Founder Shield vs Marsh McLennan Agency

Founder Shield focuses on venture-backed and high-growth companies and describes an online startup insurance workflow; MMA serves the middle market and lists broad industry and small-business services. The public records do not settle the contracting producer for every Founder Shield placement or the entity and insurer on an MMA proposal, so compare those documents directly. 1,30,43

Introduction

Coverage Comparison

CoverageFounder ShieldMarsh McLennan Agency
Builders riskNot listedListed 40
Cargo and transitListed 11Founder Shield lists transit and transportation coverage for goods in transit or stored offsite.Listed 37
Commercial autoNot listedListed 43
Commercial propertyListed 11Founder Shield lists property insurance among its core offerings.Listed 43
Contract frustrationListed 11Founder Shield lists Key Person & Contract Frustration among its specialized offerings.Not listed
CrimeListed 11Founder Shield lists crime insurance among its core offerings.Listed 35
Cyber liabilityListed 11Founder Shield lists cyber liability among its core offerings.Listed 43
Digital assetsListed 11Founder Shield lists digital-asset insurance among its specialized offerings.Not listed
Directors and officersListed 11Founder Shield lists directors and officers insurance among its core offerings.Listed 35
Employee health and benefitsListed 11Founder Shield lists Employee Health & Benefits among its services.Not listed
Employment practices liabilityListed 11Founder Shield lists employment practices liability among its core coverage services.Listed 35
Fidelity bondsListed 11Founder Shield lists ERISA fidelity bonds among its specialized coverages.Not listed
Fiduciary liabilityListed 11Founder Shield lists fiduciary liability among its core coverages.Listed 35
General liabilityListed 11Founder Shield lists general liability among its core coverage offerings.Listed 43
Generative AI liabilityListed 14Founder Shield markets generative-AI liability for US businesses with revenue up to $10 billion that use generative AI but do not sell it as a standalone product.Not listed
Hired and non-owned autoListed 11Founder Shield lists hired and non-owned auto among its specialized coverage offerings.Not listed
Intellectual propertyListed 11Founder Shield arranges intellectual property insurance.Listed 35
Key personListed 11Founder Shield lists key person insurance among its specialized coverages.Not listed
Kidnap and ransomNot listedListed 35
Last-mile deliveryListed 11Founder Shield lists last-mile delivery among its specialized coverage offerings.Not listed
Media liabilityListed 28Founder Shield arranges media liability insurance for content creators.Listed 35
Product liabilityListed 11Founder Shield lists product liability insurance.Not listed
Professional errors and omissions (E&O)Listed 11Founder Shield lists errors and omissions for lawsuits alleging inferior work or service.Listed 43
Representations and warrantiesListed 11Founder Shield lists representations and warranties insurance for mergers and acquisitions.Not listed
Surety bondsNot listedListed 44
Umbrella and excess liabilityListed 11Founder Shield lists umbrella insurance.Not listed
Venture capital asset protectionListed 11Founder Shield lists venture capital asset protection for management and investment-advisory liability.Not listed
Virtual care and telehealthListed 11Founder Shield lists virtual care and telehealth insurance for tech-enabled healthcare companies.Not listed
Workers’ compensationListed 11Founder Shield lists workers’ compensation insurance.Listed 43

A listing may be arranged through an insurer or partner. “Not listed” means this catalogue has no separate offering recorded; ask the provider whether it can quote the coverage and request the policy terms.

Current Spot Scores

Each score uses the rubric for that provider’s documented role. Providers with more than one role may have a score for each.

Founder Shield

Broker

Broker

5.3/ 10

Assessed provider: Founder Shield. Scope: Foundershield LLC/Founder Shield brokerage activity and the separate The Baldwin Group Specialty Solutions, LLC entity named by the website terms. No insurer, carrier solvency or policy-specific issuer is assigned to the brokerage.

