Partnership that brings specialty insurance programs to life

Every successful specialty insurance program starts with an underwriter who sees a unique opportunity – a segment that needs better capacity, sharper underwriting, or a new approach to risk. DOXA exists to help those underwriters turn their vision into reality. 

Through a model built on partnership, DOXA helps ambitious underwriters build MGAs that serve niche markets. The result is a growing portfolio of programs built from the ground up by people who know their business inside and out. 

Key takeaways:  

• It’s a great time to start an MGA. The global specialty insurance market is currently valued at $112B and on pace to reach $279B by 2031. 

• On average, MGAs that come to DOXA grow by 70% in the first three years and double by year five.  

• Entrepreneurial underwriters benefit from our model which pairs underwriting autonomy with operational expertise, resulting in faster growth for MGAs. 

A growing market for entrepreneurial underwriters 

Now is an opportune time for experienced underwriters to launch a new MGA as valuations continue to increase in the specialty insurance market. The global market is currently valued at $112 billion and is projected to more than double by 2031, reaching about $279 billion.   

Surplus line growth remains strong, carriers are investing in E&S opportunities, and interest in MGAs from private equity and program managers is steady. These trends create an environment where experienced underwriters can build focused, profitable programs with strong growth potential.   

How DOXA builds new programs 

When underwriters come to DOXA to build a new program, they bring specialized underwriting expertise, distribution relationships, and an entrepreneurial spirit. They’re ready to bring creative ideas and build a program that fills a need in the market.  

DOXA provides the framework to bring new programs to market quickly and efficiently, including support with licensing, carrier relationships, capital, and operational infrastructure. Based on our extensive experience with launching new MGAs, we’ve built a proven process that gives founders a smooth path from planning to launch. 

The process begins with identifying underwriters who combine deep market knowledge with a clear strategic vision. DOXA then works side by side with them to refine the business plan, establish the program structure, and build a foundation for growth. 

The key stages of program development are:  

1. Introduction and early alignment: We look to work with talented underwriters who have at least 10 years of experience, bring an entrepreneurial mindset, and have a reputation for integrity. This stage confirms alignment on market opportunity, underwriting philosophy, and long-term goals.
2. Business plan development: The first step to building a new MGA is to create a business plan and lay the foundation for what the MGA will become. We collaborate with the founder to refine distribution strategy, premium targets, team structure, and the overall roadmap.
3. Carrier marketing: Once a business plan is in place, we present the opportunity to our carrier partners to secure capacity that fits the program. This includes appetite alignment, reinsurance considerations, and the structure required for a sustainable launch.
4. Onboarding: After securing capacity, we prepare the program for launch through licensing, systems setup, operational workflows, compliance readiness, and internal training. This stage ensures that the MGA enters the market with a complete and efficient infrastructure.
5. Program launch: With infrastructure in place, the new MGA enters the market and begins actively underwriting. We support the team through early distribution outreach, operational refinement, and the transition into steady production so the program can scale with confidence.  

DOXA’s partnership with May Specialty Underwriters 

When the team behind May Specialty Underwriters set out to build their business, they saw a clear gap in the excess casualty E&S market. They knew the space, the distribution channels, and the types of accounts that needed attention. Their goal was to build an underwriting-driven MGA focused on profitability and discipline. 

DOXA discovered the MAY team early in their planning stage. The partnership began based on trust and shared values. DOXA provided the operational backbone — licensing, systems, and infrastructure — while the MAY founders concentrated on underwriting and relationships. Within ten months, the business was fully operational. 

In just over three years, MAY Specialty Underwriters has written more than $140 million in gross written premium. The founders credit DOXA’s consistent follow-through and platform support as key enablers of their success. As they put it, every promise DOXA made was kept, and the partnership allowed them to focus on what mattered most: underwriting excellence. 

“Every commitment DOXA has made has come through to the letter. When we’ve needed resources, they provide them. Their systems and infrastructure have been so helpful. I can’t imagine starting an MGA without that infrastructure because it alleviates so much about the back-office work.” – Greg May, founder of MAY Specialty Underwriters  

Program results:

• Focus area: Excess Casualty E&S 
• Time to market: 10 months 
• Gross premium written: $140M+ in 3 years 
• Key success factor: Underwriting discipline 

What sets DOXA apart: Empowered founders, greater operational efficiency, and lasting profitability 

May’s success demonstrates the strength of DOXA’s model. Founders lead with autonomy while relying on a platform that provides operational depth and leadership insight from managing a diverse portfolio of MGAs. 

We have developed a streamlined, repeatable process for launching and scaling specialty programs, coupled with the experience and perspective to guide partners confidently through decisions on growth, distribution, and market positioning. On average, MGAs that come to DOXA grow by 70% in the first three years and double by year five.    

Across every engagement, DOXA is known for reliability, delivering on our commitments, and standing behind our promises. Underwriters remain empowered to lead their businesses, guided by a partner that delivers scale and structure. Our platform includes access to operational infrastructure, systems, licensing, and capital – resources that streamline the launch process and remove the barriers that often delay or derail new programs. 

Benefits of partnering with DOXA 

• Speed to market: A ready platform that accelerates licensing, carrier setup, and launch. 

• Operational depth: Finance, compliance, and technology resources that scale with each program. 

• Experienced guidance: Leadership with perspective across a diverse portfolio of MGAs. 

• Empowered founders: Underwriters retain control of relationships, strategy, and underwriting decisions. 

Ready to build something exceptional together?  

If you’re an underwriter ready to take control of your future in specialty insurance, let’s build a program together. You’ll create a lasting legacy by building a program business from the ground up, and we’ll be there to provide guidance and support each step of the way. Discover the DOXA difference.