty insurance expert.
“Whether partnering with a broker or an entrepreneur, we want to be the partner people think of first. When they think cyber, renewable energy or liability, we want them to think iTOO,” said Sithole.
As iTOO expands its footprint, including recent partnerships in East Africa, the company remains committed to unlocking potential across the continent.
iTOO’s 11th birthday is a celebration of partnership, trust and shared ambition.
It is a reminder that specialty insurance is at its strongest when collaboration is prioritised, when data and expertise are shared responsibly, and when the industry works collectively to build resilience and societal value.
“Alone you go fast, but together we go far. The greatest opportunities lie ahead of us if we choose to work together,” Sithole said.