Provider assessment

Marsh McLennan Agency

Broker

Broker

No Spot Score

Assessment subject unavailable

Provider assessment

Review Scores

These averages can combine ratings for different products, locations, and customer groups, including approximate BBB grade conversions. Read each review for the sources, scope, and calculation.

Founder Shield

7.4/ 10

Review Score

1 rated source

Founder Shield has too little independent customer feedback for a reliable verdict. One positive Trustpilot review does not establish a service track record.[1][4]

Read Founder Shield reviews

Marsh McLennan Agency

8.2/ 10

Review Score

2 rated sources

There are almost no public customer reviews of Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA). Trustpilot shows 3.2 out of 5, but from a single review, and BBB shows an A grade with four complaints closed in three years.[8][9][1]

Read Marsh McLennan Agency reviews

Startup-focused advice or a middle-market account

Founder Shield says venture-backed and high-growth businesses can use its industry practices from early funding through IPO. MMA describes the future Marsh Agency as serving middle-market clients and lists industries including construction, healthcare, manufacturing, real estate and transportation. Those stated audiences are not eligibility thresholds. A founder should ask Founder Shield which practice and policies fit the company's stage; a buyer evaluating a broader program should ask MMA which specialists and insurers would handle the requested lines. 6 41 36

Portal steps are not a binding promise

Founder Shield says buyers can create an account, complete an application, approve a proposal, choose payment and start date, then sign remaining documents while its team handles insurer paperwork. Its page's application-time statement does not guarantee insurer quote speed or coverage start. MMA invites small businesses to call for a quote and does not document an online application or bind flow on that page. Compare the written sequence, effective-date confirmation and responsible producer for your own placement. 7 9 6 43

Scope, servicing and claim roles

Founder Shield lists general liability, property, workers' compensation, cyber, E&O, D&O, EPL, fiduciary and specialty options. MMA lists several small-business lines and says its business unit works across industries; neither list establishes that products are interchangeable or available to a particular company. Ask for the named producer and insurer, policy forms, limits, exclusions, total fees and commissions, renewal owner and claims contacts. Founder Shield’s terms name The Baldwin Group Specialty Solutions, LLC, while its License Status disclosure names Foundershield LLC; neither name alone confirms the producer on this proposal. Read the producer and insurer disclosures in the quote documents. 11 2 43 42

Compare Services

What each provider documents about the services you may need

CriteriaFounder ShieldMarsh McLennan Agency
Business role

Founder Shield helps businesses choose and arrange insurance with insurers; its terms say it does not insure risks or decide whether claims are covered. 1,2Company-reported. Brand’s documented intermediary role. No assertion of current state licensure or universal underwriting authority.

Founder Shield is part of The Baldwin Group, which lists it among acquired firms; Founder Shield describes its role as the group’s innovation arm. 3,4Company-reported. Current brand relationship corroborated by the group’s own site. No claim about ultimate investors, public listing status or a current intermediary ownership chain.

Confirm the producer for your account: Founder Shield’s terms identify The Baldwin Group Specialty Solutions, LLC, while its license disclosures identify Foundershield LLC. 2,24Not found in reviewed sources. The retained terms and licensing sources disclose those names separately. They do not establish a subsidiary relationship, merger, successor relationship or the producer for a particular account.

If regulatory compliance matters to your selection, note that New York DFS fined Foundershield LLC $36,600 for late excess-line filings covering 2019–2023; the 2025 consent order concerns filing compliance, not claims payment. 24Verified. August 21, 2025 disciplinary notice, PDF page 6, visually checked against the original. Does not establish current license status, remediation, policy invalidity or a pattern of claims conduct.

