About James
James Benham is the CEO of JBK, a premier technology and consulting company he co-founded in 2001 from his dorm room in the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M University. Today, JBK is a powerhouse in the insurance and risk management space, providing specialized technology solutions to carriers, TPAs, and brokers worldwide. Under James’s leadership, the company helps insurance organizations transform technical debt into revenue-generating innovation through custom enterprise development, legacy system maintenance, and complex data services.
A sought-after keynote speaker, James has delivered over 400 presentations, becoming a fixture at influential conferences like ITC Vegas, RISKWORLD, National Comp, and WCI. His high-energy sessions challenge audiences to rethink innovation, data, and claims management. James also brought his passion for education to the classroom, serving for five years as an Adjunct Professor at Texas A&M University.
James proved the power of his “bootstrapper’s mindset” with the success of SmartBid. Launching it in 2006, he grew it into one of the top construction bid management software platforms in the world. By the time of its exit, SmartBid was facilitating billions of dollars in project bids annually. In 2018, the company was acquired by ConstructConnect, a successful exit that served as the ultimate proof of concept for his philosophy of sustainable growth.
Today, James is applying that rigor to the next generation of insurance platforms as the Co-Founder of Terra, a cloud-native, AI-enabled core insurance platform revolutionizing claims and policy management. He complements this with industry thought leadership as the host of The InsurTech Geek Podcast, where he interviews the innovators disrupting the insurance world.
James acts as a playbook for other founders in his bestselling book, Be Your Own VC. He uses his own journey to teach entrepreneurs how to build cash-generating machines without losing control to investors.
A dedicated leader in his industry and community, James is an active member of YPO, serving as the Global Insurance Vertical Chair. He also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Regents for Texas Southern University, appointed by Governor Abbott to guide the university’s strategic future. Previously, he served two terms on the College Station City Council, including tenure as Mayor Pro Tem.
When he isn’t geeking out on code or policy, you can find James in the sky or on the dance floor. An accomplished commercial pilot with 7 ratings, he is also a musician and dad who calls College Station, Texas, home.