NEXT Insurance (Palo Alto), a technology-focused direct seller of small business insurance, has announced its strategic partnership with Allstate (Glenview, Ill.) that will combine the companies' expertise in small business insurance to develop and offer innovative and unique new products to a large underserved market, as well as a partnership with Allianz (Munich) involving a commitment to deepening its reinsurance relationship with the company. The partnerships come with a $265 million strategic investment from Allstate and Allianz X, the insurer's investment arm.