Marsh vs Risklytics: How Do They Compare for D&O Insurance?

Marsh describes D&O for public-company directors and officers, while Risklytics Insurance Services focuses on venture-backed startups and cites a typical limit ask of $1 million to $3 million.

Risklytics suits venture-backed startups, especially in robotics, autonomy and AI, buying a first D&O policy online: the typical ask is $1 million to $3 million and there's no broker fee on top of premium. Marsh places D&O for public, private and nonprofit organizations and advises on exposures such as ESG scrutiny. ^3,^5,^4,^1,²

What Are the Key Differences Between Marsh and Risklytics D&O Insurance?

First-Round Startup vs Any Organization Type

Risklytics says most startups buy D&O at or before their first priced round, when term sheets and new board members require it, and calls it easy to get for venture-backed companies with a clean story. Marsh's financial and professional liability practice places D&O for public, private and nonprofit organizations, with Marsh McLennan Agency serving the middle market. Choose Risklytics if you're a venture-backed startup closing a priced round; choose Marsh if you're public, a nonprofit or a mid-sized or larger company. ³ ¹ ²

Founder Risks vs Board-Level Risks

Risklytics frames D&O around founder scenarios: an investor suing after a down round, or a regulator questioning your AI claims. It places policies with specialist insurers willing to write robotics, autonomy and AI risk. Marsh explains broader exposures: securities suits for public companies, employment claims for private and nonprofit groups, and ESG scrutiny of emissions, labor practices, board diversity and executive pay. ³ ⁴ ¹

Online With No Broker Fee vs a Placement Team

You apply to Risklytics online, pay no broker fee on top of premium, and keep one licensed producer on your file until bind. Marsh works through its practice teams and publishes no limits or pricing. ⁵ ¹

What Should You Confirm in Marsh and Risklytics D&O Insurance Quotes?

Ask Risklytics whether its typical $1–3 million limit suits your stage, and which insurer would write it. ³
Ask Marsh which insurer would issue the policy; its pages don't name one. ¹
If board diversity or executive pay could draw scrutiny, ask Marsh how the policy responds. ¹
Ask Marsh what fees sit on top of premium; Risklytics says it charges none. ⁵ ¹

Marsh vs Risklytics D&O Insurance Compared

Marsh vs Risklytics: D&O Insurance: documented features by provider

Criteria	Marsh Directors and Officers Liability (D&O) Insurance	Risklytics Directors & Officers Insurance
Who It’s For	Marsh says public company directors and officers typically face more securities-lawsuit exposure from shareholders and regulators, while private and non-profit organizations more often face employment-practices claims from customers, vendors or regulators; directors and officers of all organization types can face cyber-related liability exposure. ¹Company-reported. Marsh D&O page, common risks FAQ.	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. ³Company-reported. Lines page.
Coverage Features	Marsh says D&O insurance typically has three coverage sides: Side A protects directors' and officers' personal assets when the organization cannot or will not indemnify them; Side B reimburses the organization for indemnifying directors and officers; Side C offers balance-sheet protection when the entity itself is named, generally limited to securities claims for public companies. ¹Company-reported. Marsh D&O page FAQ; illustrative policy structure, not a specific policy form. Marsh says ESG-related stakeholder scrutiny, covering areas such as carbon emissions, renewable-energy use, labor practices, board diversity and executive compensation, can add regulatory, legislative or litigation pressure on directors and officers beyond traditional D&O exposures. ¹Company-reported. Marsh D&O page, What other risks do directors and officers face? section.	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. ³Company-reported. Lines page; the issued policy and declarations control actual coverage.
Role in This Line	Marsh's financial and professional liability practice places D&O insurance for public, private and non-profit companies; MMA also places D&O coverage within its executive and professional liability practice for middle-market clients. ^1,²Company-reported. Marsh D&O page and MMA executive and professional liability page.	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. ⁴Company-reported. About page; describes Risklytics' brokerage model generally, restated for this line.

Criteria

Marsh Directors and Officers Liability (D&O) Insurance

Risklytics Directors & Officers Insurance

Who It’s For

Marsh says public company directors and officers typically face more securities-lawsuit exposure from shareholders and regulators, while private and non-profit organizations more often face employment-practices claims from customers, vendors or regulators; directors and officers of all organization types can face cyber-related liability exposure. ¹Company-reported. Marsh D&O page, common risks FAQ.

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. ³Company-reported. Lines page.

Coverage Features

Marsh says D&O insurance typically has three coverage sides: Side A protects directors' and officers' personal assets when the organization cannot or will not indemnify them; Side B reimburses the organization for indemnifying directors and officers; Side C offers balance-sheet protection when the entity itself is named, generally limited to securities claims for public companies. ¹Company-reported. Marsh D&O page FAQ; illustrative policy structure, not a specific policy form.

Marsh says ESG-related stakeholder scrutiny, covering areas such as carbon emissions, renewable-energy use, labor practices, board diversity and executive compensation, can add regulatory, legislative or litigation pressure on directors and officers beyond traditional D&O exposures. ¹Company-reported. Marsh D&O page, What other risks do directors and officers face? section.

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. ³Company-reported. Lines page; the issued policy and declarations control actual coverage.

Role in This Line

Marsh's financial and professional liability practice places D&O insurance for public, private and non-profit companies; MMA also places D&O coverage within its executive and professional liability practice for middle-market clients. ^1,²Company-reported. Marsh D&O page and MMA executive and professional liability page.

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. ⁴Company-reported. About page; describes Risklytics' brokerage model generally, restated for this line.