"Founder part of FrenchTech Singapore" : Yann BARBARROUX - Founder of Otonomi.ai

Otonomi.ai is pioneering parametric insurance solutions that protect global supply chains against cargo delays and disruptions through instant claims resolution, AI-driven underwriting, and real-time tracking visibility.

Actions mean more than words to us — and our numbers speak for themselves:

• USD $2.2 billion in capacity deployed globally
• 215 million cargo shipments tracked worldwide
• 94.1% reduction in claim resolution time
  The platform provides shippers, BCOs, freight forwarders, and broker agents with fast, transparent, and algorithmic coverage.

Bottom line: we exist to eliminate the friction, delays, and opacity of traditional marine cargo claims, turning weeks of painful paperwork into seamless, automated payouts.

1- What made you decide to start this company ? 

I spent years living at the intersection of commodities trading, deep technology, and complex financial risk management, I saw firsthand how outdated the supply chain risk and insurance infrastructure was. In freight and cargo, claims often take anywhere from 45 to 120 days to settle, locking up crucial working capital for businesses when they need it most.

My conviction was clear: as supply chains become increasingly digitized and volatile, insurance needs to be algorithmic, data-driven, and instant. We built Otonomi to bridge the massive gap (USD $68 billion of uninsured assets annually) between real-time supply chain data and financial protection—creating a win-win for carriers who want lower operational costs and clients who need immediate liquidity when disruptions happen.

2- What are you most proud of since launching ? 

What I’m most proud of is seeing the team turn a complex, heavily regulated industry problem into a solution that works in practice.

Traditional cargo insurance claims can take weeks or even months to settle. With Otonomi, we have built a parametric platform that uses real-time supply-chain data, automated underwriting and AI-driven claims workflows to reduce that process to hours.

What makes the solution genuinely different is that AI is not an add-on to the product; it is embedded in how the platform operates. Our systems can monitor shipment events, assess predefined risk conditions and trigger claims automatically, significantly reducing manual intervention, paperwork and delays.

For me, the strongest validation is seeing clients receive payouts automatically during a disruption. That is when the technology becomes tangible: faster access to liquidity for clients, lower operational friction for insurers and brokers, and a more scalable way to manage cargo risk.

3- How do you see La French Tech Singapore contributing to the success of founders like you ?

Singapore, for me, is THE gateway for global trade, fintech, and insurtech in APAC — full stop. For founders like us, La French Tech Singapore is both an anchor and a launchpad. It's given me a genuine community of peers who get what it's like to scale a high-growth tech company across borders.

And beyond the camaraderie, it's opened doors — local visibility across 110+ startups (including 8 French Tech Next40 companies), plus direct lines to corporate decision-makers. Through 3,000+ active event participants and an 18,000+ startup global network, it's built a real bridge between French talent and Southeast Asia's booming markets. Honestly, it's been a huge multiplier for us regionally.

4- What type of opportunity are you looking to unlock next ?  

We're not slowing down — as we scale across APAC and beyond, here's what we're chasing next:

1. Strategic Partnerships: teaming up with major regional freight forwarders, 3PLs, Port Authorities, shipping lines, and digital logistics platforms who want to bake automated risk management right into their workflows.
2. Insurance Underwriting & Brokerage Partners: going deeper with APAC-based insurance carriers, reinsurers, and brokers who are ready for modern parametric products.
3. Growth Capital & Alliances: connecting with investors and ecosystem partners who see the same future we do: reinventing how global trade risk actually works.

  Interview of  Yann BARBARROUX, Founder of Otonomi.ai