---
title: "Cowbell vs Risklytics D&O Insurance"
description: "Cowbell’s D&O is unpublished-limit Zurich SME paper; Risklytics cites a typical $1–3 million ask at the first priced round."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-risklytics/directors-officers"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-24"
---

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# Cowbell vs Risklytics D&O Insurance

Cowbell’s D&O is unpublished-limit Zurich SME paper; Risklytics cites a typical $1–3 million ask at the first priced round.

## Research Scope and Use

Use this comparison to evaluate Cowbell and Risklytics for D&O Insurance against the same documented criteria. It identifies differences and questions to confirm; it does not select a winner for a particular business. Offering claims are what each provider publishes about this line unless marked otherwise. “Not found” describes the evidence reviewed, not proof that a feature is unavailable. Confirm the insurer, policy wording, limits, retentions, exclusions and cost in an actual quote.

## Summary

Cowbell’s Zurich Select Plus D&O module targets private companies under 250 employees and does not publish limits. Risklytics describes itself as a licensed producer that places D&O with unnamed specialist insurers and lists a typical $1 million to $3 million ask for venture-backed companies at or before the first priced round. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [8](https://www.risklytics.ai/lines/management/ "Directors & Officers Insurance") [5](https://www.risklytics.ai/about/ "About Risklytics: who we are")

## What Is Cowbell Insurance?

Cowbell is a specialty-insurance platform and agency focused on cyber risk for small and midsize businesses. Its U.S. catalogue also includes combined Technology E&O and cyber products and a Zurich management-liability offering distributed through appointed wholesalers. [1](https://cowbell.insure/ "Cowbell") [2](https://cowbell.insure/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/CB-US-PrimeTech-Overview-1.pdf "Prime Tech Product Overview") [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus")

[Cowbell profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/cowbell)

## What Is Risklytics Insurance?

Risklytics describes a commercial insurance brokerage for robotics, autonomy, hardware and AI businesses. It prepares applications and seeks coverage from insurers; California placement eligibility remains unconfirmed. [5](https://www.risklytics.ai/about/ "About Risklytics: who we are") [6](https://www.risklytics.ai/ "Insurance for Frontier Tech") [7](https://www.risklytics.ai/terms/ "Terms of Service")

[Risklytics profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/risklytics)

## What Is Directors and Officers Insurance?

Directors and officers liability insurance addresses covered claims alleging wrongful acts in managing an organization. [10](https://www.thehartford.com/business-insurance/glossary-of-business-insurance-terms "Glossary of Business Insurance Terms")

## Key Differences in D&O Insurance

### First Priced Round Versus Headcount and Assets

Risklytics says the norm is buying D&O at or before a startup’s first priced round, because term sheets and incoming board members typically require it as a closing condition. Cowbell targets private companies under 250 employees and $50 million in assets in industries such as technology, construction, manufacturing, hospitality and retail, a size-and-industry screen rather than a priced-round trigger. [8](https://www.risklytics.ai/lines/management/ "Directors & Officers Insurance") [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises")

### A Typical Limit Ask Versus Silence

Risklytics lists a typical ask of $1 million to $3 million for venture-backed companies for this line. Neither Cowbell’s page nor Zurich’s Select Plus page publishes D&O limit or retention amounts. Risklytics also distinguishes D&O (an investor or regulator suing over how the company was run) from Tech E&O (a customer’s product-failure claim). Cowbell describes D&O as personal- and company-asset protection against wrongful-act claims without that E&O contrast. [8](https://www.risklytics.ai/lines/management/ "Directors & Officers Insurance") [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus")

### Online Producer File Versus Wholesaler API

You start Risklytics Directors & Officers Insurance through its online application; Risklytics says a licensed producer stays on the file until bind. Cowbell’s module is accessed only by appointed Zurich E&S wholesalers through the API. Risklytics does not name the issuing carrier; Cowbell and Zurich describe admitted paper without naming the module’s issuer. [9](https://www.risklytics.ai/pricing/ "How pricing and broker fees work") [5](https://www.risklytics.ai/about/ "About Risklytics: who we are") [8](https://www.risklytics.ai/lines/management/ "Directors & Officers Insurance") [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus")