As of 2026-09-28, Marsh’s US legal-entity page lists Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC as the current entity name for Marsh Agency (formerly MMA) and Marsh Agency LLC as proposed, with displayed state completion statuses marked TBD. Louisiana’s regulator lists Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC as a producer agency with active casualty, accident and health or sickness, life, property, and surplus-lines authorities through 2028-03-31. This is Louisiana-specific producer evidence, not evidence of an insurer role or nationwide licensing. 38,29Verified. Current entity name and proposed legal-name transition as listed on Marsh’s US legal-entity page, plus producer-authority evidence for Louisiana only, accessed 2026-09-28. No other state licensing was audited; this record does not establish an insurer or underwriting role.

Marsh McLennan Agency describes itself as a business of Marsh and lists business insurance, employee health and benefits, retirement and wealth, and private-client insurance services across the United States and Canada. 30Company-reported. Current MMA company description. Does not establish corporate ownership structure, the legal entity for a particular placement, or an insurer role.

Customer focus

Venture-backed and high-growth businesses from early rounds through IPO can use Founder Shield’s industry practices in technology, life sciences, finance, retail and transportation. 1,6Company-reported. Stated customer focus, not an audited customer census or an eligibility guarantee.

MMA describes Marsh Agency as a separate business unit serving as an advocate and broker for the middle market. 41Company-reported. Company-stated role and customer focus for the future Marsh Agency operating brand; not a revenue, size, or eligibility threshold.

MMA’s US industry directory includes pages for construction, financial institutions, healthcare, manufacturing, real estate, and transportation and trucking. These are examples of stated sector focus, not a complete appetite or eligibility list. 36Company-reported. Examples from MMA’s national US industry directory; the directory is evidence of stated sector focus, not a complete appetite or eligibility list.

Application process

You can start by creating an account through Founder Shield’s quote portal using Google, Microsoft or email sign-in. 7,8Verified. Public interface directly observed in Chrome on September 15, 2026. No sign-in, identity-provider flow, registration submission, quote or authenticated workflow tested.

Founder Shield says its application takes under 15 minutes, but that does not guarantee how quickly insurers will quote or when coverage can start. 6Company-reported. Startup page marketing claim. No timed application or binding exercise performed.

To bind coverage, Founder Shield says you approve the proposal, choose payment and a start date, then sign remaining documents while its team handles insurer paperwork. 9Company-reported. Documented general process; the actual carrier’s outstanding requirements and confirmation determine the transaction. No completed purchase observed.

MMA’s US small-business page lists general liability, commercial property, workers’ compensation, professional liability, commercial auto, and cyber liability, and invites buyers to call 833-256-4266 for a personalized quote. The page also contains a small-business specialist form, but its function and any online application, purchase, or binding route are not established by the page reviewed. 43Company-reported. US small-business landing page only. The phone invitation does not establish quote speed, eligibility, online purchase or binding; the embedded specialist form's function was not established.

Servicing and renewals

For a contract certificate, email Founder Shield the other party’s legal name and address, required wording and the contract insurance clause so the team can assess endorsement needs. 18Company-reported. Company-described COI process. No certificate requested and no turnaround independently measured. A request is not confirmation that all requested wording is covered.

Tell Founder Shield when products, business model, offices or territories change so it can review whether your coverage needs adjustment. 19Company-reported. Changes FAQ. Does not establish automatic increases in limits, approval of new activities or protection without a policy change.

Start preparing for renewal 60–90 days before expiration with updated business information and claims history; Founder Shield calls this planning guidance, not a service deadline. 1,20Company-reported. Homepage platform description and January 2026 renewal guidance. No authenticated renewal tested, automatic renewal guarantee or fixed service-level agreement found.

Check minimum-earned-premium terms before binding because some insurers keep part of the premium if you cancel early; Founder Shield directs cancellation requests to support. 2Company-reported. General cancellation description; refund amounts, financed balances and effective dates depend on the contract.

MMA says the Marsh Agency brand transition will not change clients’ account manager, team, or point of contact, and will not affect existing policies or programs; clients may see the legal-name change during renewals. This describes the rebrand transition, not MMA’s general renewal process. 41Company-reported. Only the announced Marsh Agency rebrand and its stated effect on existing clients; this does not document MMA’s general renewal workflow, renewal service level, or policy terms.

