Insurance Startup CEO Reportedly Threatened to Close NYC Office Over Puppy Care Dispute

The CEO of Corgi, a buzzy insurance startup known for its "hot girl" marketing, reportedly threatened to close the company's New York office over a dispute concerning the care of a puppy.

Nico Laqua, 26, co-founder and CEO of Corgi, sent a message on July 19 stating, "If you can’t raise a dog, you cannot run an office," according to a report by Business Insider. The conflict centered on Hamilton, a young corgi at the company's New York office. Employees had been using pee pads for the puppy because a veterinarian advised against taking it outside until it was fully vaccinated.

Laqua allegedly stated that purchasing pee pads for Hamilton was grounds for immediate termination. He also instructed staff who refused to take the dog outside to schedule a one-on-one meeting with him, warning that the "best case scenario" would be a performance improvement plan.

This incident occurred as Corgi, which provides insurance to startups, grew to approximately 400 employees and a reported $5 billion valuation. Earlier in July, Laqua had instructed New York staff to send Hamilton to San Francisco. When an employee questioned if the roughly 8-week-old pup could be taken to a vet before flying, another staffer urged the message be deleted, fearing Laqua's reaction.

Later, an employee reported that Laqua threatened to shut down the New York office if Hamilton was not in San Francisco by Wednesday morning. Another staffer claimed Laqua said he was "shutting down nyc" if the dog did not make the trip.

Employees also pushed back on Laqua's directive to take Hamilton outdoors, citing the vet's advice against it due to the puppy's vaccination status. One worker suggested misrepresenting Hamilton's age and vaccination status to airport personnel.

Hamilton ultimately traveled to San Francisco in a carrier. Corgi has stated that it takes the care and well-being of its office dogs seriously and expects employees to look after them. Laqua told Business Insider that Hamilton was eight to nine weeks old at the time of the flight and that vaccines are not required for domestic flights on major airlines.

Founded in 2024 by Laqua and Emily Yuan, Corgi has raised over $431 million. The company has cultivated an unconventional image, with employees active on social media and a group of young female staffers known online as "Corgi girls."

This online presence gained further attention when Brooke LeBlanc, 29, head of community at Corgi, posted a viral list of dating requirements for her future husband. Corgi has previously denied claims that it hires attractive women as a marketing tactic, stating that it hires based on ability and that characterizing colleagues as a marketing tactic is disrespectful.