Business Remedies | Rajshree Upadhyaya | May 08,2025 | In the crowded corridors of India’s fintech revolution, one name stands out for not only building a billion dollar enterprise but also for doing it with an unshakable focus on solving a real problem, Yashish Dahiya, the co-founder and executive chairman of Policybazaar. Dahiya didn’t set out to become a startup icon or a poster boy for Indian entrepreneurship. In fact, his journey into the startup world was more accidental than aspirational. A mechanical engineer from IIT Delhi, with an MBA from INSEAD and a stint at the University of Delhi, Dahiya had all the credentials to pursue a high-flying corporate career. And he did, for a while, working at Bain & Company and later leading operations at First Europa, a global online insurance broker. But it was this brush with the insurance sector that planted the seeds of an idea that would change India’s financial services forever.
The Policybazaar Spark
In 2008, frustrated by the lack of transparency in the Indian insurance market, Dahiya joined hands with Alok Bansal and Avaneesh Nirjar to launch Policybazaar. The concept was simple yet disruptive: a platform that allowed users to compare insurance policies based on price, features, and benefits, an alien idea in a country where insurance sales were dominated by agents and trust deficits. Policybazaar began as an insurance aggregator, but quickly grew into a full-service digital platform, hosting a wide range of insurance products, life, health, motor, and more. What set Policybazaar apart wasn’t just its technology or marketing strategy, but its relentless focus on customer-centricity and factual information. Dahiya often emphasized, “We are not here to sell dreams. We are here to help people make informed decisions.” By 2021, Policybazaar became India’s first insuretech company to list on the stock exchanges. With over 100 million users and partnerships with more than 50 insurers, it redefined how insurance was bought in India. And at the heart of it stood a CEO who ran marathons, quite literally, with the same discipline and endurance that he brought to his boardroom.
Leadership by Simplicity
Dahiya’s leadership style has always been refreshingly grounded. He’s known to cycle to work, avoid corporate jargon, and communicate with his team with blunt honesty. His belief in data-driven decisions and meritocracy has shaped Policybazaar’s culture into one that values truth over hierarchy. He once famously said, “It is not my job to motivate people. It’s my job to ensure they are in roles they enjoy and are good at.” This pragmatic, people-first approach has not only attracted top talent but has also inspired a wave of employee-driven innovation within the company.
Challenges and Critics
Of course, the journey wasn’t without hurdles. The insurance sector is heavily regulated, and building customer trust in digital insurance was no easy feat. Policybazaar had to battle misinformation, compliance challenges, and fierce competition from both traditional insurers and new-age startups. Some critics even argued that the company was burning cash too fast. But Dahiya remained unfazed, often stating that sustainability comes from scale, and scale comes from solving the right problems.
Beyond Policybazaar
In 2022, Yashish stepped down as CEO, transitioning into the role of Executive Chairman, signaling a new phase for the company and himself. Today, he mentors young entrepreneurs, invests in health and education initiatives, and continues to advocate for consumer rights in the financial sector. Yashish Dahiya’s story is not just about building a unicorn, it’s about doing so with humility, ethics, and purpose. In a world obsessed with valuations and headlines, Dahiya reminds us that the real value of entrepreneurship lies in trust, persistence, and impact. As India hurtles towards a digital-first economy, leaders like him are proving that success isn’t always about who shouts the loudest, but who listens the best.
Written & Edited By:
Rajshree Upadhyaya