MMA’s Tampa office page lists InsurLink for policy and endorsement access, CSR24 for certificates, carrier contact information for commercial and personal-lines claims, and a local-consultant contact route. 45Company-reported. Services and client tools listed on the Tampa, Florida office page only. The claims listing provides carrier contact information and does not establish that MMA adjusts claims.

Claims assistance

Founder Shield says its advocates can guide claim reporting, disputes and policy review; report through the portal or the insurer’s policy contact, since the broker does not decide coverage. 21Company-reported. Company description of reporting and advocacy, not evidence of response speed, settlement quality or coverage entitlement. The public claims link redirected to login; no claim submitted.

Founder Shield says its app can show claim updates, progress and insurer requests; the insurer makes the coverage decision. 21,2Company-reported. Public claims-page capabilities and terms’ no-coverage-determinations disclosure. No claim file or payment outcome reviewed.

On its business-interruption page, MMA says it will advocate with insurers for clients if complex claim issues arise. This is a company-reported service statement; it does not establish claim outcomes or an adjusting/payment role. 31Company-reported. Company-described support for complex claims in the business-income and contingent-business-interruption page context; not a promise of claim outcomes or evidence that MMA adjusts or pays claims.

Sources

Founder Shield Official Website

  1. Founder Shield. Founder Shield; Opening broker description; Specialized Practices; Smart Tech, Smarter People; quote and sign-in links. Accessed 2026-09-15.
  2. Terms of Service. Founder Shield; Opening agreement; License Status; Representations and Disclaimers Related to Products or Services; Fees and Charges; Void Where Prohibited. Accessed 2026-09-15.
  3. About Us. Founder Shield; Opening description and Charting Your path from MVP to IPO. Accessed 2026-09-15.
  4. Partnerships. The Baldwin Group; Brand-change introduction and 2020–2024 acquisitions list, Founder Shield entry. Accessed 2026-09-15.
  5. List of Subsidiaries as of February 26, 2026. The Baldwin Insurance Group, Inc. (SEC filing); Exhibit 21.1, list as of February 26, 2026: The Baldwin Group Specialty Solutions, LLC, Florida. Accessed 2026-09-15.
  6. Startup Insurance. Founder Shield; What Coverage Does your Startup Need?; Why Startups Choose Founder Shield; Industries We Serve; Essential Policies to Consider section. Accessed 2026-09-15.
  7. Quote Portal. Founder Shield; Public landing screen, Create Account and Sign In links. Accessed 2026-09-15.
  8. Create Account. Founder Shield; Public registration screen: Google, Microsoft, email and password options. Accessed 2026-09-15.
  9. How Do I Bind Coverage? Founder Shield; Jonathan Selby answer, November 25, 2024: proposal approval, payment, effective date and electronic signatures. Accessed 2026-09-15.
  10. How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach? Founder Shield; Jonathan Selby answer, November 25, 2024: appetite, stated rating standard and carrier-selection criteria. Accessed 2026-09-15.
