GoKawiilFactory CEO fires board advisor Chris Degnan, who joins rival Cognition as CRO
Factory co-founder Matan Grinberg said on X that he removed Chris Degnan from his role as board advisor after alleging Degnan shared confidential Factory information with competitor Cognition. Hours later, Degnan announced on X and LinkedIn that he had joined Cognition as chief revenue officer. Grinberg said Degnan had previously denied any interest in joining Cognition before disclosing ongoing talks with the company this week.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The dispute highlights the risks startups face when advisors with board-level access to strategy also hold ties to competitors, especially in a fast-moving AI coding market where Factory and Cognition are both well-funded rivals. Grinberg's public accusation could pressure other investors and advisors to clarify conflicts of interest, though whether any confidential information was actually misused remains unverified. The episode may also affect trust between Factory and its investor RPT Partners, given Degnan's prior ties to the firm.
- Factory CEO Matan Grinberg fired advisor Chris Degnan over alleged leaks to rival Cognition.
- Degnan immediately announced he had joined Cognition as chief revenue officer.
- Both companies are heavily funded AI coding rivals, with Factory valued at $5B and Cognition at $48B.
Source: techcrunch.com — Julie Bort, 2026-09-30
Published there as: “Factory CEO just accused his VC board advisor of spying for Cognition”
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