The mystery of a 'little red book' about insurance startup Corgi

The AI insurance company Corgi said it did not create the little red book.

Former employees and an investor saw it at the office.

BI Business Insider got a look at a book that purports to outline Corgi's mission.

"Boomers are slow and bad," it says at one point.

Corgi says an investor created the "unapproved" book.

When investor Alex Ren visited the office of AI insurance upstart Corgi early last year, he was given a copy of a little red book emblazoned with a portrait of the company's namesake dog wearing a Mao-like red hat with a yellow star.

It was called: "The Mission at Corgi." Business Insider viewed images of a book with the same name and cover.

Inside, it contained a series of statements — some braggy, some bellicose, all of them blunt.

"Boomers are slow and bad," the 17-page hardcover declares in reference to hiring.

When Business Insider asked the company about the book, it said in a statement that it was not "Corgi material." "The unapproved version currently circulating was neither created nor produced by Corgi," it said.

"It was created externally and given to Corgi as a gift by an investor.

The thoughts and opinions expressed in that book are those of the author and do not reflect the position or views of Corgi, unless Corgi itself has affirmed them." In a later statement, Corgi said the book did include some material produced by the company two years ago — but "nothing to do with age, for example" or the cover image.

"The book you have sent and referenced is third party material that Corgi did not create or endorse," it added.

The company declined to name the investor who it says made the book or how many copies it was gifted.