## What to Confirm in D&O Insurance Quotes

- Ask Risklytics which specialist carrier would issue and whether $1–3 million is the limit on your quote. [8](https://www.risklytics.ai/lines/management/ "Directors & Officers Insurance")
- Confirm Cowbell’s 250-employee and $50 million asset screens. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises")
- Ask Risklytics how D&O would sit next to Tech E&O if both claims could arise from the same facts. [8](https://www.risklytics.ai/lines/management/ "Directors & Officers Insurance")
- Ask how a buyer without a Zurich E&S wholesaler would reach Cowbell’s module. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises")

## Offering Details

| Criteria | Cowbell / Zurich Select Plus Private Company D&O | Risklytics Directors & Officers Insurance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Role in This Line | 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.' [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Management liability page intro and module list; Zurich page module-name section..) | Risklytics Insurance Services is a licensed insurance producer (NPN 22311838) that places Risklytics Directors & Officers Insurance with outside carriers; it says it does not underwrite policies itself. [5](https://www.risklytics.ai/about/ "About Risklytics: who we are") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: About page; describes Risklytics' brokerage model generally, restated for this line..) |
| Issuing Insurer | Cowbell and Zurich both say the Select Plus modules, including D&O, are offered on Zurich admitted paper. Zurich's site footer names 'Zurich American Insurance Company' in its copyright notice, but neither page states that entity is the specific policy issuer for this D&O module. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Management liability page intro; Zurich page intro and footer..) | Risklytics does not name the carrier that underwrites Risklytics Directors & Officers Insurance on its site. It says it places business with specialist insurers willing to write robotics, autonomy and AI risk; the issuing carrier appears on the bound policy. [8](https://www.risklytics.ai/lines/management/ "Directors & Officers Insurance") [5](https://www.risklytics.ai/about/ "About Risklytics: who we are") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Lines page and about page; no specific insurer is published for this line..) |
| Who It’s For | 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. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: FAQ 'What size accounts are targeted?' and Target industries list..) | Risklytics says the norm is buying D&O at or before a startup's first priced round, since term sheets and incoming board members typically require it as a closing condition. [8](https://www.risklytics.ai/lines/management/ "Directors & Officers Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Lines page..) |
| Coverage Features | 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. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?'..) | Risklytics describes D&O as protecting a founder's personal assets when an investor or regulator sues over how the company was run, citing an investor suit after a down round and a regulator inquiry into AI capability claims as examples, and distinguishes it from Tech E&O, which answers a customer's product-failure claim instead. [8](https://www.risklytics.ai/lines/management/ "Directors & Officers Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Lines page; the issued policy and declarations control actual coverage..) |
| Limits and Retentions | Neither the Cowbell page nor Zurich's own Select Plus page, both read in full, publishes D&O limit or retention amounts. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: Cowbell page and Zurich page, both read on 2026-09-23..) | Risklytics lists a typical ask of $1 million to $3 million for venture-backed companies for this line. [8](https://www.risklytics.ai/lines/management/ "Directors & Officers Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Lines page; actual limits are set on the bound policy..) |
| Risk Services | Cowbell frames D&O coverage as a way to help attract and retain directors and officers by giving them personal-asset protection, and says the product covers legal fees, settlements, and other defense costs for the company and its management. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: FAQ 'Why does my company need management liability coverage?'..) | Risklytics calls D&O easy to get for venture-backed companies with a clean story, describing quick placement for that segment. [8](https://www.risklytics.ai/lines/management/ "Directors & Officers Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Lines page..) |
| How to Apply | 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. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: FAQ 'How can I access the Zurich Select Plus management liability product through Cowbell?'..) | You start Risklytics Directors & Officers Insurance through Risklytics' online application. Risklytics says there is no broker fee on top of the premium and a licensed producer stays on the file until the program binds; its commission is paid by the carrier out of the premium either way. [9](https://www.risklytics.ai/pricing/ "How pricing and broker fees work") [5](https://www.risklytics.ai/about/ "About Risklytics: who we are") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Pricing page describes the general application and fee process, not a line-specific form..) |

