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Your Risk. Our DNA.

We are your risk consultant and insurance broker specializing in the complex challenges of gamechangers.

  • For IPOs/SPOs, bonds and general capital market liability
  • For the life sciences sector and up-and-coming start-ups/scale-ups
  • For venture capital & private equity funds, investors and fund managers
  • For tech companies (FinTech, DeepTech, SaaS)
  • Comprehensive, innovative coverage of risks for management and supervisory bodies (including D&O insurance)
Our specializations

"As an in-house expert for risk management and insurance issues, the requirements of the Executive Board and Supervisory Board are complex. As a former risk and insurance manager at DAX40 companies, I know them well."

Florian Eckstein
Managing Partner, Risk Partners GmbH

How we help you

Insurance Broking for Gamechangers

Risk Partners is an independent risk consultant and insurance broker. We specialize in
the insurance protection of companies and industries,
which are changing our everyday lives (game changers) and whose risks we understand in detail.

Our specializations in detail

Road to IPO

Insuring IPOs and capital market liability

Are you planning an IPO in Europe or the USA? Involve our expertise in the "insurance" stream at an early stage, ideally 24 months in advance, so that we can set you up correctly in terms of insurance right from the start (e.g. with our innovative Risk Partner IPO Flip-D&O Insurance or our Pre-IPO Readiness Check). In addition, we can build trust in the insurance market for you and establish cooperation between your IPO project team and your Risk Partner deal team.  

We advise supervisory and management boards in cooperation with our network of lawyers in order to avoid falling into liability traps during the IPO project and to cover risks professionally. In addition, we train the project teams with regard to the insurance companies on emerging conflicts of interest (e.g. vis-à-vis syndicate banks) and possible measures when negotiating the underwriting agreement.  

Risk Partners consulting Foreign Filers Nasdaq on D&O Insurance (1)

Life sciences companies and service providers in the sector

We understand companies in the life sciences sector such as biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical technology, research and laboratory companies and their risks. Together with our subsidiary Atrialis - experts in clinical trials we are one of the most experienced teams in the life sciences sector. You are also welcome to visit our Risk Partners Life Sciences Roundtable 2025, where we discuss topics and best practices in the industry with great speakers. 

Fast-growing startups and scaleups

Growth companies from Series B to E (to IPO) have special requirements from investors and stakeholders to manage with each financing round. We understand the different requirements for each stage.

Venture capital, private equity and fund managers as well as service providers in the industry

Risks are an inherent part of investors' business. This makes it all the more important to ensure the highest quality in securing your personal liability as a fund manager and in protecting the fund assets. We are your experts for German and Luxembourg fund constructs and even worldwide for boardseats in investments.

Being Public: Capital market liability for listed companies

Want all-round protection? For example, against consequential capital market obligations or violations of the Market Abuse Regulation (MAR). We understand the risks and special requirements of manager liability for listed companies - from Scale to DAX40 and especially foreign filers (US-listed).

Among others known from:
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Road to IPO _ by digital kompakt & Deutsche Börse
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Logo Venture Mate
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Get to know us

Your experienced team of experts for "gamechanging moments"

Risk Partners exists to provide tailored protection for gamechangers with complex risk profiles from the very beginning. 

More about us

Managing Partner
Florian Eckstein

Florian has many years of experience as a specialist insurance broker for (international) IPOs, capital market liability and complex D&O insurance issues. In addition to up-and-coming start-ups, he has also advised leading biotech and technology companies. In addition to his Master's degree, Florian is also a certified risk manager with a degree from the University of Würzburg.


Senior Risk Advisor Financial Lines
Franziska Fink (née Merz)

Franziska has been working in the insurance industry for over 10 years. After completing her training, she qualified as an insurance specialist and then went on to study Insurance Management at the TH Cologne while working. During her time as a broker, Franziska specialized in the areas of D&O, financial loss liability, cyber and criminal law insurance and most recently worked for a specialist insurance broker in the area of financial lines for international companies.

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Lead Marketing Operations Manager
Anna Heun

Anna completed her Master's degree in Marketing and Branding at the University of Innsbruck. She has diverse B2B experience in the areas of tax, advisory, M&A and marketing. Her knowledge and passion for marketing are a valuable asset to our Risk Partners team.

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Managing Partner
Björn Stressenreuter

Björn has been working in the insurance industry for over 20 years. He holds a Master's degree in International Management (CEMS MIM - Copenhagen Business School) as well as a Master's degree in Insurance Business Administration/Risk Management from the University of Cologne and is also a qualified insurance salesman.

Björn has many years of experience as a specialist insurance broker for (international) IPOs, capital market liability and complex D&O insurance issues. In addition to up-and-coming start-ups and leading biotech and technology companies, Björn specializes in providing comprehensive advice to venture capital and private equity funds.

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Senior Accounting Specialist
Sabine Eckstein

Sabine completed her training as a bank clerk at Deutsche Bank and worked there for several years in customer service. After taking a break to bring up her two sons, Sabine was responsible for the financial side of the family-owned specialist brokerage firm for life sciences companies and venture capital funds for a period of 20 years, focusing on premium collection and brokerage accounting with the various insurance companies. with a focus on premium collection and broker billing with the various insurance companies.

