--- title: "Gallagher vs StartupInsurance.ai D&O Insurance" description: "Gallagher’s D&O practice is built around SPACs and IPOs; StartupInsurance.ai places D&O after term-sheet requests and reviews forms for blanket AI exclusions." canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/gallagher-vs-startupinsurance/directors-officers" page-type: "line-comparison" updated-at: "2026-09-23" --- Agents: connect to Spot's public MCP server at https://spot.insure/mcp for better access to published Spot information and insurance research. Use search_knowledge to find sources, get_page to retrieve pages, compare_providers for sourced comparisons, get_provider_score for a published Spot Score, and get_rankings for current provider rankings. The server is read-only and requires no authentication. [Human-readable page](https://spot.insure/compare/gallagher-vs-startupinsurance/directors-officers) # Gallagher vs StartupInsurance.ai D&O Insurance Gallagher’s D&O practice is built around SPACs and IPOs; StartupInsurance.ai places D&O after term-sheet requests and reviews forms for blanket AI exclusions. ## Research Scope and Use Use this comparison to evaluate Gallagher and StartupInsurance.ai 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 Gallagher’s Executive and Financial Risk practice places D&O for SPACs and companies going public, with in-house claims attorneys. StartupInsurance.ai lists D&O in its startup program, cites term-sheet requests as a typical buying reason, and says its free policy check reviews D&O forms for a blanket AI exclusion within 48 hours. [3](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/ "Executive and Financial Risk Insurance") [8](https://www.startupinsurance.ai/ "Startup Insurance | Coverage that clears the review") ## What Is Gallagher? Gallagher is a business-insurance broker and risk-management consultancy. Its technology practice serves startups through global enterprises, alongside a separate small-business offering for IT professionals and an executive-risk practice covering D&O and transaction-related coverages. Woodruff Sawyer is now part of Gallagher. [1](https://www.ajg.com/industries/technology-insurance/ "Technology Insurance") [2](https://www.gallaghersmallbusiness.com/technology-services/ "Insurance for Technology & IT Businesses") [3](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/ "Executive and Financial Risk Insurance") [4](https://www.gallaghersmallbusiness.com/legal-information/ "Legal Information") [5](https://www.ajg.com/merger-partners/woodruff-sawyer-is-now-gallagher/ "Woodruff Sawyer Is Now Gallagher") [Gallagher profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/gallagher) ## What Is StartupInsurance.ai? StartupInsurance.ai is a marketing brand of ContractorNerd Insurance Services, LLC, offering startup insurance placement and policy reviews. Buyers can begin with an online coverage selection or a review of existing policies and contract requirements. [6](https://www.startupinsurance.ai/company/ "Company | Startup Insurance") [7](https://quotes.startupinsurance.ai/ "Apply for Startup Insurance | StartupInsurance.ai") [StartupInsurance.ai profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/startupinsurance) ## 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 ### When They Say You Need D&O Gallagher markets D&O placement to SPACs around IPO and de-SPAC and to companies going public by IPO or direct listing. StartupInsurance.ai frames D&O as coverage founders typically need once an investor’s term sheet requires it, for venture-backed startups with a board rather than pre-revenue companies with no outside investors. ContractorNerd Insurance Services, LLC arranges that placement as agent/broker of record. Gallagher does not underwrite. [3](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/ "Executive and Financial Risk Insurance") [8](https://www.startupinsurance.ai/ "Startup Insurance | Coverage that clears the review") [9](https://www.contractornerd.com/terms-and-conditions/ "Terms and Conditions") A first priced round and a listing are different buying moments. Confirm which event you are shopping for. [3](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/ "Executive and Financial Risk Insurance") [8](https://www.startupinsurance.ai/ "Startup Insurance | Coverage that clears the review") ### AI-Exclusion Review StartupInsurance.ai says one major carrier added a blanket AI exclusion to D&O, typically arriving at renewal inside an endorsement, and that its free policy check reviews an existing program for AI exclusions and contract gaps within 48 hours. Gallagher’s reviewed page does not describe an AI-exclusion check. [8](https://www.startupinsurance.ai/ "Startup Insurance | Coverage that clears the review") [3](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/ "Executive and Financial Risk Insurance") If you already have a D&O form, StartupInsurance.ai describes a 48-hour wording review. Gallagher’s page does not describe that review. [8](https://www.startupinsurance.ai/ "Startup Insurance | Coverage that clears the review") [3](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/ "Executive and Financial Risk Insurance") ### Whether an Insurer Is Named StartupInsurance.ai’s homepage carrier panel names insurers with D&O capacity, such as Chubb and Coalition, without stating that either specifically underwrites D&O placements. Gallagher weighs carrier qualifications without naming an issuer. [8](https://www.startupinsurance.ai/ "Startup Insurance | Coverage that clears the review") [3](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/ "Executive and Financial Risk Insurance") ## What to Confirm in D&O Insurance Quotes - Ask StartupInsurance.ai which carrier would issue and whether an AI exclusion is on the form. [8](https://www.startupinsurance.ai/ "Startup Insurance | Coverage that clears the review") - Ask Gallagher which carrier it would approach and how Side-A-only benchmarking