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Even Benchmark thinks AI is eroding the venture pact against backing…

Benchmark, one of Silicon Valley's best-known venture firms, says the long-standing rule against backing competing startups is getting harder to hold as AI blurs every company's lane; the honor system strains.

On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on BBN Overnight
Published 1:34 AM ET, Friday, October 16, 2026

Photo: Robert.Harker · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0

▶ As it aired · Tech

Watch it as it aired: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on this story, from BBN Overnight at 1:34 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are TechCrunch's, the jokes are ours.

At a glance

First reported by TechCrunch: “Even Benchmark thinks AI is eroding the venture pact against backing rivals”.
Covered on BBN on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 1:34 AM ET on BBN Overnight, by Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield.
Topics: AI.

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

TechCrunchEven Benchmark thinks AI is eroding the venture pact against backing rivals

What BBN said about it

Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentBenchmark, a venture capital firm, says the old Silicon Valley rule against funding two rival companies is getting harder to keep, and AI is the reason.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo investors are allowed to like everybody now. That's growth, that's a big tent.

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