Five Questions with Andrea Collins, CMO of Hippo

Work & Co

You are a boomerang, and are coming back to this industry at a moment that’s ripe for evolution and innovation. What has it been like to come back to this position of leadership and what are you most excited about?

Andrea Collins

Coming back to Hippo feels like coming home. For me it means returning to a mission that’s both personal and timely—reshaping home insurance to be proactive, intuitive, and truly customer-first. I had a hand in helping build and establish the brand in the early days, alongside several of the brilliant minds at Work & Co. So coming back to it with fresh eyes and broader industry expertise is something I feel honored and lucky to do.

Over the last 5-years, the insurtech space has evolved a ton. Getting some time to step back and assess the landscape as a whole has afforded me the chance to look both critically and constructively on what will position Hippo the best for the future. What I do believe already, and I suppose never wavered from, is that Hippo is leading the shift from disruption to meaningful, lasting innovation. I’m excited to help drive momentum, partnering with a smart team who shares a deep commitment to our purpose: redefining what protection really means for homeowners.

W&C

Hippo’s New Homes Program demonstrates how technology can be used to help remove barriers to housing in the U.S., with recent partnerships with builders that aim to expand the offer in high-growth markets like California, Florida, and Texas. How are you evolving your digital products to support this shift and differentiate Hippo in this space? 

AC

We saw a customer need and wanted to solve it by evolving our products to seamlessly embed insurance into the homebuying process, making coverage a natural extension of the transaction rather than an afterthought. The New Homes Program sees us partnering with several of the largest builders in the nation to integrate Hippo directly into their workflows, enabling homeowners to secure personalized coverage at the point of sale. In those high-growth markets, we’re also enhancing coverage to reflect local risks and regulatory needs. 

Our goal with this program and the new integrated coverage-homebuying process is to simultaneously simplify the experience for homeowners, but also differentiate Hippo as a tech-forward partner in the homebuilding ecosystem.

W&C

Recently, we’ve seen the impact of increased climate events on homeowners and the insurance industry. What opportunities do you see for technology to continue to help build and support more resilient communities?

AC

Climate events are no longer rare—they’re a constant. The insurance industry must adapt. Rapidly evolving technology means we have tools to not only respond faster, but to anticipate risk and help homeowners prepare before disaster strikes. From advanced risk modeling to smart home integrations and geospatial data, we are working to better understand vulnerabilities at a hyperlocal level and tailor coverage accordingly. I also see a real opportunity in using these insights to support more resilient communities in other ways beyond coverage itself—through education, proactive communication, and partnerships that turn data into action.

W&C

One of the biggest themes we’ve seen over the last year with brands is the need to step up efforts to make sure companies’ data is prepared and organized to be able to maximize the potential of artificial intelligence. But in the insurance sector, data has always been a priority if not a backbone of the industry. So, how is Hippo furthering how it incorporates data and the use of AI to improve user experience?

AC

It’s true that the insurance industry has always been data-rich, but traditionally, that data has been siloed, unstructured, or underutilized. What’s changed is the ability of AI to process and analyze massive datasets in real time, unlocking opportunities for more efficient underwriting, fraud detection, and tailored customer engagement. 

The real shift now is around data readiness—companies are focusing on cleaning, organizing, and connecting their data so AI can drive meaningful automation and personalization. Ultimately, this will allow insurers to deliver faster, more seamless experiences while managing risk with greater accuracy and agility.

W&C

Work & Co recently released our 7 Principles for Superior Digital Products—and at the top of the list is the belief that all products have a job to do and product leaders need to relentlessly focus on this job. Creating a rapid, transparent, online purchase process was the North Star behind Hippo’s launch. How have you remained true to that North Star, while still evolving and improving the product?

AC

We’ve stayed true to our North Star—creating a fast, transparent online purchase experience by continuously optimizing every step of the customer journey. From reducing quote times through smarter data integrations to offering proactive home protection features, every improvement has centered on making the process simpler and more helpful for homeowners. 

While we started with a pure D2C focus, we’ve evolved our distribution by partnering with builders to embed insurance directly into the homebuying process. We also operate an agency, which allows us to find the best possible coverage for a customer’s needs, even if it’s not a Hippo product. This ensures the experience remains customer-first and builds trust. Every new initiative is still held to the same standard: does it make getting or managing home insurance faster, clearer, or more valuable for the customer?