  11. Coverage. Founder Shield; Core Coverage: Crime Insurance, Cyber Liability, Directors & Officers, Employment Practices Liability, Fiduciary Liability, General Liability, Property Insurance; Specialized Coverage: Digital Asset Insurance, ERISA Fidelity Bond, Hired & Non-Owned Auto, Intellectual Property, Key Person & Contract Frustration, Last-Mile Delivery Insurance, Transit & Transportation; product cards: Errors & Omissions, Product Liability, Representations and Warranties, Umbrella Insurance, VCAP, Virtual Care & Telehealth Insurance, Workers Compensation; Health & Benefits: Employee Health & Benefits; Get a Quote and Learn More links. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  12. How Do We Purchase “A La Carte” Commercial Insurance? Founder Shield; Jonathan Selby answer, November 25, 2024: individual coverages, limits, deductibles and endorsements. Accessed 2026-09-15.
  13. Directors & Officers Insurance. Founder Shield; What Does D&O Insurance Cover?; Major Shareholder Exclusion; D&O Insurance Cost and Enhancements. Accessed 2026-09-15.
  14. Generative AI Liability Insurance. Founder Shield; Who Needs Generative AI Liability Insurance Coverage?; five coverage categories; Generative AI Liability Policy; What Does A Generative AI Liability Policy Not Cover?; Speak with a Generative AI Liability Insurance Broker; Get a Quote. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  15. AI Liability Insurance for Brokers. Testudo; What does the policy cover? (six insuring agreements); Limits & pricing; target customers; application materials via Broker Platform. Accessed 2026-09-15.
  16. About Testudo. Testudo; What we do; Coverage you can rely on when it matters. Accessed 2026-09-15.
  17. Licenses and Regulatory Disclosures. Testudo; United States entity and non-risk-bearing role; United Kingdom entity disclosure. Accessed 2026-09-15.
  18. How Do I Get a Certificates of Insurance? Founder Shield; Luke Kaltreider answer, November 25, 2024: email requests, contract wording and endorsement needs. Accessed 2026-09-15.
  19. What If Our Company Grows A Lot or Things Change During the Year? Founder Shield; Carl Niedbala answer, November 25, 2024: operational changes and coverage adjustments. Accessed 2026-09-15.
  20. The Ultimate Business Insurance Renewal Checklist for Startups. Founder Shield; January 12, 2026; Know Your Part in the Renewal Process; The Early Start Advantage (60–90 days). Accessed 2026-09-15.
  21. Claims. Founder Shield; Our Approach; How We Support Claims Management, steps 1–5; Make a claim link. Accessed 2026-09-15.
  22. What Am I Actually Getting For the Price of Business Insurance? Founder Shield; Carl Niedbala answer, November 25, 2024: policy period, quoted charges, installments and premium financing. Accessed 2026-09-15.
  23. Transparency & Disclosure. The Baldwin Group; Effective January 1, 2026; How The Baldwin Group is Compensated, including client fees, contingent commissions, affiliate services and referral fees. Accessed 2026-09-15.
  24. Disciplinary Actions Issued August 21, 2025. New York State Department of Financial Services; Page 6 of 12, Region: New York, Foundershield LLC; $36,600 fine; consent order approved June 26, 2025. Accessed 2026-09-15.
  25. License. The Baldwin Group; California entity/license table; neither Foundershield LLC nor The Baldwin Group Specialty Solutions, LLC is listed. Accessed 2026-09-15.
  26. Surplus Lines. National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Background, Issue; updated October 27, 2025: nonadmitted specialized insurers cover risks unavailable in the admitted market. Accessed 2026-09-15.
  27. Content Creator Insurance. Founder Shield; Content Creator Insurance product introduction; What Is Content Creator Insurance? FAQ: media liability coverage for creators. Accessed 2026-09-16.

