CFC vs Founder Shield

CFC is a specialist insurance provider operating an MGA model: a managing general agent performs underwriting functions for insurance capacity providers. Its disclosures identify CFC Underwriting Limited and the U.S. producer CFC USA, Inc.; the CFC brand should not be treated as the name of every policy’s insurer. ^5,4

Founder Shield is a commercial insurance broker: it helps businesses choose coverage and arrange policies with insurers. Its terms say it does not insure the risk or decide whether a claim is covered. ^30,31

Founder Shield operates within The Baldwin Group, which lists it among its acquired firms. Founder Shield describes itself as the group’s innovation arm. ^32,33

The terms name The Baldwin Group Specialty Solutions, LLC as the contracting company, but the License Status section identifies Foundershield LLC as the producer. The reviewed records do not resolve which entity would appear on a new engagement; ask for its legal name and applicable license. ^31,34,53

New York’s Department of Financial Services reported a $36,600 fine against Foundershield LLC for late filing of excess-line documents for recording and stamping during January 2019–March 2023. The consent order was approved on June 26, 2025. The notice concerns filing compliance, not a finding about claims payments. ⁵³

The U.S. technology application asks a senior staff member to complete it and return it to the company’s insurance broker. It requests revenue, funding, subsidiaries, products, major contracts, security controls, IP procedures and claims history. CFC’s Connect portal separately supports broker trading and describes a broker appointment process. ^3,6

The Get a Quote link opens a portal with Create Account and Sign In options. Registration offers Google, Microsoft, or an email address and password. ^36,37

Founder Shield advertises an application that takes under 15 minutes. That is an application-time claim, not a guaranteed time to receive insurer terms or put coverage in force. ³⁵

To buy coverage, Founder Shield’s FAQ says you approve a proposal, select a payment method and choose the desired start date. Its team then follows up on documents needing electronic signatures and handles the insurer’s paperwork. ³⁸

CFC’s regulatory page identifies Lloyd’s Syndicate 1988, managed by Asta Managing Agency Ltd. The reviewed U.S. technology materials do not name the insurer or participating syndicates for a California buyer’s actual policy; ask for those names on the quote and declarations. ^4,2,3

Founder Shield advertises access to more than 200 carriers. Its placement FAQ says it selects markets first by their willingness to insure the industry and risk, then considers growth capacity, service and claims handling. The network size does not establish how many insurers will quote your account. ^35,39

The placement FAQ says Founder Shield works exclusively with AM Best A-rated carriers. This is the broker’s stated selection standard; the reviewed sources do not independently establish the current rating of every insurer it uses. ³⁹

Founder Shield identifies itself as the distributor of the AI product and names Testudo as its underwriter. Testudo describes Lloyd’s-backed capacity and says its US entity places insurance without bearing the risk. The insurer or syndicates responsible for a particular quote still need to be identified. ^43,45,46

CFC reports that CFC USA, Inc. holds producer licenses in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., plus excess and surplus lines authorization in California, Georgia, New York and Texas. It identifies its California licensing name as CFC General Insurance Agency, Inc. This is CFC’s disclosure, not an independently checked California license record or confirmation of product eligibility. ⁴

CFC’s January 2026 U.S. management-liability brochure lists California-domiciled business and standalone employment practices liability under risks it declines. This restriction is specific to the described management-liability offering; it does not establish a California exclusion for every CFC product. ¹¹

The reviewed U.S. technology page, brochure and application do not establish the currently available admitted or surplus-lines route for a particular California startup. CFC announced admitted technology E&O in 2023, but the reviewed materials do not supply a current California product eligibility schedule. ^1,2,3,29

Founder Shield’s terms limit services to permitted US jurisdictions and say some offerings are available in only some states. Testudo describes its AI product as excess-and-surplus-lines coverage that is not available in every state. No complete product-by-state availability schedule was established. ^31,45

The reviewed sources did not establish a current state-by-state license list for the producer. Confirm the named entity’s license for your placement with the state regulator; the 2025 disciplinary record does not establish current status. ^54,53,55

CFC says its cyber service includes threat monitoring and alerts, a response app and round-the-clock technical incident support. These are company-described services; access, scope and any conditions should be checked against the proposed policy. ⁷

The reviewed Connect and technology application pages do not specify a customer-facing renewal timetable, certificate turnaround or dedicated account-management commitment for California technology buyers. Confirm those arrangements with the placing broker. ^6,3

Founder Shield’s certificate FAQ directs customers to email the team. For a request tied to a contract, it asks for the other party’s legal name and address, required wording, and the insurance requirements from the contract so the team can assess endorsement needs. ⁴⁷

Founder Shield asks clients to report changes such as a new product, a different business model, a new office or entry into another territory. Its team says it will evaluate those changes and adjust coverage. ⁴⁸

Founder Shield describes a platform for applications and renewals, with ongoing advisor support. Its renewal guide suggests starting 60–90 days before expiration and preparing updated business information and claims history. That is planning guidance, not a promised renewal-service deadline. ^30,49

Founder Shield’s terms direct cancellation requests to client support and warn that some insurers retain a minimum earned premium—a portion you cannot recover by cancelling early. Check the proposal’s cancellation terms. ³¹