Amelia Risk vs 
Cowbell: How Do They Compare for D&O Insurance?
Cowbell’s Zurich D&O module is for private companies under 250 employees and $50 million in assets and reaches them through firms Zurich appoints to distribute the module; Amelia Risk arranges coverage for startups and technology businesses.
Amelia Risk is a broker you work with directly, focused on startups, tech and consumer-product companies. Cowbell's private-company D&O module, underwritten by Zurich, reaches you only through an appointed wholesaler and targets firms under 250 employees and $50 million in assets. 1,3,4,5,6,7,8
What Are the Key Differences Between Amelia Risk and Cowbell D&O Insurance?
Your Own Broker vs a Module Your Broker Must Reach
Amelia Risk places D&O for you as your broker. 1 Cowbell doesn't sell its Private Company D&O to businesses: the module is part of Zurich's Select Plus product, Zurich underwrites it, and only Zurich-appointed wholesalers reach it through Cowbell's platform. 7 8 In practice you can't pick Cowbell instead of a broker; at most, your broker might route you to it. Choose Amelia Risk if you're a startup, tech or consumer-product company that wants a broker; ask your broker about Cowbell's module if you're a small private company in technology, construction, manufacturing, hospitality or retail. 3 7
Hard Size Targets vs Industry Focus
Cowbell's module sets size targets, so larger companies should expect to fall outside it. 7 Amelia Risk names industries rather than size cutoffs and doesn't publish employee or asset thresholds. 3 1
What Should You Confirm in Amelia Risk and Cowbell D&O Insurance Quotes?
- Ask your broker whether it works with a Zurich-appointed wholesaler that can reach Cowbell's platform. 7
- Check your headcount and assets against Cowbell's under-250 and under-$50 million targets. 7
- Ask Amelia Risk which insurer would issue your policy; its pages don't say. Cowbell's module is on Zurich admitted paper, so ask which Zurich company issues it. 1 8
- Get actual limits and retentions on both quotes; neither publishes them. 8 1
Amelia Risk vs Cowbell D&O Insurance Compared
Amelia Risk vs Cowbell: D&O Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | Amelia Risk Directors & Officers (D&O) Liability Insurance Brokerage | Cowbell / Zurich Select Plus Private Company D&O |
|---|---|---|
| Who It’s For | Amelia Risk lists D&O among the policies it places for startups, technology companies, CPG brands, and consumer-product companies. 3,4,5,6Company-reported. Specialty pages' "policies to consider" lists, marketed segments rather than an underwriting appetite statement. Amelia Risk says most companies consider D&O once they've taken outside funding, that Series A term sheets usually require it, and that it's becoming more common to see D&O bought at the seed stage as seed rounds grow larger. 1,2Company-reported. D&O product page timing guidance, restated in more detail by co-founder Danielle Holyoake in the company's podcast episode. | Cowbell targets this D&O module at private companies with under 250 employees and under $50M in assets, in industries such as technology, construction, manufacturing, hospitality, and retail. 7Company-reported. FAQ 'What size accounts are targeted?' and Target industries list. |
| How to Apply | Amelia's co-founder says D&O underwriting can take as little as a few days to a few weeks once complete information is provided, and recommends budgeting two to three weeks; she also cautions founders not to wait until a funding round or other transaction is imminent, because decisions made before a claims-made D&O policy starts aren't covered by it. 2Company-reported. Illustrative timing comment in a company-hosted podcast interview, not a binding service-level agreement. | This D&O module is accessed only by appointed Zurich E&S wholesalers through the Cowbell platform's API; it is not sold directly to businesses. 7Company-reported. FAQ 'How can I access the Zurich Select Plus management liability product through Cowbell?'. |
| Coverage Features | Amelia describes the D&O policy as covering the individual directors and officers, the board, and the entity, with claims typically alleging mismanagement and most often coming from shareholders, though they can also come from regulators, competitors, or employees. 1Company-reported. D&O product page description; the actual policy wording, definitions, and exclusions depend on the issuing insurer and the client's declarations. In the company's podcast, co-founder Danielle Holyoake says the D&O policies she has reviewed and sold generally define "directors and officers" broadly enough to include employees and even interns, rather than naming specific individuals on the policy. 2Company-reported. Her description of policies she has personally reviewed and sold, not a specimen form or a statement about every D&O policy Amelia places. | Cowbell describes D&O liability as protecting the personal assets of directors and officers and the company's financial assets against claims alleging wrongful acts in their capacity as directors and officers. 7Company-reported. FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?'. |
| Role in This Line | Amelia Risk arranges D&O liability coverage for clients, describing and structuring the policy around protecting individual directors and officers, the board, and the company entity, rather than underwriting it directly. 1Company-reported. D&O product page as of 23 September 2026. Does not establish who issues a particular client's policy. | Private Company D&O is one module within Cowbell's distribution of Zurich's Select Plus management liability product; Cowbell gives Zurich-appointed E&S wholesalers platform access, and Zurich underwrites the module. Zurich's own page labels this module 'Private Management and Company Liability' rather than plain 'D&O.' 7,8Company-reported. Management liability page intro and module list; Zurich page module-name section. |
