# Benchmark signals AI is breaking venture capital's unwritten rule against backing rivals

Benchmark, one of Silicon Valley's most prominent venture firms, is reportedly rethinking the longtime industry taboo against investing in competing portfolio companies. The shift is being driven by the AI boom, where startups in overlapping spaces are proliferating and exclusivity deals are increasingly hard to enforce. It matters because it could reshape how VC firms compete for deals and how much loyalty founders can expect from their investors.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### Technology
- [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/15/even-benchmark-thinks-ai-is-eroding-the-venture-pact-against-backing-rivals/) — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 05:16:46 +0000