Founder Shield vs Risklytics

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. ^1,2

Founder Shield operates within The Baldwin Group, which lists it among its acquired firms. Founder Shield describes itself as the group’s innovation arm. ^3,4

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. ^2,5,24

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. ²⁴

Risklytics describes itself as a commercial insurance brokerage. Its current legal disclosures identify Risklytics, Inc., doing business as Risklytics Insurance Services, as the producer arranging coverage rather than the insurer. ^30,31

Founder Shield focuses on venture-backed and high-growth businesses, from early funding rounds through an initial public offering. Its practices include technology, life sciences, financial services, retail and transportation. ^1,6

Risklytics markets to robotics, autonomous-vehicle, hardware, AI software and agent businesses, with additional industry pages for drones, space and defense contractors. Its emphasis is on explaining unfamiliar operations to insurance underwriters. ^30,32

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. ^6,10

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. ¹⁰

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. ^14,16,17

The terms allow submissions directly to insurers or through wholesale brokers. No named issuing insurer or product-specific California placement arrangement was identified in the reviewed terms, market-access page or coverage pages. ^31,32,36,38

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. ^2,16

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. ^25,24,26

Risklytics publishes agency NPN 22311838 and Massachusetts resident license 3004393145. Its state table, dated September 10, 2026, also lists Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas and Washington. These are company-reported identifiers, not independently verified licenses or product eligibility. ³⁰

California is absent from the reviewed agency-license table. A California-authorized producer and product route remain unconfirmed in the reviewed disclosures; this does not establish that Risklytics cannot arrange California coverage. Confirm the responsible producer, authority and insurer for your operation before relying on a quote. ^30,31,39

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. ¹⁸

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. ¹⁹

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. ^1,20

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. ²

Risklytics says a broker remains on the account after placement and certificates can be issued against the binder. Its terms describe portal access to submissions, returned options and coverage records. The reviewed FAQ and contact page do not specify a renewal remarketing commitment or certificate turnaround guarantee. ^34,31,35

Risklytics provides a contact form and email support, advertising an email response within a day. That is its stated response target, not a measured service result or emergency claims commitment. ³⁵