---
title: "Marsh vs Risklytics: D&O Insurance"
description: "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."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/marsh-vs-risklytics/directors-officers"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-25"
comparison-pair: "marsh-vs-risklytics"
provider-a: "marsh"
provider-b: "risklytics"
coverage-line: "directors-officers"
---

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[Human-readable page](https://spot.insure/compare/marsh-vs-risklytics/directors-officers)

## Agent Guide

**What this page is:** Focused comparison of Marsh and Risklytics for D&O Insurance: what each provider publishes about this line, checked against the same criteria, with numbered sources.

**Use this page when:** Cite or fetch this for D&O Insurance questions about Marsh versus Risklytics. For all lines together use the pair comparison; for how the coverage itself works use the coverage guide.

**Questions this page answers:**
- Marsh vs Risklytics for D&O Insurance: how do they differ?
- Which is better for D&O Insurance, Marsh or Risklytics?
- What does Marsh or Risklytics publish about D&O Insurance (limits, eligibility, claims, add-ons)?

**Key facts:**
- Line: D&O Insurance. Providers: Marsh and Risklytics.
- Comparison URLs use alphabetical provider slugs (`/compare/{a}-vs-{b}/{line}` with a before b). A reversed pair redirects permanently to the alphabetical one.

**Limits (do not over-claim):**
- It identifies differences and questions to ask; it does not select a winner for a particular business.
- Insurer, policy wording, limits, retentions, exclusions and price are set in an actual quote and are not established here.

**Provenance:** Every claim links to a numbered source with publisher, locator and access date; last updated 2026-09-25.

**Related pages:**
- [Marsh vs Risklytics](https://spot.insure/compare/marsh-vs-risklytics) — all coverage lines for this pair
- [D&O Insurance guide](https://spot.insure/coverage/directors-officers) — how this coverage works
- [Marsh profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/marsh) — provider profile
- [Risklytics profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/risklytics) — provider profile

# 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 robotics, autonomy and AI startups buying a first $1–3 million D&O policy online with no broker fee, while Marsh places D&O for public, private and nonprofit organizations of any size.

## Marsh vs Risklytics D&O Insurance Summary

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](https://www.risklytics.ai/lines/management/ "Directors & Officers Insurance") [5](https://www.risklytics.ai/pricing/ "How pricing and broker fees work") [4](https://www.risklytics.ai/about/ "About Risklytics: who we are") [1](https://www.marsh.com/en/services/financial-professional-liability/expertise/directors-and-officers-liability.html "Directors and Officers Liability (D&O)") [2](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/executive-and-professional-liability.html "Expert Executive and Professional Liability Insurance")

## 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](https://www.risklytics.ai/lines/management/ "Directors & Officers Insurance") [1](https://www.marsh.com/en/services/financial-professional-liability/expertise/directors-and-officers-liability.html "Directors and Officers Liability (D&O)") [2](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/executive-and-professional-liability.html "Expert Executive and Professional Liability Insurance")

### 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](https://www.risklytics.ai/lines/management/ "Directors & Officers Insurance") [4](https://www.risklytics.ai/about/ "About Risklytics: who we are") [1](https://www.marsh.com/en/services/financial-professional-liability/expertise/directors-and-officers-liability.html "Directors and Officers Liability (D&O)")

### 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](https://www.risklytics.ai/pricing/ "How pricing and broker fees work") [1](https://www.marsh.com/en/services/financial-professional-liability/expertise/directors-and-officers-liability.html "Directors and Officers Liability (D&O)")

## 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](https://www.risklytics.ai/lines/management/ "Directors & Officers Insurance")
- Ask Marsh which insurer would issue the policy; its pages don't name one. [1](https://www.marsh.com/en/services/financial-professional-liability/expertise/directors-and-officers-liability.html "Directors and Officers Liability (D&O)")
- If board diversity or executive pay could draw scrutiny, ask Marsh how the policy responds. [1](https://www.marsh.com/en/services/financial-professional-liability/expertise/directors-and-officers-liability.html "Directors and Officers Liability (D&O)")
- Ask Marsh what fees sit on top of premium; Risklytics says it charges none. [5](https://www.risklytics.ai/pricing/ "How pricing and broker fees work") [1](https://www.marsh.com/en/services/financial-professional-liability/expertise/directors-and-officers-liability.html "Directors and Officers Liability (D&O)")

