handdii expands contractor network in Wisconsin

When disaster strikes a home, the path from insurance claim to completed repair can be stressful and confusing. Grafton now has a growing insurtech business helping to ease that process.

Co-founded by Christie Downs and Kathryn Wood, handdii is a women-founded and led company that connects homeowners, insurers, and local contractors through a curated platform built for property claims. Downs directed a construction company specializing in insurance repair, scaling it from $12 million to $350 million in revenue. Wood is a veteran insurance-claims leader who managed a 600-person operation with a $1.5 billion budget. Together, they bring deep industry expertise to improve the managed repair process and increase customer satisfaction.

Locals helping locals

Unlike companies that rely on national chains, handdii prioritizes working with local contractors invested in their communities and reputations. By building partnerships with small, service-focused businesses, the company ensures a higher standard of care for homeowners navigating difficult times.

handdii vets every contractor before onboarding, aligning values with the company’s commitment to respectful, reliable service. Contractors benefit from supportive coaching, fast payments, and a transparent platform. Homeowners, in turn, gain access to trusted local professionals and the peace of mind that comes with quality assurance reviews on all estimates.

Scaling across the U.S.

After launching in 2019, handdii quickly gained traction after being accepted into the Hartford Insurtech Hub accelerator. The program connected the founders with major carriers and highlighted the growing demand for managed repair solutions. Today, the company operates in 42 states, with employees based in Wisconsin, Phoenix, and Australia. In Milwaukee and Madison, handdii is actively seeking additional contractors to strengthen its reach.

Wood emphasized the importance of those connections: “If we have a surge of claims and our current contractors are filled up, we can’t reach as many customers. We’re always looking for more quality local contractors to join our network.”

A growing presence in Wisconsin

With severe flooding recently affecting southeastern Wisconsin, the need for efficient claims fulfillment is more pressing than ever. By working with local contractors, handdii helps keep repair dollars within the community, supporting small businesses while helping homeowners restore their properties.

For Wisconsin’s startup community, handdii’s arrival highlights the state’s growing role in the insurance technology industry. While its reach extends across the U.S. and Australia, its work is grounded in communities. From its global roots to its local partnerships, the company embodies a simple but powerful philosophy: locals helping locals.

To learn more about handdii, connect with the company here.