Corgi, the YC-Backed Insurtech Startup, Denies Stealing Open Source Code

## Corgi Denies Stealing Open Source Product Amid Copyright Controversy Y Combinator-backed insurance tech startup Corgi found itself at the center of another dispute this week, after Papermark—the maker of open source data room software—accused Corgi of copying its software and passing it off as its own. Corgi has denied the allegations, with a spokesperson telling TechCrunch, “No code was used from Papermark.” The accusation, made by Papermark co-founder Marc Seitz on X, centers on Corgi’s newly launched product, Dataroom. Seitz shared screenshots showing that Corgi’s Dataroom used identical wording for similar features as Papermark’s platform. Data room software enables secure document sharing, commonly used by startups to share pitch decks and due diligence materials with investors. Seitz went further, alleging copyright and license infringement, and labeling Corgi’s product “fraud.” The post quickly gained traction, as the screenshots appeared to show verbatim copying of feature descriptions. Corgi’s co-founder and CEO Nico Laqua responded on X, promising an internal investigation. Shortly after, he posted a full denial, accompanied by code comparisons that showed differences between the two products. He argued that the accusation of “stolen enterprise-code” was distinct from “copied my style,” though he admitted that the similar features resulted from a practice known as “vibe coding”—where interface elements are styled based on inspiration from existing products rather than original design. “Looking back, we should’ve leaned more into our own language and visual choices instead of taking cues from existing products in the space, and that’s on us,” Laqua posted. A Corgi spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch that the offending features were created through vibe coding and have since been updated, downplaying the severity of the situation. As of 2026, the broader insurtech and open source software landscapes remain competitive, with startups often borrowing design cues while differentiating on backend innovation. Corgi has not disclosed further changes to Dataroom but maintains its compliance with open source licensing. *This story is developing. TechCrunch has reached out to Papermark for additional comment.*

via TechCrunch