Corgi Appoints Head of Distribution to Expand Broker Ties
The San Francisco startup is pivoting away from direct-to-consumer sales to reach more small business owners through brokers.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Startups
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San Francisco insurance startup Corgi has appointed Josh LaRiccia as its head of distribution to shift the company's reliance from direct-to-consumer sales to a broker-led model. The move follows the August launch of an admitted carrier platform for small businesses.
Why it matters
Corgi is pivoting its business strategy because small business owners show a higher preference for purchasing insurance through independent agents rather than digital self-service channels. This transition signals a broader effort to capture market share by integrating with existing insurance broker infrastructure.
Corgi operates its small business insurance line through the Technology Risk Retention Group, an unrated risk retention group domiciled in Arizona. The company reported a $40 million annualized revenue figure in January.
The players
Corgi
A San Francisco-based insurance carrier that recently pivoted from a broker-bypass model to an agency-focused strategy.
Josh LaRiccia
The newly appointed head of distribution tasked with building a network of wholesale brokers and retail firms.
Technology Risk Retention Group
An unrated Arizona-based risk retention group that underwrites Corgi's small business insurance policies.
The details
LaRiccia is tasked with building a distribution network of managing general agents, wholesale brokers, and national retail firms to replace the company's former broker-bypass marketing strategy. He will collaborate with underwriting and product teams to refine product offerings based on direct feedback from these partners. This approach marks a shift toward leveraging established intermediary relationships to scale policy acquisition.
Timeline
January 2026: Corgi reported $40 million in annualized revenue.
August 2026: The company launched an admitted carrier for small businesses.
September 2026: Corgi raised $64 million in an extension round.
October 27, 2026: Josh LaRiccia was named head of distribution.
The Tech Race
Corgi's move highlights the limitations of direct-to-consumer digital insurance models in the small business segment. The startup is shifting its strategy to better compete with established incumbent carriers that rely heavily on broker networks.
Small business owners who previously interacted with Corgi via direct online channels may now see the company's products integrated into the offerings of their independent insurance brokers. This shift aims to make the startup's coverage accessible through the professional networks that business owners already use.
The takeaway
Corgi's leadership change suggests that the company is deprioritizing its earlier goal of bypassing brokers to instead compete in the traditional agent-driven market. Industry observers should watch for updates regarding how quickly these new broker partnerships expand beyond the current pilot scope.
Further reading
For broader coverage of emerging insurance technology, visit our Startups section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Insurance Business.
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