## Full Comparison

- [Cowbell vs Risklytics](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-risklytics): all coverage lines, business roles, service and claims.
- [What Is Directors and Officers Insurance?](https://spot.insure/coverage/directors-officers): Directors and officers insurance can help pay for covered claims against company leaders over decisions they make in running the business.
- [Cowbell vs Risklytics Cyber Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-risklytics/cyber)
- [Cowbell vs Risklytics Tech E&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-risklytics/technology-errors-omissions)
- [Alliance Risk vs Cowbell D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-cowbell/directors-officers)
- [Alliance Risk vs Risklytics D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-risklytics/directors-officers)
- [Amelia Risk vs Cowbell D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/amelia-risk-vs-cowbell/directors-officers)
- [Amelia Risk vs Risklytics D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/amelia-risk-vs-risklytics/directors-officers)
- [Beazley vs Cowbell D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-cowbell/directors-officers)
- [Beazley vs Risklytics D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-risklytics/directors-officers)

## Sources

### Cowbell

1. [Cowbell](https://cowbell.insure/). Cowbell; What We Do; Assess, Insure, Respond and Improve; U.S. navigation; footer legal disclosure. Accessed 2026-09-15.
2. [Prime Tech Product Overview](https://cowbell.insure/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/CB-US-PrimeTech-Overview-1.pdf). Cowbell; PDF pp. 1–4: non-admitted combined Technology E&O and cyber for technology businesses up to $1 billion; up to $5 million; surplus lines in 50 states; edition PRIME TECH US0001 1025. Accessed 2026-09-16.
3. [Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability). Zurich North America; Intro on the Zurich/Cowbell collaboration; module name 'Private Management and Company Liability'; FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?' (identical to Cowbell's page); Targeted industries list; footer copyright. Accessed 2026-09-23.
4. [Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/). Cowbell; FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?' (D&O definition); FAQ 'Why does my company need management liability coverage?' (Protection for Directors and Officers, Legal Expense Coverage, Attracting and Retaining Talent bullets); Target industries list. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### Risklytics

5. [About Risklytics: who we are](https://www.risklytics.ai/about/). Risklytics; “What we do”; Licensing: Risklytics Insurance Services, National Producer Number 22311838, resident license Massachusetts. Accessed 2026-09-23.
6. [Insurance for Frontier Tech](https://www.risklytics.ai/). Risklytics; You describe your company; One application. Written for you; footer. Accessed 2026-09-16.
7. [Terms of Service](https://www.risklytics.ai/terms/). Risklytics; Effective August 7, 2026; sections 1–5, 7, 9 and 12. Accessed 2026-09-16.
8. [Directors & Officers Insurance](https://www.risklytics.ai/lines/management/). Risklytics; Coverage line: Directors & Officers; Built for moments like these; When to buy; Who requires it; How hard to get; Common questions. Accessed 2026-09-23.
9. [How pricing and broker fees work](https://www.risklytics.ai/pricing/). Risklytics; Buying direct / Generic broker / Risklytics comparison table: no broker fee, commission paid by the carrier out of premium. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### D&O Insurance Guide

10. [Glossary of Business Insurance Terms](https://www.thehartford.com/business-insurance/glossary-of-business-insurance-terms). The Hartford; Directors and Officers Liability Insurance; Errors and Omissions Insurance; Employment Practices Liability Insurance. Accessed 2026-09-16.

Updated 2026-09-24. Spot, a product of Tools for Enlightenment, publishes this research and works in the commercial insurance market. The comparison applies the same criteria to both providers. [Editorial policy](https://spot.insure/editorial-policy). To suggest a correction, [contact Spot](https://spot.insure/contact) with the page URL and supporting source.

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- [Markdown page](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-risklytics/directors-officers.md)
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