Founder Shield vs HUB International: How Do They Compare for D&O Insurance?

Founder Shield places D&O for public and private companies and describes a three-part structure; HUB International brokers for private, public, and nonprofit organizations with specialist claims support.

Founder Shield is a startup-focused broker that uses only carriers rated A- or better and cites a typical $5–10 million base layer. HUB's ProEx practice serves private, nonprofit and public companies, with an attorney-staffed claims group from pre-claim wording review through recovery. ^1,^3,^4,⁵

What Are the Key Differences Between Founder Shield and HUB International D&O Insurance?

Startups and Borrowers vs Nonprofits and Public Companies

Founder Shield targets venture-backed companies, saying almost every institutional term sheet requires D&O, and businesses owing more than $1 million to creditors. HUB targets private companies with customer and supplier relationships, nonprofits with advisory boards, and public companies with shareholders. Choose Founder Shield if you're a venture-backed startup or carry significant debt; choose HUB if you're a nonprofit, a public company or an established private company that wants claims attorneys on your side. ¹ ⁴

What You Get Beyond the Placement

HUB says its ProEx practice places over $2 billion in premium and adds analytics, litigation support and risk-management services, and its claims group reviews policy wording before any claim. Founder Shield's D&O pages describe no claims team; what it offers is a carrier-quality floor, placing only with insurers rated A- or better by AM Best for your industry. ⁵ ³

What Should You Confirm in Founder Shield and HUB International D&O Insurance Quotes?

Ask Founder Shield which carrier it chose and how your limit compares with the $5–10 million typical layer. ³ ¹
Ask Founder Shield who handles your claim if you're sued. ¹
Ask HUB which insurer would issue the policy and for limits and retentions; its pages publish neither. ⁴
Ask HUB who from its Claims & Legal Risks Group would work your file. ⁵

Founder Shield vs HUB International D&O Insurance Compared

Founder Shield vs HUB International: D&O Insurance: documented features by provider

Criteria	Founder Shield Directors & Officers Insurance	HUB International Directors and Officers Insurance Brokerage
Who It’s For	Founder Shield targets D&O at public and private businesses, venture-backed companies (it says almost every institutional term sheet requires the coverage), and businesses owing more than $1 million to creditors. ¹Company-reported. Directors & Officers Insurance product page.	HUB markets D&O brokerage to three segments: private companies with customer and supplier relationships, nonprofits with advisory boards or committees, and public companies with shareholders. ⁴Company-reported. D&O product page target-market description; not an underwriting appetite statement.
How to Apply	You request Founder Shield Directors & Officers Insurance through Founder Shield's website or an insurance advisor rather than binding coverage directly; Founder Shield says its placement team then approaches carriers on the client's behalf. ^2,³Company-reported. About-us and carrier-selection pages describe the general placement process, not a line-specific application form.	HUB directs D&O prospects to "Connect With a Broker" rather than an online quote or bind flow. ⁴Company-reported. D&O product page call to action.
Coverage Features	Founder Shield describes a three-part structure: Side A pays individual directors/officers directly when the company cannot or will not indemnify them, Side B reimburses the company for indemnification it pays, and Side C provides entity coverage for the company itself. ¹Company-reported. Product page; the issued policy and declarations control actual coverage.	HUB describes D&O coverage it arranges as addressing three areas: personal asset protection for monetary judgments and settlements from an alleged breach of duty, loyalty or care; defense in civil, criminal, judicial, administrative, regulatory or arbitration proceedings; and workplace and employment protection for breach-of-fiduciary-duty and employment-related suits. ⁴Company-reported. Product-page marketing description; the issued policy's insuring agreements, conditions and exclusions control an actual claim. HUB says D&O claims it sees can come from regulators, donors, clients or customers, suppliers, competitors, employees, shareholders and creditors. ⁴Company-reported. Product-page list of potential claim sources; not a guarantee of coverage for any specific claimant.
Role in This Line	Founder Shield is a retail insurance brokerage, described on its site as “the innovation arm of The Baldwin Group,” and places Founder Shield Directors & Officers Insurance with third-party carriers rather than underwriting the policy itself. ²Company-reported. About-us page; applies to Founder Shield's brokerage model generally, restated here for this line.	HUB brokers D&O liability coverage for private, nonprofit and public-company clients as part of its ProEx Professional & Executive Risk practice, rather than underwriting the policy itself. ^4,⁵Company-reported. D&O product page and ProEx coverage list, read 2026-09-23. Neither page names an issuing insurer.