Startup Insurance
D&O Insurance for Startups.
Why founders, boards, and investors expect D&O — and how to right-size limits at each funding round.
Why D&O matters earlier than founders expect
Many seed-stage founders assume D&O is for late-stage companies. In practice, the moment a priced round closes — or a venture investor seats a board observer — the conversation about D&O starts. Investors want to know their nominees are personally protected.
How limits scale by stage
Early-stage D&O often starts at $1M–$3M. Series A frequently moves to $3M–$5M with broader Side A protection. Later stages add Side A Difference-In-Conditions (DIC) coverage to protect individual directors when company indemnification fails.
Frequently asked questions
Does my SAFE/note round trigger the need for D&O?
Sometimes — if the round added an outside investor with information rights or any board involvement. We map your cap table and term-sheet language to the actual exposure.
What is Side A coverage?
Side A pays defense and settlement costs of individual directors and officers when the company itself cannot indemnify them — most often in insolvency or shareholder-vs-company actions.
How much do investors typically expect?
Limits depend on the round size, the investor's prior portfolio expectations, and the industry. We benchmark against comparable companies in your stage and sector.