What Founders Insurance Company does

Founders Insurance Company is a US-based private insurance carrier and member company of the Utica National Insurance Group, a mutual insurance holding company with operations dating to 1901. The company is principally a specialty underwriter in the hospitality sector, focused on Liquor Liability coverage for establishments holding liquor licenses (bars, taverns, nightclubs, restaurants, banquet halls, hotels, golf clubs, sports venues, distributors, caterers, and convenience/grocery stores) and Special Events coverage for one-to-five day events of up to 5,000 attendees (weddings, beer gardens, fundraisers, fairs, festivals, farmers markets, and similar gatherings). It also writes Personal Automobile Insurance for individual policyholders. Founders operates as a commercial lines insurer in 18 US states, with company leadership and operational offices tied to Des Plaines, IL, and Utica/New Hartford, NY within the parent group structure.

The company's products are delivered through a dual distribution model. New and existing business is originated primarily via independent insurance agents who represent Founders to customers, while policy servicing is supported by direct-to-consumer digital channels including an online account portal (login, policy documents, recurring payments), a guest payment flow (no registration required), and an online claims reporting platform that supports both insured and third-party claimants across vehicle accident, comprehensive (fire, theft, vandalism, hail), and pedestrian/bicycle incident types. The underwriting posture is intentionally broad within its niche: Founders accepts late closings, prior claims, new ventures, live entertainment, and unconventional event types that standard insurers decline, which has been a defining differentiator for over 50 years.

Revenue is generated through recurring insurance premiums from underwriting Liquor Liability, Special Events, and Personal Auto policies. Premiums are individualized based on risk assessment and are not publicly disclosed; pricing requires agent or direct contact for quotes. The company is wholly owned within the Utica National Insurance Group, with no independent venture, private equity, or public-ownership signals present in the source material, and no disclosed AI/ML underwriting, third-party model, or proprietary technology platform was identified.

Name

Founders Insurance Company

Legal name

Founders Insurance Company

Website

https://foundersinsurance.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1901

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Founders Insurance Company is a US private insurance carrier and member of Utica National Insurance Group specializing in liquor liability and special events coverage for hospitality SMBs across 18 states, with a complementary personal auto line distributed through independent agents and a direct digital portal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospitality & Liquor Liability Insurance

NAICS

Direct Insurance (except Life, Health, and Medical) Carriers (52412), Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Carriers (524126)

SIC

Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance (6331)

akta.pro primary industry

Liquor Liability (FSAJADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Liability (Premises/Operations) (FSAJADAD), Large Commercial Package (National Accounts) (FSAJAFAC)

Keywords

• Liquor liability insurance
• Hospitality insurance coverage
• Special events insurance
• Personal auto insurance
• Commercial liability coverage

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Plaines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Insurance Premium Revenue: Founders Insurance Company generates revenue through underwriting insurance policies and collecting premiums from policyholders. The company collects personal identifiable information and transaction data to provide policy quotes, underwrite applications, and administer claims.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Founders Insurance Company underwrites and distributes commercial and personal insurance products, with a strategic specialty in Liquor Liability Insurance for hospitality establishments (bars, taverns, nightclubs, restaurants, banquet halls, hotels, and other liquor license holders) and Special Events Coverage for one-to-five day events with up to 5,000 attendees. The company also offers Personal Automobile Insurance to individual policyholders. Coverage is delivered through independent insurance agents and direct online self-service channels across 18 U.S. states.

