FirstBest Systems, Inc., developer of advanced insuranceunderwriting management systems, has announced it has secured $6million in Series B funding. Flybridge Capital and BrookstonePartners led the investment round with participation from existinginvestors. The new funds will be used to expand sales and internalstaffing, fuel marketing to new lines, and increase development ofUnderwriting Management Systems--an automated underwritingworkstation combined with an agent portal.

"Enthusiasm from the property/casualty sector tells us theFirstBest UMS is a compelling system for carriers to capture newrevenue streams and improve underwriting profit while strengtheningtheir agency relationships," says FirstBest CEO and founder JohnBelizaire. "Today's financial climate is straining those carriersthat were more dependent on profits from investments vs. profitsfrom underwriting. When P&C insurance carriers look to growtheir business, they can write a new line of business or expand anexisting line into new segments or markets--requiring substantialchanges to the insurer's underwriting workflow, methodologies, andpricing strategies."

"FirstBest is an exceptional company, managed by a proven team,"says Chip Hazard, general partner at Flybridge and member of theFirstBest board of directors.