Embroker vs 
Risklytics: How Do They Compare for D&O Insurance?
Embroker sells standalone D&O online, while Risklytics Insurance Services says venture-backed startups commonly buy D&O before fundraising and cites a typical limit ask of $1 million to $3 million.
Embroker publishes D&O limits that scale with your raise, up to $8–10 million after a $100–250 million round. Risklytics is a startup broker that says venture-backed companies typically need $1–3 million, charges no broker fee and keeps a licensed producer on your file until bind. 1,2,4,3
What Are the Key Differences Between Embroker and Risklytics D&O Insurance?
How Much Limit Each Expects You to Buy
Embroker's startup-package table starts at $1–2 million of limit with a $10–25k retention for companies raising up to $10 million, and it will package D&O with cyber and workers' compensation. Risklytics says the norm is buying at or before your first priced round, since term sheets and new board members usually require it, and calls D&O easy to place for venture-backed companies with a clean story. Choose Embroker if you've raised a later round and need more than $3 million, or want D&O packaged with other lines; choose Risklytics if you're an early venture-backed company, especially in robotics, autonomy or AI, buying your first policy. 1 2
How You Apply
Both take applications online. Embroker lists the underwriting inputs — revenue, industry risk and claims history. Risklytics places your policy with outside specialist insurers and says its commission comes out of the premium, not an added fee. 1 3 4
What Should You Confirm in Embroker and Risklytics D&O Insurance Quotes?
Embroker vs Risklytics D&O Insurance Compared
Embroker vs Risklytics: D&O Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | Embroker Directors and Officers Insurance | Risklytics Directors & Officers Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Limits and Retentions | For its startup package, Embroker publishes illustrative D&O/EPLI/fiduciary limit and retention ranges by funding stage, from roughly $1-2 million in limits with a $10-25k retention for companies raising up to $10 million, up to $8-10 million in limits with a $25-75k retention for companies raising $100-250 million. 1Company-reported. Product-page cost table for the Embroker Startup Package; actual limits, retentions and premiums depend on underwriting. | Risklytics lists a typical ask of $1 million to $3 million for venture-backed companies for this line. 2Company-reported. Lines page; actual limits are set on the bound policy. |
| Who It’s For | Embroker markets D&O to any private or public company with a board of directors, startups that have received or are about to receive venture capital funding, and nonprofit corporations, saying VC and private equity investors commonly require it before funding. 1Company-reported. Product-page eligibility and 'Why Do Startups Need D&O Insurance?' sections; not a guarantee of coverage for a particular company. | 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. 2Company-reported. Lines page. |
| How to Apply | Embroker offers an online quote for D&O coverage through its digital platform, describing underwriting factors including revenue, industry risk and claims history. 1Company-reported. Product-page 'Quick quotes' feature and cost-factor list; no quote was requested during this research. | 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. 4,3Company-reported. Pricing page describes the general application and fee process, not a line-specific form. |
| Coverage Features | Embroker lists coverage for misuse of company funds, misrepresentation of company assets, breach of fiduciary duty, failure to comply with workplace laws and lack of corporate governance. 1Company-reported. Product-page What's covered section; the issued policy and declarations control. Embroker says the policy excludes lawsuits between members of the same company, criminal or deliberately fraudulent activity, prior-knowledge claims, and claims against directors actively engaged in antitrust violations. 1Company-reported. Product-page What's not included section. Embroker structures its D&O policy with three insuring agreements: Side A covers individual directors and officers when the company cannot indemnify them, Side B reimburses the company for indemnifying its leaders, and Side C covers the company itself when it is sued for financial mismanagement. 1Company-reported. Product-page 'What are Side A, B, and C insuring agreements?' section; specific policy structure, not a claim about every insurer's D&O form. | 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. 2Company-reported. Lines page; the issued policy and declarations control actual coverage. |
| Role in This Line | Embroker sells D&O as a standalone policy and offers to package it with cyber and workers' compensation; it also says EPLI, D&O and related coverages are sometimes bundled into a management liability program. 1Company-reported. Product-page description; not a statement about the issuing insurer. | 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. 3Company-reported. About page; describes Risklytics' brokerage model generally, restated for this line. |
