Insurance Underwriter - Intern

About Shepherd

Shepherd is an MGU platform purpose-built to launch and scale commercial insurance products with speed, efficiency, and precision. Leveraging AI to eliminate administrative underwriting, we streamline workflows and drive faster decision-making, while differentiating through proprietary, industry-specific data that enhances risk selection.

We’re building a platform that incentivizes clients to adopt high-impact risk management tools—bridging the gap between available technology and its widespread underuse across construction and other commercial markets.

To date, Shepherd has raised $20M+ from top tier VCs including Y-Combinator, Susa Ventures, Spark Capital, Costanoa Ventures, Era Ventures, Greenlight RE and Intact Ventures.

About You

As an Underwriting Intern at Shepherd, you'll play a key role in supporting the underwriting team with day-to-day operational tasks and assisting with strategic projects that provide valuable insights for the business. Over the course of this 8-week internship, you will gain hands-on experience in underwriting with the commercial construction team. Additionally, you will work on a research-focused side project that will culminate in a final presentation to the team, giving you the opportunity to demonstrate independent thinking and deliver a tangible project outcome. This internship offers an excellent opportunity to learn about the intersection of insurance, technology, and innovation in a fast-paced, dynamic startup environment. It is designed to be an impactful learning experience that contributes to both your personal and professional growth, providing you with real-world exposure to the underwriting process and a tangible project to present to your peers.

This is an onsite role based in San Francisco. 

Responsibilities

• Assist the underwriting team with operational tasks, such as account modeling, broker triage, and document organization.
• Support the underwriting team by performing research on industry trends, AI applications in insurance, and other emerging technologies.
• Take ownership of a side project focused on “Emerging Use Cases of AI in Insurance,” with a focus on real-world case studies and practical applications.
• Prepare and deliver a final presentation on the AI use cases research, offering insights and recommendations for how these innovations could impact the business.

You would be a dream candidate if…

• Currently pursuing a degree in Risk Management, Insurance, Business, or a related field.
• Strong interest in the insurance industry with a desire to explore the application of emerging technologies such as AI in underwriting.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present findings clearly.
• A proactive attitude with the ability to work independently and manage time effectively.