Starpeak secures August Equity investment

August 21, 2026

August Equity, a UK-based private equity investor focused on lower-mid-market businesses, has agreed to invest in Starpeak, a specialist insurance distributor serving niche personal and SME markets, in a deal still pending clearance from the Financial Conduct Authority.

The transaction is the sixth to be completed under August’s Fund VI and was led for August by partners Kishan Chotai and Greg Walsh, supported by Harry Caro and Jess Webster. Chotai previously worked on the firm’s investments in AAB and Superbia.

Starpeak functions as a technology-enabled managing general agent, operating across several consumer brands, among them Protectivity and SportsCover Direct, and reaching more than 175,000 UK customers each year. The business is run by industry veterans Andy Brownsell and Andy Pilgrim.

With August’s support, Starpeak plans to further develop its proprietary iTraps platform, which underpins rapid product design, largely automated underwriting, and efficient direct-to-customer sales. The company is also expected to weigh up bolt-on acquisitions alongside its existing organic growth plans.

Financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.

In a joint statement, Starpeak CEO Andy Brownsell and CTO Andy Pilgrim said, “This investment represents an exciting new chapter for our team. We have built a scalable platform that combines strong insurance expertise with sophisticated technology and data capabilities. Partnering with August now gives us greater resources to accelerate our growth while continuing to deliver exceptional service to our customers.”

August Equity Partner Kishan Chotai, who previously worked on the firm’s investments in AAB and Superbia, said “Starpeak has built a strong reputation and demonstrated sustainable >25% annual growth in highly attractive markets. The UK insurance services sector continues to benefit from increasing demand for niche, hyper-personalised solutions, something that Starpeak has at its core. We believe the business has a highly scalable technology platform and an ambitious leadership team, both of which provide excellent investment dynamics.”