Assaf Wand knew how broken the home insurance market was: an industry more interested in covering antiquated items like gold bullion and mausoleums rather than the electronics and home office equipment you need to get through your day. So Wand went to work, unafraid of the insurance world’s red tape, rules and regulations, and launched Hippo. Designed to be a proactive, customer-centric experience, Hippo has made a swift impact with more than $400M premiums in force, now available in 34 states. After announcing its plans to go public, Hippo, an InsuraTech unicorn, is now valued at $5B. Discover how Wand navigates the complex world of insurance to build a home insurance alternative that serves real people’s real needs.

Show Notes

2:09: What the Israeli Air Force taught him about entrepreneurship

6:40: Seeing Silicon Valley for the first time

9:15: Where did the idea for Hippo Insurance come from? 

14:07: Overcoming the challenges a heavily regulated market brings

16:30: Realizing this was a business and not just an experiment 

18:51: Obtaining the first 100 customers 

22:13: Early pushback from investors and employees 

25:37: Breaking Hippo Insurance down into two chapters

28:55: Building the culture

36:51: Showing up for customers during the 2020 California wildfires 

41:54: The Sprint