Bamboo Insurance

Who Is Bamboo Insurance?

Bamboo Insurance is an insurance distribution platform specializing in homeowners coverage for properties in catastrophe-prone and hard-to-insure areas. Founded in 2018 by CEO John Chu — a veteran with nearly two decades of experience at carriers like The Hartford and Pacific Specialty Insurance — Bamboo was built to solve one of the toughest problems in residential insurance: providing quality, affordable coverage in regions where traditional carriers have pulled back or stopped writing new policies altogether.

Bamboo combines advanced data analytics and AI-powered underwriting with experienced human oversight to accurately price risk in areas impacted by wildfire, wind, hail, and other natural catastrophes. The result is coverage that many homeowners thought was no longer available to them — at prices that are often more competitive than they expect.

History & Heritage

Bamboo Insurance was founded in 2018 by John Chu, who saw an opportunity to bring modern technology to a segment of the homeowners insurance market that was being underserved. As catastrophic weather events intensified and traditional carriers retreated from high-risk markets, millions of homeowners were left scrambling for coverage. Chu built Bamboo to fill that gap.

The company initially focused on California, where wildfire risk had driven many established insurers out of entire regions. Bamboo's data-driven approach allowed it to write policies in areas where other carriers would not, while still pricing risk accurately enough to remain financially sustainable. The company then expanded into Texas and other states facing similar challenges.

In 2025, Bamboo partnered with Accredited Surety and Casualty Company to launch an Excess and Surplus (E&S) lines homeowners program in California, further expanding its ability to serve high-risk properties. Later that year, CVC Capital Partners acquired Bamboo in a transaction valuing the company at $1.75 billion — a testament to the strength of its technology platform and market position.

What They Are Known For

Catastrophe-zone expertise: Bamboo specializes in writing homeowners policies in areas prone to wildfire, wind, hail, and other natural disasters where standard carriers may not offer coverage.
AI-powered underwriting: Bamboo uses artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics to assess property risk at a granular level, enabling more accurate pricing and faster policy issuance.
Coverage in hard-to-insure markets: For homeowners in California, Texas, and other states where finding coverage has become increasingly difficult, Bamboo is often the carrier that says "yes" when others say "no."
Agent-focused distribution: Bamboo works exclusively through independent agents, ensuring that policyholders get personalized advice and advocacy along with their coverage.
Online policyholder portal: Bamboo's digital platform allows customers to access policy documents, file claims, and manage their accounts online around the clock.

Why We Partner With Bamboo

At Better Choice Insurance Group, we regularly work with clients whose properties are located in areas that other carriers consider too risky. Whether it is a home near a wildfire zone, a property in a hail-prone region, or a coastal house exposed to wind damage, these homeowners need coverage just as much as anyone else — and they deserve competitive options, not just a last-resort policy from the state's insurer of last resort.

Bamboo gives us the ability to say "yes" to homeowners who have been turned down elsewhere. Their technology allows them to look at each property individually rather than painting an entire ZIP code with a broad brush. That granular approach often results in coverage that is both more comprehensive and more affordable than what our clients expected to find.

We also value Bamboo's commitment to the independent agent model. They understand that homeowners in challenging markets need more guidance, not less, and they trust agents like us to provide that guidance. The combination of Bamboo's underwriting technology and our local market knowledge creates a powerful partnership for our clients.

AM Best Rating

Bamboo Insurance's fronting carriers hold an A− (Excellent) rating from AM Best, providing policyholders with confidence in the financial stability backing their coverage.