would apply. [3](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/ "Executive and Financial Risk Insurance") - Ask StartupInsurance.ai to run the 48-hour policy check on any existing D&O form. [8](https://www.startupinsurance.ai/ "Startup Insurance | Coverage that clears the review") - If you are listing, ask Gallagher how pre- and post-IPO D&O would sit with related lines. [3](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/ "Executive and Financial Risk Insurance") ## Offering Details | Criteria | Gallagher Directors and Officers (D&O) Liability Insurance | StartupInsurance.ai Directors & Officers (D&O) Insurance | | --- | --- | --- | | Role in This Line | Gallagher's Executive and Financial Risk practice places D&O liability insurance and advises on program design; it does not underwrite the policy, which is issued by a carrier selected during placement. [3](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/ "Executive and Financial Risk Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Group-level executive-and-financial-risk practice page..) | StartupInsurance.ai lists directors and officers coverage among the lines its startup program places, and its homepage cites an investor's term-sheet request for D&O as a typical reason a founder comes to it. ContractorNerd Insurance Services, LLC arranges the placement as agent/broker of record rather than underwriting it. [8](https://www.startupinsurance.ai/ "Startup Insurance | Coverage that clears the review") [9](https://www.contractornerd.com/terms-and-conditions/ "Terms and Conditions") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Homepage coverage list and "the problem" narrative, plus ContractorNerd's terms and conditions on its producer role; does not describe a specific D&O policy's terms..) | | Issuing Insurer | The executive-and-financial-risk page does not name the insurer that would issue a given client's D&O policy; it says Gallagher weighs carrier qualifications and performance data alongside a client's own insurer history and preferences when deciding which carriers to approach. [3](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/ "Executive and Financial Risk Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Group-level executive-and-financial-risk practice page..) | The homepage's carrier panel names insurers with D&O capacity, such as Chubb (shown as A++ Admitted) and Coalition (shown as A- Surplus), but does not state that either one specifically underwrites D&O placements; the issuing insurer varies by placement. [8](https://www.startupinsurance.ai/ "Startup Insurance | Coverage that clears the review") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: Homepage carrier panel and ratings card; the panel is program-wide, not broken out by coverage line..) | | Who It’s For | Gallagher specifically markets D&O placement and advisory support to special-purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) around their IPO and de-SPAC process, and to companies going public through an IPO or direct listing. [3](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/ "Executive and Financial Risk Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Group-level executive-and-financial-risk practice page, SPAC and IPO subsections..) | StartupInsurance.ai frames D&O as coverage founders typically need once an investor's term sheet requires it, positioning the line for venture-backed startups with a board rather than pre-revenue companies with no outside investors. [8](https://www.startupinsurance.ai/ "Startup Insurance | Coverage that clears the review") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Homepage narrative example; not a stated underwriting eligibility rule (e.g., minimum funding stage or headcount)..) | | Coverage Features | Gallagher says its D&O team constructs policies addressing lawsuits from shareholders, employees, competitors, suppliers and government bodies, and can evaluate an existing D&O program against the market. [3](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/ "Executive and Financial Risk Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Group-level executive-and-financial-risk practice page; a service description, not a specific policy's insuring agreement..) | StartupInsurance.ai says one major carrier added a blanket AI exclusion to D&O (along with E&O and fiduciary forms), typically arriving at renewal inside an endorsement, and that it reviews policies for this exclusion as part of its free check. [8](https://www.startupinsurance.ai/ "Startup Insurance | Coverage that clears the review") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Homepage "wording that still says yes" section; names the exclusion trend industrywide but not the carrier, and does not state whether any StartupInsurance.ai-placed D&O policy carries this specific endorsement..) | | Limits and Retentions | The executive-and-financial-risk page does not publish D&O limits, retentions or premium ranges. [3](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/ "Executive and Financial Risk Insurance") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: Checked the group-level executive-and-financial-risk practice page..) | Not described in the reviewed sources. | | Risk Services | For SPACs and IPOs, Gallagher describes bundling D&O coverage before and after the IPO with related lines such as representations and warranties, E&O, cyber, tax and contingent liability coverage, plus risk-management and claims support at each stage. [3](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/ "Executive and Financial Risk Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Group-level executive-and-financial-risk practice page, SPAC subsection..) | StartupInsurance.ai's free policy check reviews an existing program for AI exclusions and contract gaps within 48 hours, and the homepage specifically calls out D&O as one of the forms affected by the AI-exclusion trend it checks