Corgi Lands $108M, Unleashing AI-Native Insurance Carrier for Startups

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – January 09, 2026 – In a move poised to shake up the staid insurance industry, Corgi announced today it has secured $108 million in funding and has received full regulatory approval to operate as the first AI-native, full-stack insurance carrier built specifically for the startup ecosystem. The funding, a combination of a recent Series A and a prior seed round, will fuel the company's mission to overhaul how high-growth businesses manage risk.

Backed by a formidable roster of investors including Y Combinator, Kindred Ventures, Contrary, and SV Angel, Corgi is stepping out of the shadows not as another broker or intermediary, but as a licensed carrier that controls its entire insurance lifecycle. This vertical integration, from underwriting and policy design to claims processing, is the foundation of its strategy to deliver speed and flexibility to a market segment long frustrated by legacy systems.

A New Breed of Insurer: The Full-Stack, AI-Native Model

Unlike traditional insurers or even many modern InsurTech players that act as brokers, Corgi’s status as a full-stack carrier is its core differentiator. By directly underwriting its own policies, the company can bypass the cumbersome, multi-layered processes that often cause delays and create inflexible products. This model allows Corgi to design and price coverage with a precision that reflects the unique, rapidly evolving risks of technology startups.

The engine driving this new model is a proprietary infrastructure powered by artificial intelligence. Corgi leverages AI across its operations to automate and optimize underwriting, claims, and policy management. For founders, this translates into tangible benefits: instant quotes instead of weeks of waiting, and adaptive coverage that can be adjusted seamlessly as a company scales its headcount, revenue, or operational footprint. This stands in stark contrast to the rigid, paper-based workflows and annual policy cycles that define legacy insurance carriers, systems that are fundamentally ill-equipped to keep pace with the velocity of the startup world.

“Startups move fast, and so should their insurance,” said Nico Laqua, co-founder and CEO of Corgi. “Founders shouldn't have to choose between speed, coverage quality and price. We built Corgi to deliver all three in one place, so startups can get covered quickly and focus on building. This capital helps us expand coverage and keep improving the product.”

Venture Capital's $108 Million Bet on Disruption

The significant capital injection is a resounding vote of confidence from the venture community in Corgi's ambitious vision. The participation of top-tier firms signals a belief that the multi-trillion-dollar insurance market is ripe for a technology-driven overhaul, particularly in the underserved startup niche. Investors are betting that Corgi's blend of actuarial science and advanced AI can crack one of the most complex challenges in financial services.

“True innovation in insurance requires a special combination of actuarial science, AI-driven systems, and a fundamental rethinking of policy management,” noted Kanyi Maqubela, General Partner at Kindred Ventures. “Corgi brings rare tenacity and technical focus to one of the hardest challenges in financial services by launching a new carrier to transform insurance, starting with technology companies.”

This investor confidence is bolstered by the company's impressive early traction. Since gaining full regulatory approval in July 2025, Corgi has seen its annual recurring revenue (ARR) surge past $40 million. This rapid growth demonstrates a powerful product-market fit and validates the pressing need for a modern insurance solution among high-growth businesses.

Solving a Critical Pain Point for Startups

For years, startup founders have treated insurance as a necessary evil—a slow, confusing, and expensive process. Traditional providers often use outdated risk models that fail to comprehend the realities of a modern tech company, leading to coverage gaps or overpriced policies. Corgi aims to transform this experience from a pain point into a strategic advantage.

The company’s product suite is tailored specifically for venture-backed companies, offering a comprehensive range of core coverages. This includes essentials like directors and officers (D&O) liability, errors and omissions (E&O), and cyber liability. Critically, Corgi also offers specialized products that address emerging risks, such as hired and non-owned auto (HNOA) for companies with flexible work models and, notably, AI liability coverage for the growing number of startups building with artificial intelligence.

By building its products from the ground up, Corgi can address the specific operational realities of its client base. The ability to provide instant, tailored, and scalable coverage allows founders to de-risk their ventures efficiently, satisfying the compliance requirements of investors, partners, and enterprise customers without derailing their momentum.

Navigating a Competitive and Regulated Landscape

Corgi enters a competitive InsurTech space where players like Vouch and Founder Shield have already made inroads by simplifying insurance for startups. However, many of these competitors operate primarily as brokers, connecting startups with policies underwritten by traditional carriers. Corgi’s strategic decision to become a licensed carrier itself, while a far more complex and capital-intensive path, gives it ultimate control over product and pricing.

Achieving full regulatory approval is a significant milestone that should not be understated. The process of becoming a licensed carrier is arduous, requiring intense scrutiny from state insurance departments and adherence to strict solvency and operational standards set forth by bodies like the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). By clearing this high bar, Corgi has not only gained the ability to innovate on the core insurance product but has also built a defensible moat around its business.

With a war chest of $108 million and a proven ability to execute, Corgi is now positioned to aggressively expand its coverage, enhance its AI capabilities, and deepen its penetration into the startup market. The company's momentum reflects a broader industry shift, where technology is no longer an accessory to insurance but the fundamental driver of value and customer experience.