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HBR On Strategy

Using New Tech to Compete in an Old Industry

Feb 12, 2025
Lauren Cohen, a professor at Harvard Business School, dives into the innovative world of insurtech with a focus on Hippo, a company reshaping the insurance landscape. He discusses how Hippo uses AI to streamline operations and eliminate agents, creating lower prices and targeting consumers in high-risk areas. Cohen also emphasizes the challenges traditional insurers face from climate change and market competition, illustrating how tech-driven firms thrive by embracing efficiency and enhancing customer engagement.
27:06

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Insurtech firms like Hippo are transforming the traditional insurance landscape by offering digital solutions that eliminate the need for agents and target tech-savvy consumers in riskier markets.
  • Despite innovative approaches and technology, insurtech companies face challenges in profitability and long-term viability, particularly in adapting to climate change and understanding risk assessment.

Deep dives

Disruption in the Insurance Market

The insurance industry, traditionally dominated by established incumbents, is undergoing significant disruption due to the rise of insurtech firms like Hippo. These tech-driven companies are changing the way insurance is bought and sold by offering user-friendly digital platforms that eliminate the need for traditional agents. Hippo specifically targets consumers comfortable with technology, particularly in riskier markets like Florida and Louisiana, where incumbents are withdrawing. This shift highlights a changing consumer preference, where many individuals prefer a touchless, faceless option over engaging with a local agent.

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