Marsh McLennan Agency Official Website

  1. Producer / Adjuster Search: MARSH & MCLENNAN AGENCY LLC. Louisiana Department of Insurance; Producer Agency Detail, lines 7-49: entity, producer-agency classification, license number, authorities and validity through 2028-03-31; lines 53-57: historical 2010 lapse/resume entries; lines 69-72: entity-record actions display. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  2. Who We Are. Marsh McLennan Agency; Lines 193-195: ‘a business of Marsh’ and company-listed service lines across US and Canada. This does not establish the legal entity for an account, corporate ownership chart, or insurer role. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  3. Business Interruption Insurance. Marsh McLennan Agency; Accepted inspection lines 224-226: company says it will advocate with insurers on complex claim issues. No outcomes, adjustment/payment role, or insurer identity established. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  4. Casualty. Marsh McLennan Agency; Lines 203-205 and 211-224: casualty advisory, claims advocacy, risk analytics and workers’ compensation. No adjusting or paying role established. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  5. Cyber. Marsh McLennan Agency; Lines 205-207: network security, privacy, technology and emerging cyber risks; lines 226-228: prepare, mitigate, respond, recover, claims advocacy and carrier liaison. Company-reported support, not outcomes or insurer identity. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  6. US and Canada Legal Entities. Marsh; Accepted inspection lines 528-587: current MMA entity Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC; Marsh Agency LLC proposed; displayed state statuses TBD. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  7. Executive and Professional Liability. Marsh McLennan Agency; Lines 204-210 name D&O, E&O, EPL, commercial crime/fidelity, cyber, fiduciary, media, IP, architects and engineers, lawyers professional, kidnap and ransom; lines 211-213 explain D&O; following section explains EPL. Lists do not establish policy terms. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  8. Insurance Services for All Industries. Marsh McLennan Agency; National US industry directory, lines 209-252; examples include construction (219), financial institutions (224), healthcare (229), manufacturing (236), real estate (243), and transportation and trucking (252). Accessed 2026-09-28.
  9. International. Marsh McLennan Agency; Lines 204-206 and 228-231: international placement; business travel accident, control master, foreign package, K&R, political risk/trade credit, surety, marine cargo. Not a domestic availability guarantee. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  10. Producer/Adjuster Search — producer agency detail. Louisiana Department of Insurance; Accepted inspection lines 7-49 and 53-57: Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC producer agency and named Louisiana authorities through 2028-03-31, including historical lapse/resume entries. Louisiana only; distinct from Marsh USA LLC/NPN 27658. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  11. Property Insurance. Marsh McLennan Agency; Lines 205-210 describe commercial property and physical assets; property page coverage section also lists builders’ risk. Company marketing only; no policy wording, limits, exclusions, insurer, or eligibility. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  12. Rebranding to Marsh Agency. Marsh McLennan Agency; Accepted repaired inspection lines 215-224: account/team/contact and existing policy continuity through transition, legal name may appear at renewal. Transition statement only; not general renewal workflow. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  13. Business Insurance. Marsh McLennan Agency; ‘We do our homework’: research of organization, industry, market and people; says it works with a wide variety of carriers. No carrier appointments, shares, terms, compensation, or buyer-specific insurer named. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  14. Small Business Insurance Solutions. Marsh McLennan Agency; Lines 205-207: small-business audience and call invitation; lines 224-249 list six coverage categories and short descriptions; line 264 is an embedded form whose function is not stated. No form submitted. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  15. Surety. Marsh McLennan Agency; Lines 205-207 and 224-233: surety, contract/commercial surety, and license/permit bonds. No surety carrier, collateral, price, or issuance time established. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  16. Tampa, Florida. Marsh McLennan Agency; Accepted repaired inspection lines 252-289: InsurLink policy/endorsement access, CSR24 certificates, carrier contacts for claims, consultant contact. Tampa only; does not establish adjusting role. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  17. Thompkins Masonic Insurance Program. Marsh McLennan Agency / MMA Programs; Provider page, lines 120–127: body says “Thompkins Masonic Insurance Program, a Marsh & McLennan Insurance Agency LLC company, is licensed under California License #OH18131”; line 127 says MMA Programs is a division of Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC. Page footer, line 161, instead prints “d/b/a in California as Marsh & McLennan Insurance Agency LLC; CA Insurance Lic: 0H18131.” The page itself therefore renders the identifier in two different ways. Accessed 2026-09-29.

Updated . Tools for Enlightenment publishes this research and works in the commercial insurance market. The comparison applies the same criteria to both providers. Editorial policy. To suggest a correction, contact Spot with the page URL and supporting source.

Suggested Comparisons

All Comparisons

Get Help With Insurance Buying and Renewals.

Get help buying coverage and managing renewals, with less paperwork for your team. Start with a free consultation.

Talk to Spot