What Is Deep Tech?
Deep Tech startups are building scientific and engineering breakthroughs - not just software. These companies often:
-
Invest in years of R&D
-
Commercialize university or lab-originated IP
-
Build physical systems like drones, robots, satellites, chips
-
Tackle infrastructure, security, defense, or autonomy problems
These are high-value, high-risk companies. And traditional insurance doesn’t work.
Why Standard Insurance Fails Deep Tech
Prototype Failure
Most general liability or product policies exclude unproven, pre-commercial products - meaning early R&D is often uninsured.
Dual-Use or Defense Tech
Standard policies often contain ITAR, EAR, or government use exclusions. These must be specifically addressed through endorsements.
Hardware + Software Risk
Coverage gaps emerge when underwriters don’t understand how tech E&O interacts with physical product liability.
R&D Labs and Equipment
Custom rigs, labs, and prototypes are often misclassified and underinsured by brokers unfamiliar with deep tech environments.
Cyber Tied to Physical Harm
Traditional cyber coverage doesn’t account for real-world operational failure or physical outcomes caused by AI or connected systems.
What We Cover
Directors & Officers (D&O)
Protects founders, execs, and board members from lawsuits - critical for raising capital, handling investor disputes, and regulatory exposure.
Tech Errors & Omissions (Tech E&O)
Covers claims related to failed system performance, negligence in design or deployment, and financial harm caused by malfunctioning algorithms or software.
Product Liability
Applies to physical systems - such as drones, robotics, or chips - and covers bodily injury, property damage, and end-user safety claims.
Cyber Insurance
Protects your connected infrastructure - including edge platforms, remote command systems, and data repositories - against breach, ransomware, and systemic outages.
Property & Equipment
Covers R&D labs, specialized hardware, test environments, and build-out infrastructure that doesn’t fit the SaaS playbook.
Government & Contractual Endorsements
Supports compliance with DoD contracts, export control obligations, and dual-use policy terms.
How Deep Tech Claims Happen
Product Failure → Investor Lawsuit (D&O)
A drone manufacturer failed a key field test in front of a strategic investor. The board faced litigation for misrepresentation and failure to disclose material testing risks.
Algorithmic Error → Customer Losses (Tech E&O)
An AI startup misclassified environmental data used in automated farming. The output caused crop damage, triggering a negligence claim under their E&O policy.
Hardware Defect → Bodily Injury (Product Liability)
A robotics company’s unit malfunctioned at a demo, injuring an operator. The claim was denied by their original carrier due to a prototyping exclusion - we helped them find a new carrier with appropriate coverage.
System Breach → Mission Disruption (Cyber)
A satellite imaging platform suffered a firmware breach via an unsecured third-party patch. Cyber coverage activated for forensic response, ransom mitigation, and notification requirements under their DoD contract.
Deep Tech Specialties
Robotics & Autonomy
Aerospace & Satellite Companies
AI Hardware & Chips
Dual Use and Defense Tech
Quantum, Energy, and Materials Ventures
Sensor, Drone, and IoT Platforms
What Sets Us Apart
How We Structure Deep Tech Coverage
We don’t just fill out applications - we build policy architecture.
When you work with URM, we:
-
Review your testing, deployment, and contractual milestones
-
Customize coverage triggers for physical + digital risk
-
Add endorsements to fix known carrier exclusions (e.g., AI training errors, government use, open-source code liability)
-
Benchmark limits and retentions based on company stage, deployment scale, and investor profile