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“Cowbell + Zurich = Smarter Liability Coverage for SMEs”
About Zurich Select Plus
Zurich North America and Cowbell have teamed up to offer Zurich
Select Plus, a new management liability product designed specifically for small
and medium-sized private businesses (SMEs) in the United States. It is a
modular suite combining multiple liability coverages—Directors & Officers
(D&O), Employment Practices Liability (EPL), Crime, and Fiduciary
liabilities—offered via Zurich’s Excess & Surplus (E&S) lines through
Cowbell’s technology platform.
Quick Overview
- Modular
Coverages: Businesses can pick and combine from four types of
liability protection:
- Directors
& Officers (D&O) Liability
- Employment
Practices Liability (EPL)
- Crime
Insurance
- Fiduciary
Liability
- Target
Customers: Privately held SMEs with fewer than 250 employees
and assets under US$50 million.
- Distribution
& Technology:
- Available
through wholesale distributors using the E&S channel.
- Cowbell’s
platform enables quoting, binding, and policy issuance via API or email
submission, improved by “agentic email automation” and AI tools
(including large language models) to speed up underwriting and streamline
submissions.
- Backing
& Support: Policies are issued on admitted Zurich paper, meaning
the insurer is regulated in the state, and claims are managed via Zurich’s
established claims service.
- Industries
Covered: Designed especially for sectors like technology,
manufacturing, retail, hospitality, energy/utilities, construction,
industrial machinery, tools & equipment, integrated freight &
logistics, specialty chemicals, among others.
Direct Link To Offer
Latest Developments
- The
product was announced in June 2025, reflecting Zurich’s growing
partnership with Cowbell.
- This
expands Cowbell’s offerings beyond its earlier focus (cyber and technology
errors & omissions) to include broader liability protection for SMEs.
- One
key innovation is speed: Cowbell claims bindable quotes can be provided
“within seconds” of receiving sufficient underwriting information.
Is This Product Profitable / Valuable for Customers ?
On balance, yes, the Zurich Select Plus product looks
like a valuable and profitable option for many small and medium-sized
businesses—assuming they fall within the target parameters (under ~250
employees, under $50 million in assets) and need liability protection beyond
the basics. Here’s the reasoning:
Pros:
- Comprehensive
Coverage: The modular suite covers multiple liabilities (D&O, EPL,
Crime, Fiduciary), reducing the need to source separate policies.
- Speed
and Convenience: Use of tech (API / email automation / AI) can reduce
administrative delays, which often cost both time and money.
- Reputable
Backing: Zurich is an established insurer with strong claim services;
Cowbell brings innovation. That combination may mean better claims
handling and reliable protection.
- Adaptability:
Being able to mix-and-match coverages gives flexibility, so businesses
don’t over-pay for coverages they don’t need.
Potential Limitations / Caveats:
- Cost
vs. Risk Exposure: For businesses with low risk or simpler operations,
the cost may outweigh the benefits—if few claims are likely.
- Eligibility
Boundaries: Businesses above the employee or assets thresholds may be
excluded or face more expensive terms.
- Coverage
Exclusions / Terms: As with all insurance, the fine print matters.
Specific exclusions, deductibles, limits, and conditions may reduce value
in certain scenarios.
Review
If you are an SME that needs protection against legal risks
(employment disputes, management decisions, crime, fiduciary exposures) and
want faster, more streamlined access to those policies, this is likely a good
deal.
If not, for very small operations with minimal risk, the
investment might seem less necessary.
