Sumarié Greybe signals a shift towards transparency and tech-driven reform in African finance through her work at Naked Insurance.
Sumarié Greybe is a South African entrepreneur and actuary who co-founded Naked Insurance, a digital-first insurance platform seeking to modernise how South Africans access and manage cover.
Greybe holds a BCom (Hons) in Actuarial Science from the University of Pretoria, obtained in 1994. She spent more than fifteen years in consulting roles, including leading her own firm, Quindiem Consulting, which provided actuarial services to several major insurers.
When Quindiem was later acquired by Ernst & Young (EY), Greybe joined the firm as a partner, heading its short-term insurance actuarial consulting practice for Africa. Her long-standing experience in the sector offered her a clear view of the challenges faced by both insurers and policyholders in an industry still rooted in legacy systems.
Founding the company
In 2016, Greybe and fellow actuaries Alex Thomson and Ernest North decided to address these challenges by building a new kind of insurance business from the ground up. They observed that, while industries such as banking and retail had embraced digital transformation, insurance remained burdened by complex paperwork, limited transparency, and a lack of trust between providers and clients. Their response was Naked Insurance (Naked)—a fully digital platform that uses automation and artificial intelligence to simplify policy management, quoting, and claims processes.
Naked was launched publicly in 2018, following several years of product development and securing investment support, including a R160 million (about $9.2 million by current estimate) Series A round led by Naspers Foundry. The company offers car, home, contents, and standalone item insurance, all accessible through a mobile-friendly interface that allows users to obtain cover within minutes.
Since its launch, Naked has grown into one of South Africa’s notable insurtech firms, earning attention for its technology-driven approach to fairness and transparency in pricing. Its model enables customers to buy and manage insurance independently, with part of unclaimed premiums directed towards charitable causes—an effort to promote integrity and social responsibility within the sector.
Advocacy
Grey advocates for and encourages girls and young women to pursue STEM subjects, emphasising that education and confidence are essential to increasing participation in science-based careers. She has spoken publicly about creating flexible work structures and supporting women in technology and leadership roles.
Drawing inspiration from strong female role models in her family, Sumarié Greybe often credits her upbringing for shaping her values of diligence, resilience, and optimism. She continues to encourage women to pursue their ambitions and contribute meaningfully to industries still in need of transformation.
As part of a growing generation of African professionals using technology to rethink traditional industries, her work with Naked Insurance highlights how innovation and purpose can align to create more accessible and trustworthy financial services across the continent.