Product overview

Founders Insurance Company operates as a member company of the Utica National Insurance Group and specializes in commercial insurance products for the hospitality industry, with over 50 years of experience in liquor liability and special events coverage. The company's core product portfolio centers on Liquor Liability Insurance for establishments with liquor licenses (bars, restaurants, nightclubs, hotels, caterers, and sports venues) across 18 states, complemented by Special Events Coverage for one-to-five day events with up to 5,000 attendees. Additionally, the company offers Personal Automobile Insurance for individual policyholders. These products are supported by an Online Account Management Portal providing 24/7 policy access, document printing, and payment services, as well as an Online Claims Reporting system for streamlined claims submission. The offering represents a platform-centered approach where core insurance products are augmented by digital service modules for customer self-service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Liquor Liability Insurance Specialized liquor liability coverage for hospitality businesses including bars, taverns, nightclubs, restaurants, banquet halls, hotels, and other establishments holding liquor licenses. Covers alcohol-related liability risks across 18 U.S. states and accepts flexible or higher-risk risks that competitors may decline.
• Personal Automobile Insurance Auto insurance coverage for personal vehicle owners, accessible through online account management, payment processing, and 24/7 online claims reporting.
• Special Events Coverage Short-term event insurance covering one- to five-day events with attendance up to 5,000 people, including wedding receptions, beer gardens, charitable fundraisers, fairs, festivals, farmers markets, car/plane shows, parties, picnics, reunions, showers, and other special occasions requiring liquor liability and event coverage.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Utica National Insurance GroupcoreOthersFounders Insurance Company is a member company of the Utica National Insurance Group, an insurance holding company consisting of Utica Mutual Insurance Company and its affiliated and subsidiary companies including Republic-Franklin Insurance Company, Utica National Insurance Company of Texas, Utica Lloyd's of Texas, UNI-Service Excess Facilities, Inc., Founders Insurance Company of Michigan, Graphic Arts Mutual Insurance Company, Utica National Assurance Company, Utica Specialty Risk Insurance Company, UNI-Service Risk Management Corporation, Utica National Insurance Company of Ohio, and Prosure Insurance Company. The group operates from headquarters at 180 Genesee Street, New Hartford, NY 13413.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Kinsale Insurance Company: Kinsale Insurance is an excess and surplus lines carrier specializing in commercial liability and property coverage for hard-to-place risks. It competes directly with Founders in specialty commercial lines, including hospitality and events-adjacent classes, with a similar appetite for non-standard risks.
• James River Insurance Company: James River Insurance is an E&S specialty carrier writing commercial liability, including hospitality, entertainment, and liquor-related coverage. It is directly comparable to Founders on product mix, distribution through wholesale brokers, and appetite for specialty commercial accounts.
• Scottsdale Insurance Company: Scottsdale Insurance is a Nationwide subsidiary focused on excess and surplus lines, including commercial liability and specialty casualty classes. It competes with Founders in the specialty commercial space, particularly for non-standard and higher-hazard hospitality risks distributed through surplus lines brokers.
• Markel Insurance Company: Markel is a specialty insurer with deep expertise in hospitality, entertainment, and events coverage, including liquor liability. It is a direct competitor to Founders in the same niche classes with similar underwriting appetite for unusual or high-severity commercial risks.
• Capitol Specialty Insurance Corporation: Capitol Specialty is an E&S/specialty carrier writing commercial liability including hospitality, entertainment, and liquor-related classes. It is a direct competitor to Founders in specialty commercial lines distributed through wholesale and retail agents.

Broad incumbents

• Great American Insurance Company: Great American Insurance is a large specialty P&C carrier with multiple divisions writing commercial liability, including hospitality and entertainment exposures. It overlaps with Founders on key product lines but operates as a much broader portfolio insurer with deeper geographic and product diversification.
• Cincinnati Financial Corporation: Cincinnati Financial is a regional P&C carrier with a significant commercial lines presence through independent agents. It competes with Founders in commercial liability but operates across a broader product portfolio and a larger geographic footprint, including many of the same Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states.
• Erie Insurance Group: Erie Insurance is a regional P&C carrier distributed primarily through exclusive and independent agents. It competes with Founders in personal auto and small commercial lines, with overlapping geographic presence in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions.

Regional players

• Main Street America Insurance: Main Street America is a regional P&C carrier distributed through independent agents across multiple states. It competes with Founders' personal auto and small commercial business with a comparable agent-driven distribution model, though with less specialization in liquor liability.

Others

• Burns & Wilcox: Burns & Wilcox is a specialty insurance wholesaler and MGA placing hospitality, entertainment, and liquor liability coverage with retail agents. It is comparable to Founders as a distribution counterpart and competitor for placement of the same hospitality risks, though it does not itself underwrite.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubefacebook.com/uticanational
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/founders-insurance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Founders Insurance Company