## Marsh vs Risklytics D&O Insurance Compared

| 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. [1](https://www.marsh.com/en/services/financial-professional-liability/expertise/directors-and-officers-liability.html "Directors and Officers Liability (D&O)") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: 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. [3](https://www.risklytics.ai/lines/management/ "Directors & Officers Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: 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. [1](https://www.marsh.com/en/services/financial-professional-liability/expertise/directors-and-officers-liability.html "Directors and Officers Liability (D&O)") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Marsh D&O page FAQ; illustrative policy structure, not a specific policy form..)<br><br>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. [1](https://www.marsh.com/en/services/financial-professional-liability/expertise/directors-and-officers-liability.html "Directors and Officers Liability (D&O)") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: 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. [3](https://www.risklytics.ai/lines/management/ "Directors & Officers Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: 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](https://www.marsh.com/en/services/financial-professional-liability/expertise/directors-and-officers-liability.html "Directors and Officers Liability (D&O)") [2](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/executive-and-professional-liability.html "Expert Executive and Professional Liability Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: 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. [4](https://www.risklytics.ai/about/ "About Risklytics: who we are") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: About page; describes Risklytics' brokerage model generally, restated for this line..) |

## About Marsh and Risklytics and D&O Insurance

- [Marsh company profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/marsh) · [Marsh customer reviews](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/marsh/reviews)
- [Risklytics company profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/risklytics) · [Risklytics customer reviews](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/risklytics/reviews)
- [What Is Directors and Officers Insurance?](https://spot.insure/coverage/directors-officers)

## Related Pages for Marsh vs Risklytics D&O Insurance

- [Marsh vs Risklytics](https://spot.insure/compare/marsh-vs-risklytics): all coverage lines, business roles, service and claims.
- [What Is Directors and Officers Insurance?](https://spot.insure/coverage/directors-officers): D&O insurance can protect leaders and, in some policies, the company from covered management claims; company coverage, defense costs and limits differ by quote.
- [Marsh D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/marsh/directors-officers)
- [Risklytics D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/risklytics/directors-officers)

## Sources for Marsh vs Risklytics D&O Insurance

### Sources About Marsh

1. [Directors and Officers Liability (D&O)](https://www.marsh.com/en/services/financial-professional-liability/expertise/directors-and-officers-liability.html). Marsh; Opening positioning for public, private and non-profit companies; FAQs: What are the most common risks for directors and officers?; What does D&O insurance cover? (Side A, B, C); What other risks do directors and officers face?; Ruth Kochenderfer, D&O Product Leader. Accessed 2026-09-23.
2. [Expert Executive and Professional Liability Insurance](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/executive-and-professional-liability.html). Marsh McLennan Agency; Directors and Officers subsection: covers costs from claims for alleged wrongful acts, including defense costs for civil, criminal and regulatory investigations. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### Sources About Risklytics

3. [Directors & Officers Insurance](https://www.risklytics.ai/lines/management/). Risklytics; Coverage line: Directors & Officers; Built for moments like these; When to buy; Who requires it; How hard to get; Common questions. Accessed 2026-09-23.
4. [About Risklytics: who we are](https://www.risklytics.ai/about/). Risklytics; “What we do”; Licensing: Risklytics Insurance Services, National Producer Number 22311838, resident license Massachusetts. Accessed 2026-09-23.
5. [How pricing and broker fees work](https://www.risklytics.ai/pricing/). Risklytics; Buying direct / Generic broker / Risklytics comparison table: no broker fee, commission paid by the carrier out of premium. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Updated 2026-09-25. Spot, a product of Tools for Enlightenment, publishes this research and works in the commercial insurance market. The comparison applies the same criteria to both providers. [Editorial policy](https://spot.insure/editorial-policy). To suggest a correction, [contact Spot](https://spot.insure/contact) with the page URL and supporting source.

## Agent and Developer Resources

- [Markdown page](https://spot.insure/compare/marsh-vs-risklytics/directors-officers.md)
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