In this episode of The Broker’s Voice, host Andy Nehr interviews Brennen Grone, EVP at Rainbow, about how the company is helping independent agents win more complex commercial accounts—starting with restaurants and expanding into beauty & wellness. Brennen shares Rainbow’s underwriting-first philosophy, why their appetite is broader than most admitted markets, and how fast human-underwriter support (not just software) is helping agents place risks profitably.

What Rainbow Is (and Why It’s Different)

• Program manager focused on niches: Restaurants are the “bread and butter,” with a growing Beauty, Wellness & Fitness program (think salons, instructor-led fitness, hot yoga chains, etc.).
• Underwriting-first mindset: Smart risk selection + flexibility to “play in the gray” = more options for agents, even in tougher states.
• Admitted market with liquor liability: Writes liquor liability in every active state and navigates tricky environments (e.g., dram shop states) with thoughtful guidelines.
• Human + platform, not “software only”: A real, purpose-built application (≈44 questions) plus on-call underwriters 8a–8p ET. When a submission needs review, agents typically get a fast decision; many referrals receive approvals and credits the same day.

‍