Technology

AI insurance startup Corgi distances itself from 'little red book' manifesto

The company claims the booklet—which advocates extreme work hours and criticizes baby boomers—was an unapproved gift from an investor.

Updated Sep 1, 2026 · 14:25 UTC1 reports

The short version

A 17-page hardcover manifesto titled 'The Mission at Corgi' has circulated among investors and former employees, promoting intense work habits and stating 'Boomers are slow and bad.'
Corgi, a highly valued AI insurance startup, denied producing the book, claiming it was an unapproved gift from an investor, though later admitting it contained some older company material.
An investor and former employees confirmed seeing or receiving copies of the book at the company's office.

The booklet 'The Mission at Corgi' features a cover image of a corgi wearing a Mao-like red hat with a yellow star.[Business Insider]
Content in the book includes aggressive declarations such as directives to fire anyone who does not work weekends, descriptions of employees sleeping in the office, and a claim that 'Boomers are slow and bad.'[Business Insider]
Alex Ren of the venture firm Fellows Fund stated he was handed a copy of the book during a visit to Corgi's office in early 2025 following a meeting with CEO Nico Laqua.[Business Insider]
Two former employees also confirmed seeing copies of the manifesto inside the company's office.[Business Insider]
Corgi stated that the book was created externally by an investor and not endorsed by the company, though it acknowledged the text did include some material written by Corgi two years prior.[Business Insider]
Corgi was valued at $4 billion in a July funding round and has raised more than $378 million since its founding in 2024.[Business Insider]

Corgi declined to identify the investor who it claims authored and gifted the book, and it is unclear how many copies were produced.[Business Insider]