The Story of Helix Intel: Building the Future of Property Risk Management
Most startup pivots happen in boardrooms or during strategy sessions. For Helix Intel, the fifth venture from serial entrepreneur Jon DeWald, the journey began with a deep understanding of property and equipment management, gained through decades of hands-on experience.
Origins in Manufacturing “I ran the federal dealership at one point for a company called Ingersoll, ran one of the largest air compressor manufacturers in the world,” Jon shares. This experience revealed a crucial insight: “Manufacturers are wonderful at selling equipment, but have a very difficult time in staying connected.”
The Insurance Industry Pivot The original strategy focused on helping manufacturers maintain connections with their equipment. However, everything changed when Munich Reventures discovered their pre-seed pitch deck. As Jon recalls, “There was a gentleman, Jay over there, who just an awesome investor and understood what we were doing and explained to us the problems that were happening in the insurance industry.”
This conversation revealed a massive opportunity. Insurance companies were facing a crisis: claims were increasing faster than premiums, creating an urgent need for preventive solutions. The insurance industry was ready to evolve from simply paying claims to actively preventing them.
Building the Right Team For Jon, this meant entering new territory. “This is my first traditional software business, and I’ve had to learn quite a bit about product development, product management, software development,” he admits. Success came from surrounding himself with the right talent, including his co-founder and brother-in-law Mike, who brought the technical expertise needed to execute their vision.
Rapid Growth Through Strategic Distribution The results have been remarkable. “So far this year, we’ve added over 100,000 buildings onto our platform,” Jon shares, compared to just 15,000 the previous year. This growth came through strategic partnerships with insurance companies, who saw the value in providing Helix Intel’s solutions to their customers.
The Vision for the Future Looking ahead, Helix Intel is pursuing an ambitious vision. “We’re building operating software that brings multiple ecosystems together under one platform,” Jon explains. This goes beyond just connecting insurers and property managers – they’re now bringing in utilities, manufacturers, distributors, and contractors.
The market opportunity is staggering. “I believe the number is something around $214,000,000,000,000 worth of property assets globally,” Jon notes. Despite this massive market, the industry has remained relatively resistant to technology – until now.
What makes Helix Intel’s approach unique is its focus on collaboration rather than disruption. “We’re in this unique space where we don’t compete with anyone. We’re really a new business model and a new ecosystem that collaborates,” Jon emphasizes. This collaborative approach has enabled them to create aligned incentives across all stakeholders, from insurance companies to property managers.
The future looks promising as Helix Intel continues to expand its ecosystem. By bringing together traditionally siloed industries and creating value for all participants, they’re not just building a company – they’re reshaping how the property and equipment industry manages risk and maintenance. For founders looking to transform traditional industries, Helix Intel’s story shows that sometimes the biggest opportunities come not from disruption, but from creating new ways for existing players to work together.