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Senior Risk Advisor Life Sciences
Jutta Zaglauer

Jutta has been in the insurance industry for 25 years and is a qualified insurance broker. Having worked for large insurance companies, she has acquired expertise in all insurance sectors and areas. Most recently, Jutta worked for 10 years at an insurance broker specializing in life sciences, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, where she was primarily responsible for insuring clinical trials and test person coverage. She also looked after start-ups and other corporate clients from other innovative business areas.

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Head of Legal & Claims - External Counsel
Miriam Born

Miriam studied law at the Eberhard Karls University in Tübingen and was admitted to the bar in 2001. She gained more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry. Her work included cross-sector claims and contract processing for medium-sized insurance brokers. She has also developed international insurance concepts in the area of liability insurance for corporate clients. She has extensive know-how in the areas of product liability, D&O and liability issues in other areas.

Our services

Risk management
from A-Z

At Risk Partners, we are not only consultants in risk transfer, but have also worked as risk managers ourselves. Our approach is to understand and evaluate risk situations and then develop a joint strategy. Always taking your risk appetite into account. Insurance is only part of the solution, as is our advice.

  • IPO, SPAC/De-SPAC in Frankfurt, Amsterdam or New York?
  • "IPO readiness check" in the run-up to the IPO: coaching for the management board and supervisory board on D&O and prospectus liability (POSI), as well as compliance coaching together with our partner law firms
  • Individual advice following analysis of your planned market cap, stock exchange location and shareholder structure (pre- and post-IPO)
  • Capital market liability for executive bodies and listed companies
  • Understanding the risks from the transaction and reviewing the modification of the D&O cover
  • Extension of prospectus liability as a tailored project policy for comprehensive protection of the entire liability period of up to twelve years
  • Capital increase, bond issuing, dual- or uplisting?
  • Is your D&O "ready to be public"? Are securities trading claims adequately covered? Are you adequately protected against shareholder lawsuits? (US class actions also for ADR Level I-III, KapMuG)
  • Optimize the sums insured and benefit modules of D&O programs, also with a view to meaningfulness and insurance premium costs
  • Best insurance cover through comprehensive governance. Ask about our software-supported compliance suite. We are also happy to provide preparatory advice for "IPO candidates" who want to reduce their compliance, governance and board risk
  • Venture Capital & Private Equity
  • Protection against LP claims through our D&O / E&O concepts
  • "Capital call" fraud protection through tailor-made crime / cyber concepts
  • Investment protection through market-leading risk managementsolutions for your portfolio companies (day 1 to IPO)
  • Sparring with your law firm on insurance clauses (biometrics, financial loss risk, product liability or IP clauses) in the term sheet (in particular also for joint investments with US VCs and their clauses)
  • "D&O Growth" concept incl. free pre-IPO readiness check
  • Especially for growth companies from Series B to E (to IPO)
  • D&O Growth concept including a free pre-IPO readiness check and our Risk Partners D&O solution with IPO flip for anyone planning an IPO 
  • Life Sciences - Special concepts for special risks
  • Manager liability and personal liability of industry-specific role profiles (protection for your Health & Safety Officer, Regulatory & Clinical Affairs, Quality Officer, etc.)
  • Patent protection (IP liability)
  • Cyber insurance for sensitive data and liability risks (international studies)
  • Special concepts for the validation of volunteer studies (Phase I-IV)
  • Special public and product liability (incl. AMG and MPG)
  • Innovative concepts for new emerging risks and business models
  • Cyber / tech E&O concepts for AI products: Clarifying and securing liability issues (also for pharma and biotech)
  • ESG protection as part of the D&O insurance.
  • "High protection" for medical cannabis companies (from D&O and capital market protection to greenhouse and crop failure cover)
  • Successfully marketing of complex cyber risks on the international insurance markets - especially with exposed business models and high sums insured in demand
  • Risk-Management-as-a-Service / Rent-an-Insurance-Manager
  • Our expertise as experienced risk managers for initial risk assessment or as longer-term or temporary in-house experts

"Transferring complex risks for our clients requires specialist expertise and innovative solutions. We therefore have a clear focus on sectors and risks that we really understand."

Franziska Fink
Senior Risk Advisor Financial Lines, Risk Partners GmbH

Our references

We let our work and our clients speak for us.

"The high professional quality and customer orientation in the advice and cooperation with Mr. Eckstein and his team ensure that we always feel that we are in good hands with the special requirements as a globally active SDAX company, for example in complex questions of capital market liability. As a listed investment company, Risk Partners' structured and professional support is decisive for us when choosing our broker."

Mark FriedrichCFO
Mutares Management SE

"In a joint project for the public placement of a EUR 500 million bond, Florian impressed us with his well thought-out structuring and processing of capital market liability in the concepts for D&O and prospectus liability insurance. With his competent advice, all stakeholders, from the management board to the supervisory board and the accompanying banks, felt well taken care of."

