James Benham

James Benham is the co-founder and CEO of JBKnowledge, a multinational technology and consulting company that develops industry-leading software for the largest insurance companies across the globe. He is also the co-founder of two insurance tech products: SmartCompliance and Terra, a cloud-based claims management software for Property and Casualty (P&C) insurance.

Before entering the insurance technology space, Benham constructed several influential technology products for the construction industry. His most successful, SmartBid, became the leading construction bidding software for general contractors worldwide, which eventually led to a multi-million dollar acquisition. He began coding at the age of 11 and had developed his first application by the age of 14. By 17, he co-managed an internet services provider (ISP), serving over 4,000 users.

Benham holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and a Master of Science in Information Systems from Texas A&M University, where he was also part of the Corps of Cadets. Recognized as a top technology speaker, he has presented at national events such as the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) IT Forum, "CONEXPO", and the Construction Financial Management Association Annual (CFMA) Conference. With over 11,000 followers on LinkedIn, he is a highly regarded speaker who has delivered keynote addresses at over 400 conferences, including The Future of Insurance USA and TEDx. Additionally, he is the creator and co-host of "The InsurTech Geek Podcast". His book, "Be Your Own VC: 10 Bootstrapping Principles to Generate Cash and Keep Control," has attained bestseller status on Amazon and is available in hardcover, paperback, and audiobook formats. Benham has also contributed to his community as an elected city councilman and served as an adjunct professor at Texas A&M University. Currently, he is a regent on the governing board of Texas Southern University. In his personal time, he enjoys activities such as flying airplanes, ballroom dancing, playing guitar, and singing.