Even Benchmark says AI is eroding the VC pact against backing rivals
TechCrunch · 2026-10-15
At TechCrunch Disrupt, Benchmark's partners conceded that fast-moving AI companies make conflicts between portfolio firms hard to avoid. OpenAI and Anthropic now share dozens of investors, and a dispute between Factory and Cognition pulled in Khosla, which backs both. Benchmark says exclusivity still matters at the earliest stage.
Vocabulary
Read source ↗- unwritten rulean accepted practice that isn't formally written down
- compete head-onto compete directly for the same market
- board observera non-voting attendee at board meetings