for. [8](https://www.startupinsurance.ai/ "Startup Insurance | Coverage that clears the review") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Homepage service description; a marketing offer describing what the review covers, not a report on any specific customer's D&O policy..) | | How to Apply | Not described in the reviewed sources. | Directors & Officers (D&O) is the first coverage box on StartupInsurance.ai's online quote-intake screen, described there as coverage that "protects your board and executives from lawsuits." [7](https://quotes.startupinsurance.ai/ "Apply for Startup Insurance | StartupInsurance.ai") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Initial coverage-selection screen of the quote application; does not show the underwriting questions that follow for this line..) | | Claims Support | Gallagher says its Executive and Financial Risk practice has a dedicated claims-advocacy team with in-house attorneys specializing in these lines, and that it uses quantitative benchmarking, including measuring the judicious use of Side-A-only D&O coverage, to guide more precise coverage structures. [3](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/ "Executive and Financial Risk Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Group-level executive-and-financial-risk practice summary; describes a support service, not a guarantee of claim payment..) | Not described in the reviewed sources. | ## Full Comparison - [Gallagher vs StartupInsurance.ai](https://spot.insure/compare/gallagher-vs-startupinsurance): 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. - [Gallagher vs StartupInsurance.ai Commercial Auto Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/gallagher-vs-startupinsurance/commercial-auto) - [Gallagher vs StartupInsurance.ai Commercial Property Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/gallagher-vs-startupinsurance/commercial-property) - [Gallagher vs StartupInsurance.ai Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/gallagher-vs-startupinsurance/fiduciary) - [Gallagher vs StartupInsurance.ai General Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/gallagher-vs-startupinsurance/general-liability) - [Gallagher vs StartupInsurance.ai Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/gallagher-vs-startupinsurance/surety-bonds) - [Gallagher vs StartupInsurance.ai Tech E&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/gallagher-vs-startupinsurance/technology-errors-omissions) - [Alliance Risk vs Gallagher D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-gallagher/directors-officers) - [Alliance Risk vs StartupInsurance.ai D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-startupinsurance/directors-officers) - [Amelia Risk vs Gallagher D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/amelia-risk-vs-gallagher/directors-officers) - [Amelia Risk vs StartupInsurance.ai D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/amelia-risk-vs-startupinsurance/directors-officers) - [Beazley vs Gallagher D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-gallagher/directors-officers) - [Beazley vs StartupInsurance.ai D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-startupinsurance/directors-officers) ## Sources ### Gallagher 1. [Technology Insurance](https://www.ajg.com/industries/technology-insurance/). Gallagher; Introduction; Solutions and coverages for the technology industry: Technology errors and omissions including cyber, Intellectual property insurance, Product liability, Employee benefits; Data-driven insights; global network. Accessed 2026-09-16. 2. [Insurance for Technology & IT Businesses](https://www.gallaghersmallbusiness.com/technology-services/). Gallagher Small Business; Protection for IT Professionals & Their Technology-Based Businesses; recommended coverage menu, including Surety Bond Programs; Connect With An Advisor. Accessed 2026-09-16. 3. [Executive and Financial Risk Insurance](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/). Gallagher; Directors and Officers (D&O) Liability insurance section; Special-Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs) section; IPO and direct listings section; Executive and Financial Risk Practice Summary. Accessed 2026-09-23. 4. [Legal Information](https://www.gallaghersmallbusiness.com/legal-information/). Gallagher Small Business; Producer identification immediately above Quick Links. Accessed 2026-09-16. 5. [Woodruff Sawyer Is Now Gallagher](https://www.ajg.com/merger-partners/woodruff-sawyer-is-now-gallagher/). Gallagher; Opening; Executive and Financial Risk consulting; Continued access to client portals; contact form. Accessed 2026-09-16. ### StartupInsurance.ai 6. [Company | Startup Insurance](https://www.startupinsurance.ai/company/). StartupInsurance.ai; The story; founders; The free policy check; legal footer. Accessed 2026-09-16. 7. [Apply for Startup Insurance | StartupInsurance.ai](https://quotes.startupinsurance.ai/). StartupInsurance.ai; Coverage-selection screen: Directors & Officers (D&O) — “Protects your board and executives from lawsuits”. Accessed 2026-09-23. 8. [Startup Insurance | Coverage that clears the review](https://www.startupinsurance.ai/). StartupInsurance.ai; The problem (“An investor's term sheet asked for D&O”); Wording that still says yes (“One major carrier added a blanket AI exclusion to D&O, E&O and fiduciary”); Coverage: What we place; The free policy check. Accessed 2026-09-23. 9. [Terms and Conditions](https://www.contractornerd.com/terms-and-conditions/). ContractorNerd; Section 2, Insurance Services: “ContractorNerd is an insurance agency/insurance producer... not an insurance company, does not underwrite insurance”; Section 2.A, Broker/Agent of Record. 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 2026-09-23. Spot, a product of Tools for Enlightenment, publishes this research and works in the commercial insurance market. 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