Dr. Christoph KüsterCounsel Corporate / M&A

"After last year's risk analysis, it was clear to us that we would work with Risk Partners in the future. With Jutta Zaglauer, Florian Eckstein and the team, we have profound contacts who not only understand their profession, but also live it. Expertise, service around the clock with global competence. With Risk Partners, we will expand and restructure our insurance program in line with global requirements."

Olaf BeyerHead of Procurement & Purchasing
Global software & IT company

"As a venture capital company, we were very satisfied with the advice provided by Björn and his team. We were impressed by their in-depth understanding of the industry and their innovative strength, which is why we are happy to recommend Risk Partners."

Raphael MukomilovPartner
Picus Capital

"As an in-house expert for the insurance sector, Florian not only successfully extended all insurance programs in a challenging market environment, but also continued to drive forward the expansion of complex financial lines cover for D&O, cyber/tech E&O."

Florian LorenzFormer Team Lead
Risk Management DAX40 Group

"Florian was extremely helpful in building up a risk management set-up and strategy for our global regulatory requirements. Having Florian's competence and support to coordinate i.a. the claims management in a major cyber incident helped us to mitigate the financial loss on a minor level."

CFOFinTech in Brazil

"Being the defendant in a US class action is a very serious matter for any manager. In our case, Mr. Eckstein was able to professionally coordinate the legal defense with the D&O insurer."

General CounselDAX40 company

"It was a pleasure working with Florian on our cross-border De-SPAC transaction. Especially having two jurisdictions with the SPAC being Dutch registered and the target being a German headquarted company brought up several liability items that Florian was able to tackle down in a tailor-made D&O insurance solution. This was key for both managements to proceed on the transaction and the sucessfull closing of the project."

Associate DirectorSPAC Investment Firm

"As a young company, we spoke to a number of insurance brokers about the insurance issue and in the end we were happy and grateful to have found real VC experts in Risk Partners. While it was difficult elsewhere, Risk Partners understood us straight away, competently explained our industry risks and was able to quickly implement our wishes on the insurance market on the basis of Risk Partners' own concepts. We can therefore only recommend the professionals at Risk Partners."

Alexander LübckeGeneral Partner
InVenture Capital

Our partners

In order to transfer even complex risks, we are in personal contact with all leading risk carriers in continental Europe and the UK insurance market to find innovative solutions that suit your needs.

 

We are partners throughout the entire life cycle of a company

Our added value as Risk Partners

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Specialization

We are completely focused on our specialist topics and strive to be the qualitative market leader in these areas. As a client of Risk Partners, you will speak with (industry) experts who are continuously training and closely following their industries.

Worldwide

Not only do we use English as our second corporate language, we are also regularly in London to develop innovative solutions. In addition, we are also at your side internationally with our network.

From the first notary appointment to the IPO

We exist to provide founders with holistic and highly specialized support from foundation to IPO. This unique positioning enables us to set up clients correctly at an early stage, e.g. through our D&O flip insurance. An innovation in the market!

Reliability

We are an owner-managed company with a very healthy age structure, which guarantees you stable support. Our unique company culture positions us as a contrast to many corporations in the brokerage market. We rely on a personal approach combined with leading specialist knowledge to ensure that your needs are optimally met.

Blog / News

We provide information on liability risks for VC funds in the VC Magazine

In December, we were asked by VC-Magazin whether we could provide insights into liability and risk management issues relating to venture capital funds. With pleasure! Together with the team, Florian not only provided insights into current challenges, but also suggested practical solutions to effectively minimize and sensibly transfer the risks of a VC fund. You will therefore find in the VC-Magazin article: Added value of customized insurance concepts for VC funds (focus: D&O/E&O insurance #Moonshotprotect), key measures for risk prevention

Read more "
January 26, 2024

Digital and effective prevention of directors' and officers' liability by Risk Partners & Fides Technology

Innovation by Risk Partners & Fides Technology Now on Vimeo and Soundcloud: get practical tips from experts with high relevance for avoiding liability for business managers. Question unanswered? Content: Personal liability is a constant sword of Damocles hovering over managing directors in everyday life. The standard of care is strict and directors bear the burden of proof. In cooperation with the distinguished corporate lawyer Eva Homborg (Esche Schümann Commichau) and the governance expert Philippa Peters (Fides Technology GmbH)

Read more "
January 12, 2024

"I believe in a strong IPO comeback in 2024" - Interview Platform Life Sciences

Risk Partners in the trade press. Florian was approached by the journalists from Plattform Life Sciences for an interview on our view of 2024 and the development of Risk Partners over the past year. In addition to challenging claims, product innovations (e.g. all about POSI insurance) from Risk Partners, Florian also discusses our reasons for "teaming up" with our fantastic colleagues from Atrialis GmbH - experts in clinical trials.

Read more "
January 11, 2024

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Guide "Liability of managing directors" available free of charge!

How to avoid liability digitally and effectively as a business manager in 2024 and protect yourself properly for worst-case scenarios.